A FIT BODY

Regular exercise is good for you, and it doesn't have to be exhausting or painful. This is what it can do for you:

• It helps you feel good
• It helps your heart and muscles to work more efficiently
• It helps keep you a healthy weight
• It helps with disorders like asthma
• It tones your muscles and makes you stronger
• It relieves stress and helps you relax
• It can help you to meet new people and make new friends

To get the most benefit from exercise, you should try to do activities that:

• You enjoy
• Make you feel good
• Can be done regularly and
• Fit easily into your daily routine

You should really do about 30 minutes of exercise 3-5 times a week, but its ok to start slowly and build up to the time as you get used to it. For example, you could do 3x10 minutes or 2x15 minutes of exercise per week, until you feel ready to do 30 minutes.

There are hundreds of activities to choose from, and which ones you do are entirely up to you. But it's worth remembering that different activities have different benefits; have a look at the table below and see which ones are best for you;

This table should only be used as a rough guide. A great deal depends on how much effort you put into each activity. The key to success is to find something you enjoy. Otherwise there is no way you are going to stick at it. You will get a better all round workout the more different activities you do.

To find out more about particular activities, why not go down to your local leisure centre - it's likely there'll be a club or tuition for what you'd like to do. Alternatively, libraries often have information on sports and leisure clubs.