| It's not like we needed to be told - we could see the | | | | complications, musculoskeletal injuries, and in female |
| evidence for ourselves. But for any of you in doubt, | | | | athletes menstrual irregularity and bone density loss. |
| research now confirms that the fitness routines many | | | | How much is too much? Currently the British |
| celebrities claim keep them in shape, are anything but | | | | Association of Sport and Exercise Science |
| healthy. | | | | recommend that a weeks worth of exercise for |
| However, you don't need to be a celebrity to over | | | | non-professional athletes should expend no more than |
| exercise. For us mere mortals, the positive effects of | | | | 3000 calories. Anything more may be of little benefit. |
| exercise can become addictive, and we crave our | | | | Another indicator is when exercise starts to interfere |
| next hit. Fueled by positive comments on our changing | | | | with other areas of your life, like work or home life. |
| body shapes, or our post exercise glow, its easy to fall | | | | Missing work deadlines or special family occasions in |
| into the trap of lengthening a workout, or forgoing our | | | | favour of the gym, is surely a sign that things have |
| 'rest' day to see results quicker. | | | | gone too far. |
| Like too much of any good thing, too much exercise | | | | Exercise should become a pleasurable part of your |
| can have the opposite effect you might be looking for, | | | | day. That doesn't mean it should always feel easy, but |
| and end up making you worse for wear. While | | | | it definitely should not send you on a downward spiral |
| sedentary lifestyles, and obesity related conditions are | | | | of guilt if you miss a workout. Once that starts, you |
| well documented and publicised, we rarely hear of the | | | | need to stand back and reassess the frequency and |
| opposite end of the scale, which can be equally as | | | | intensity of your regime, and ensure that its an |
| harmful. The side effects of over-exercising include | | | | obsession that, like you, remains healthy. |
| stress fractures, exhaustion, cardiovascular | | | | |