Teens who exercise are less likely to suffer from obesity. A 2010 study from the Karolinska Institute found that teens must get at least 60 minutes of daily exercise to beat obesity. Unfortunately, many teens in this country do not feel they have the free time needed for such exercise. Some teens prefer spending time with friends or playing video games rather than exercising. It’s simply a matter of priority though. If a teen wants to exercise, he or she can find the time to do so.
Children learn traits during their younger years, which they carry with them throughout adulthood. If you stop exercising in your teen years, you are less likely to get exercise as an adult. Improper exercise can lead to various health conditions, including:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Obesity
Exercise is crucial to your mental and physical well-being. When you get the right amount of exercise, you feel better about yourself. Daily exercise can improve self-confidence and self-esteem, reduce the risk of certain diseases and even improve your social life.
Getting Teens Active
Teenagers constantly create excuses why they cannot get physical exercise. They might complain that they have a lack of time, they want to hang out with friends or they hate to exercise. With problems such as weight gain being so common in teens, it is important that they get exercise every day.
If you have a list of excuses for not working out, get rid of your list. You can easily find ways to get active, get your heart rate up and start losing weight. Some video games provide a fun way to get active. You can invite your friends over a dance party, using one of the most popular dance games. The games let you burn calories and get in shape with your friends.
Teens are more likely to stick with an exercise program when that program involves other people. If you crave hanging out with your friends, encourage your friends to join you in your exercises. A long walk around the neighborhood with friends can give you the exercise that you need. The best thing about walking is that you can set your own pace. Even if you walk slowly, you still get your body up and moving.
Aerobic activity is another way to get in shape. Many areas have a community pool where teens can swim with friends, family or by themselves. Some teens might prefer joining a team because those who opt for sports combine exercise with social activity.
If you want to take part in sports without joining a school team, look for classes in your area. Many gyms offer classes for teens, including tennis, basketball, baseball and even bowling. You can also find gymnastics classes or cheerleading classes that get your body in motion.
The Stages of Exercising
According to the University of Arizona, teens and children use more energy than adults when exercising. Dynamic stretching after your warmup, but before intense exercise, and cooling down after you exercise help you relax your muscles, which reduces your chances of injury.
After you exercise, spend at least five to 10 minutes doing slow stretches or walking in place to cool down your muscles. The stretching, warmup and cool down period all take place within your 60 minutes of exercise.
When you use an exercise guide, you increase your chances of success. Teens who schedule time to exercise are more likely to stick to their routine.
