Good Exercise Routine For Teens

As a teenager, you don't need a gym membership to create an enjoyable, engaging workout plan. Use the resources at your school, in your neighborhood and at home. Make working out an entertaining part of your daily routine. Create fitness habits that will serve you through out your life by finding sports and exercises you enjoy. Develop your muscle memory while you are young by dedicating at least five hours a week to cardio, and weight training three times a week.

Start at School

Investigate the sports available through your school. Most likely, they have typical options such as soccer, basketball and track. There might be some interesting club options, too. Maybe dance club would be a good use of your creativity or yoga club would help you to achieve your desired level of flexibility. Use these group activities to develop your social life while you stay in shape. Toneteen.com notes that working out in groups creates a fun atmosphere for young adults.

Get Fit with Video Games

Find a good workout in the comfort of your living room by using fitness game compatible with your home entertainment system. Generally, fitness games cost about $90 at major outlets and possibly less if you buy used. CNN recommends Wii Fit as a challenging workout option that makes fitness fun. Motivate yourself by keeping track of your fitness goals and progress. Invite other family members or friends to join the fun. I you have no game system; no problem. Get fit using workout videos, DVDs or cable television programs.

Visit the Playground

Approach the playground as a young adult with fitness goals in mind. Hang out with your friends while you do pull-ups on the monkey bars and inclined push-ups on the steps to the jungle gym. Create a fitness obstacle course or relay race using all the equipment available. Round out your workout with an easy jog around the park or a few laps around the perimeter of the playground.

Strength Training

Begin strength training three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes. You can use resistance bands, free weights or weight machines. Exercise one to two major muscle groups with each workout. Kidshealth.org recommends teenagers focus on repetitions, completing two to three sets with good form instead of powering through one set with maximum weight.

Injuries

Watch out for teenage specific injuries such as shin splints. Martin Pineiro, MS, ATC/L, an athletic trainer based in New York City, recommends easing into running sports with a gradual progression of training to lessen the risk of shin splints. He reminds teenage clients to train for running intensive workouts with heel walking and foot tapping, both of which prepare the tibia for the stress of running.