The American College of Sports Medicine found there is an 83 percent decrease in the amount of activity in girls age 16 to 19. Whether the reasons are that exercise is boring, too much work, or general embarrassment in front of peers, the American Heart Association suggests that teens raise their heart rates for 20 minutes without stopping, three or more times a week. Girls who are physically active are more satisfied with how they look and how much they weigh, regardless of their actual weight, according to the Being Girl website.
Motivation
The Being Girl website suggests keeping an exercise diary to keep you motivated. Write down your goals and keep track of your progress. Make sure your goals are healthy and realistic. Keeping an exercising diary can keep you accountable. It can also be encouraging, reminding you of the progress you've made. The Being Girl website also suggests keeping a photo of a healthy woman who inspires you. It could be a female athlete, like Venus Williams or Mia Hamm. Looking at the photo when you get discouraged can motivate you to persevere.
Variation
Variety can be key to a successful exercise routine. Go for a bike ride with a friend. Try hiking. Swim laps. Take a yoga or zumba class at your local fitness center. Try in-line skating. In the winter, try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The ways you can exercise are endless. Not only is it good for your body to switch things up a bit, but it will keep your mind interested, too.
Socialization
Exercising can be a good way to spend quality time with a friend and chat about what's going on in your lives. You might feel more confident exercising with a friend and more willing to try new activities that you normally wouldn't try on your own. A workout buddy also keeps you accountable. If you know your friend is counting on you, you'll be more likely to stick to your exercise plan.
Moderation
Sometimes it is easy for teenage girls to cross the line into compulsive exercising. While regular exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, sometimes it can become an unhealthy compulsion. Compulsive exercise is closely related to eating disorders. The Teens Health website lists several warning signs that could indicate compulsive exercising: exercising when you don't feel well, becoming upset or worried when you miss a workout or basing the amount of exercise you do on how much you ate. If you or someone you know might exercise compulsively, get help from a parent, teacher, coach or other trusted adult.
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