Exercise is the last thing many teen girls want to do, but just as many want to lose weight. If your teen is unmotivated when it comes to exercise and getting into shape, rethink your approach. She may need different incentives or even a new way of thinking in order to get fired up. Explore healthy and relatively easy ways for your teen to lose weight, and you may see her interest perk up.
Change Goals
Your teen may have reasons for wanting to lose weight, but none of them have motivated her yet. Help her set new goals, and she may get a new perspective to go with them. For example, if she has a heavy course load, she can set the goal of reducing her stress or getting a better night's sleep, both of which are effects of regular exercise. If your teen struggles with social pressures or mood swings, have her set a goal of feeling better, stronger and more clear-headed. Exercise is not just for weight loss; it has myriad other benefits.
Start Small
Some teen girls think that to lose weight, they have to sweat and suffer for endless hours in a boring workout. That's not true. Your teen can find a way to get active and burn calories that she enjoys. If she loves the mall, have her go every day and walk for an hour. If she's a couch potato, encourage her to exercise while she watches her favorite show. Jumping jacks, lunges, jump rope and jogging in place are all excellent options that burn calories. Once she begins to see and feel the effects of exercise, she'll likely want to amp it up.
Eat Breakfast
It's common for teen girls to skip breakfast in an attempt to lose weight, but this tactic does not produce long-term results. Skipping breakfast can lead to overeating and poor food choices throughout the day. Eating breakfast jump-starts your teen's metabolism, reduces her junk-food cravings and keeps her feeling sated. This can help her lose weight without otherwise changing her daily routine.
Be Portion-Smart
Your teen may be overeating without even realizing it, and huge portions are likely the culprit. At home, swap the big dinner plates for plates about the half their size. When she goes out to eat, encourage her to order from the kids menu or have half her meal boxed before it is served. Make a rule that no one is allowed to eat chips or crackers directly from the bag or box. Instead, have your teen make 100-calorie portions of her favorite snacks in zip-top plastic bags. She'll still get a salty or sweet fix, but she'll consume far fewer calories.
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