Establishing healthy habits, such as exercise, is important for a teenage girl. However, it's also important to promote a healthy body image that is not fixated on weight or appearance. Because more than 127 million adults are overweight in America, according to the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer," emphasizing healthy exercise options and finding an exercise routine a teenager enjoys, sets the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle.
The Right Activity
From participation on a sports team to walking or running to taking an aerobics class, teenagers have the energy and joints to perform whatever activity they make like. Because the secret to continuing exercise is to find an exercise you enjoy. If a teen is just starting with exercise, a low-impact activity, such as walking may be a good place to begin. Gradually work up to running or jogging, if possible, by performing interval training, such as walking for five minutes then running for two minutes.
Because teens do have the tendency to become bored with an activity more easily, finding ways to make exercise fun, such as listening to music or going on a walk with a friend or family member may ensure long-term success in exercising.
The Right Equipment
Before beginning any exercise routine, it's important to make sure a teen has the proper equipment. For example, if she will be bicycle riding, purchasing a helmet is vitally important. While not all exercise requires proper equipment, it does require having the right gear. This begins with properly fitting tennis shoes whose sole has not been worn out over time and extends to considerations for weather. For example, a teen should wear loose-fitting clothing in a breathable material, such as cotton, when exercising in warmer temperatures and layers of clothing when exercising in colder temperatures. If you have concerns about the proper safety equipment, particularly for school sports, contact a coach, athletic trainer or other physical activity professional.
The Right Amount
A delicate balance exists between getting enough exercise and getting too much exercise. Because it's important that teenage girls maintain a healthy body image, overexercising may be a signal to others that a teen is placing too much emphasis on exercise as a means to lose weight. Teens who participate in sports also may be stretching themselves too thin by attending numerous practices and athletic events. This can cause a teen to experience muscle exhaustion, injury and even depression. The goal is to always make exercise fun or for the purpose of feeling better and being healthy.
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