Welcome back friends! Today we will be talking about exercise and physical fitness. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, teenagers need at least an hour of physical fitness most days to maintain proper health. Some activities that you can do for a low-to-moderate intensity workout are walking, dancing, climbing stairs, and a home workout. High vigorous workouts include brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling, roller skating, jump rope, gymnastics, dancing, hiking, soccer, football, hockey, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, softball or volleyball. Some benefits from exercising are:
- Improvement in blood circulation throughout the body
- Improvement in blood cholesterol levels
- Prevents bone loss
- Prevents and manages high blood pressure
- Boosts energy levels
- Releases tension
- Improves quality of sleep– helps also to fall asleep faster
- Helps manage stress
- Fights anxiety and depression
- Increases muscle strength
- Disease prevention
- It releases stress-busting endorphins and lowers the body’s production of stress hormones.
- It improves thinking and memory skills, which help in school and social situations
- Reduces the risk of depression
- Helps teens feel more energetic
- Helps teens have a positive outlook on life
According to statistics from the American Heart Association, only 1 in 4 high school students get the recommended hour of physical activity a day. “Physically active children tend to be less obese and are less likely to develop hypertension, diabetes and cardiac disease, and they have better mental well-being as well,” said Dr. Geetha Raghuveer, a pediatric cardiologist at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Missouri. “Physical activity is an important part of a child’s life.” Cultivating an active lifestyle can be one of the most impactful things that you can do for your current and future wellbeing. Research shows that active teens become healthy, active
So, how can you become motivated to work out towards a healthier version of you? You are most likely to be physically active if you make it a family priority. Talk about how you feel about exercise, plan active family activities, schedule evening walks as a family, go to the gym together, or work out together at home. Exercise does not have to be boring. Work to find exercises that are fun and interesting, try a new sport, play music, have a dance party, explore a new nature trail, venture off on a bike trail, try a cool exercise video online– try to find yourself focusing on the fun within the workout, rather than the dread. You can also encourage yourself to join a team sport with friends or play a game of basketball with your neighbors outside. In the end, cheer yourself on! Notice how far you have come in the journey to becoming healthier within your mind and your soul. Pat yourself on the back– you earned it. Give yourself the respect you deserve, but still remind yourself that a slow and steady progress is a good way to sustain healthy habits.
Love yourself for who you are– don’t try to change everything about you. You are enough. You are beautiful. You are stunning. You can do this. You are amazing. You will get through it. Focus on you. Stay in your lane. You got this. I believe in you. You will shine.
Teens4Teen Health 