Exercise and Fitness

Exercise is an important part of our daily routine and should be made so.  Exercise adds to the total well-being of the body and affects our overall health.

Finding a Healthy Weight

Weight loss is a tricky topic. Lots of people are unhappy with their present weight, but most aren't sure how to change it — and many would be better off staying where they are. You may want to look like the models or actors in magazines and on TV, but those goals might not be healthy or realistic for you. Besides, no magical diet or pill will make you look like someone else.

So what should you do about weight control?

Being healthy is really about being at a weight that is right for you. The best way to find out if you are at a healthy weight or if you need to lose or gain weight is to talk to a doctor or dietitian, who can compare your weight with healthy norms to help you set realistic goals. If it turns out that you can benefit from weight loss, then you can follow a few of the simple suggestions listed below to get started.

Weight management is about long-term success. People who lose weight quickly by crash dieting or other extreme measures usually gain back all (and often more) of the pounds they lost because they haven't permanently changed their habits.

Staying at a Healthy Weight

Regular Exercise

Teens should get 60 minutes or more of physical activity a day. It is important to get your body moving and get the right balance of activity, including aerobic, strength building, and flexibility exercise. It may be easier to make exercise a habit by scheduling some sort of activity for yourself every day.

The exercise does not have to be performed all at once, either.  Just as you might have a healthy snack to prevent yourself from getting hungry and overindulging, exercise breaks can keep energy levels high. So get up 15 minutes early and do some yoga or stretching activity. Fast walk or jog for 15 minutes at lunch. Do the same thing after school — or walk or bike home. Add to that taking the stairs instead of the elevator, your activity from gym class, and the mad dash of walking between from class to class during the day, and odds are that you have achieved your 60 minutes of activity.

Good Eating Habits

Eating well does not mean repetitive dieting. Actually, diets are often ineffective.  While you may lose weight in the immediate future, it is often gained back with additional weight in the long run.

Rather than thinking of this lifestyle change, and that is exactly what it is, think of it as developing good eating habits.  Teens should eat a variety of foods, and there's nothing wrong with the occasional treat. With the occasional treat, your body will not feel deprived.  Don’t candy bars or other treats somehow taste better when they are consumed on occasion rather than every day?

The best way to stay at a healthy weight (or lose weight if you need to) is to make healthy food choices daily. For some of us, that means changing our mindset about food. Instead of thinking of food emotionally (for example, as a reward for doing well on a test or as a way to deal with stress), see it for what it is — fuel to keep your body moving.

Information found above is from http://teenshealth.org.  All information on KidsHealth® is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2010 The Nemours Foundation.

Other sites containing information on teens and fitness:

http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness

http://www.teensexercise.com

http://www.livestrong.com/article/158037-teen-exercise-health

http://www.shapingamericasyouth.org

http://www.teensadvisor.com