Why should I exercise?
People need to exercise because we eat way too much and do not move around enough to burn the calories that we eat. To keep healthy, our heart needs to be taken above the resting heart rate every so often. That doesn't happen surfing the net or lounging in front of the tube. So why should you, a teenager, bother now?
You're probably healthy enough, maybe not even a pound overweight. Still, EVERYONE is going to have to get their bod moving eventually, because your doctor tells you to, to prolong your life, or simply because you get sick of not fitting into your clothes the way you want to. Whatever the reason, it will happen to you! So why not start getting fit, (or staying fit,) slowly. Make some simple life changes that are easy to do right now because you are young and flexible unlike a lot of adults you know.
The problem that most adults run into when trying to keep fit or keep slim is that they make it so complicated. So being a kid you have the advantage, you don't have too many bad habits and any you have, you can easily break if you set your mind to it. You guys can take the "trying" out of fitness and just do it like you do everything else. You're way lucky cuz you guys can just do it, you don't have to think about it so much!
Start easy, add some extra fruit and friut juices to your diet. This can replace pop and chips when it comes to snacks. Start keeping a water bottle handy. Sometimes we eat when we aren't actually hungry - water will help curb the fake munchies. Add some more of your fave veggies to your day. Think about your food by the week, add some good stuff slowly and some of the junkie stuff will decrease. Doing this for one month will give you more energy and, if you are intending on losing weight, you probably will. Eating right can make you feel better too, you will actually have less of those annoying crappy moods!
Moving that bod!
Start thinking of ways you can get your body moving one level more than it is now. Walking home from school or work, walking to the store, playing frisbee after dinner, mowing the lawn and walking the dog. You could make money and get healthy at the same time. Why not start mowing the neighbor's lawn, walking the neighbor's dogs, etc. The key is to work it into your daily life and most importantly (this is the part the adults have forgotten) HAVE FUN!! Use your imagination and take your body up one level above what it is now for one month. After the month, check to see what worked. Keep what does, toss what doesn't. It's your program, it's your body - you have the power to change whatever you want! If you can focus on the things to add to your life - some food you don't normally eat and some activities you've never tried - and keep it interesting, you are much more likely to stick to it. And, stick to it for life!
What's In It For Me?
- You will always be able to do physical things without feeling like you're having a heart attack.
- You will feel good because you have stuck to your goals.
- You will look great and you can wear any clothes you want because mostly everything will look great one you! (Warning: Do NOT dress like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera - that style doesn't look good on anyone - not even them.)
Got a prob or a question to do with health, fitness or other weighty issues? Why not ? And be sure to keep checkin' back in the Locker Room for more cool advice and tips from Kidzworld's Life Coach, Lisa!
Remember, have fun with it and be kind to yourself if you sometimes fall back on old habits. The hardest part is thinking about starting - just start and go for it!
