5 WAYS TO GET YOUR TEEN MOVING
Child and teenage obesity is an epidemic and as a parent it can be hard to watch your child fall down a path of unhealthy habits and prolonged inactivity. Thanks to technology, video games and iPhones, teenagers are sitting longer than ever and spending hours inside instead of moving their bodies. You know want to motivate your child into fitness, but you don’t want to cross the line and push them into anything they don’t want to do. Luckily, there are easy and gentle ways to encourage and integrate activity into your teens life without sounding the alarm. Here are 5 easy tips to help your teen get moving.
PUT FIT IN THE FAMILY
Take your TV time outside! Get your teens moving by turning your family events into active adventures. You can go on hikes, visit cool museums, a theme park, play a seasonal sport, or something as simple as walking the dog after dinner together. Try to pick activities the entire family can partake in and try to make fitness fun a weekend habit.
MAKE YOUR STEPS COUNT
Walking is an underrated form of exercise but just 30 minutes a day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones and reduce excess body fat! Purchase yourself and your teen a Fitbit or pedometer and challenge each other to reach between 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. This is a great way to see just how active you are being and to keep you both accountable. Walking is the cheapest and most convenient way to stay healthy and a simple day of extra steps will do wonders for your teens body and mind.
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS
If your teen like watching sports, he or she will most likely enjoy playing them as well! Not only are sports a great way to stay active, but they encourage new friendships, structure and a sense of discipline that benefits young adults in all aspects their lives. If you find that your teen doesn’t enjoy the competitive nature of team sports, encourage them to try cycling, running, golf or tennis. What might start as a simple hobby could turn into a true passion and skill!
TRY A TRAINER
If your teen wants to get started in the gym, set them up with a personal trainer. Strength training with resistance three days a week will help increase muscle strength, endurance and fat loss. A trainer will guide your teen through the gym and teach them all the basics of fitness so one day they can exercise by themselves. The right trainer will also make working out enjoyable for your teen and well worth the investment.
BE A ROLE MODEL
The best way to get your child active is to get yourself more active. Show them that you love going to the gym, going on walks and eating a balanced diet. The more you prove to them through your actions that being and feeling healthy is great, the more they will want to follow in your footsteps.
Author: Jenny Meyers is passionate about teen health! After working for magazines like Women's Health, Compolitan, Seventeen, and Marie Claire, she brings her passion to her blog FITJUNKIE. She loves when readers connect with her!
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