No doubt, exercise is as good for you as the food you eat on a daily basis. You’ve probably heard this so many times. Indeed, it’s as good as they say! Exercising your body regularly will not only ensure that you stay healthy and fit, it also makes you feel good about yourself; like literarily. A good doze of exercise per day helps you feel energized and relaxed. It benefits every part of your body including our mind, while helping you look better and healthier. And just in case you are overweight, exercises regularly will help you lose all that needless fat and stay trim, ultimately ensuring that you age gracefully. Little wonder it is recommended that teenagers get up to sixty minutes [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][or more] of moderate exercises every day.
Well just in case you didn’t know now you do- exercising is good for you and there are many ways to go about it. And in the next paragraphs you shall be introduced to the three components to a balanced exercise routine which are: aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility training. You know we love you all and wish more than anything than for to stay healthy. Therefore, take these tips to heart and please…ensure to get those bodies of yours exercised every single day. Chum! Please find below the three components to well-balanced exercise which every teen must know.
AEROBIC EXERCISE
Your heart [of course] needs a good workout. And this you can make possible through aerobics. Aerobic exercises include any type of activity that quickens your breath, gets the heart beating faster and pumping more blood than regular. When you give your heart this kind of workout regularly, it gets stronger and more efficient in delivering throughout your body. If you play team sports, you’re probably meeting the recommendation for 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous activity on practice days. Some sporting activities such as swimming, basket ball and (yes football) guarantee greater aerobics than the rest. But if you don’t play team sports, don’t worry — there are plenty of ways to get aerobic exercise on your own or with friends. These include biking, running, swimming, dancing, in-line skating, tennis, cross-country skiing, hiking, and walking quickly. In fact, the types of exercise that you do on your own are easier to continue when you leave high school and go on to work or college, making it easier to stay fit later in life as well.
STRENGTH TRAINING
The heart isn’t the only muscle to benefit from regular exercise. Most of the other muscles in your body enjoy exercise, too. When you use your muscles and they become stronger, it allows you to be active for longer periods of time without getting worn out. Strong muscles are also a plus because they actually help protect you when you exercise by supporting your joints and helping to prevent injuries. Muscle also burns more energy when a person’s at rest than fat does, so building your muscles will help you burn more calories and maintain a healthy weight.
FLEXIBILITY TRAINING
Strengthening the heart and other muscles isn’t the only important goal of exercise. Exercise also helps the body stay flexible, meaning that your muscles and joints stretch and bend easily. People who are flexible can worry less about strained muscles and sprains. Being flexible may also help improve a person’s sports performance. Some activities, like dance or martial arts, obviously require great flexibility, but increased flexibility also can help people perform better at other sports, such as soccer.
Sports and activities that encourage flexibility are easy to find. Martial arts like karate can help you stay flexible as does Pilates and yoga. Stretching after your workout will also help you improve your flexibility.
Now as it’s the case with all good things, it’s possible to overdo exercise; this you must avoid! Although exercising is a great way to maintain a healthy weight, exercising too much to lose weight isn’t healthy. The body needs enough calories to function properly. This is especially true for teens, who are still growing.
Exercising too much in an effort to burn calories and lose weight (also called compulsive exercise) can be a sign of an eating disorder. If you ever get the feeling that your exercise is in charge of you rather than the other way around, talk with your doctor, a parent, or another adult you trust.
It’s also possible to overtrain — something high school athletes need to watch out for. If you participate in one sport, experts recommend that you limit that activity to a maximum of 5 days a week, with at least 2–3 months off per year. You can still train more than that as long as it’s cross-training in a different sport (such as swimming or biking if you play football).
Participating in more than one activity or sport can help athletes use different skills and avoid injury. Also, never exercise through pain. And, if you have an injury, make sure you give yourself enough time to heal. Your body — and your performance — will thank you.
Considering the benefits to the heart, muscles, joints, and mind, it’s easy to see why exercise is wise. And the great thing about exercise is that it’s never too late to start. Even small things can count as exercise when you’re starting out — like taking a short bike ride, walking the dog, or raking leaves.
If you’re already getting regular exercise now, try to keep it up after you graduate from high school. Staying fit is often one of the biggest challenges for people as they get busy with college and careers.
*This post is partly adapted.
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