In 21st century American, weight loss and teenagers seem to have an eternal marriage. We live in a culture that is way too focused on appearance and teenagers are bombarded with messages about how they "ought" to look – mostly like their favorite movie stars and action heroes. But it's critical that they do not take dieting too seriously, although sadly that message is often ignored. A teenage body is still growing and it's important that the youthful body receives the fuel it needs to optimize health. Girls are more likely than boys (the "teenage boy appetite" is famous for a reason!) to carry their quest for physical perfection to extremes. Teenage girls and weight loss needs to be a sensible combination, although many of them will reject this wise advice.
A Safe Teen Weight Loss Diet
The #1 rule for a teen weight loss plan is: start slow. First, observe your present activity level and the amount of calories that you're eating. For at least one week record everything that you eat throughout the day. You can track it in a meal tracker online. This makes it easy because it will automatically locate calories, including fat, protein, and carbohydrate counts.
Once you are aware where you're starting from, you'll have a better idea of where you wish to go. When you can see all the food that you've chowed down on throughout the seven days, you'll probably notice unhealthy patterns. Perhaps you eat a light lunch (or no lunch at all) because you're embarrassed to eat in front of your friends? Then, when you get home from school you're naturally starving and so eat hundreds of calories of junk food and fast food. Carefully study your food journal and try to work out where you can make improvements – without going hungry!
Do what you can to produce healthy changes to your diet program. You don't have to count calories (though that can be helpful). Just switch out foods that are unhealthy with healthier ones. You may want to eat celery and whole grain crackers after school rather than potato chips. Or pack a lunch in place of ordering the school's high calorie lunch.
Next, plan on including some exercise in your teen weight loss plan. Once you combine good dietary habits then throw in frequent workouts and you'll begin to see any additional weight just naturally come off. The hardest part is getting started and establishing a habit.
Teen Age Fitness
As a teenager, you have a very busy life, trying to balance friends, school, and other activities. It's understandable that you could have a hard time fitting some physical exercise into your already busy routine. But fitness and dieting don't need to be additional chores. The key is to find ways to make fitness activities FUN!
School team sports: you might be on a team at school? Strenuous games like football or soccer can get you in shape quickly. And if you prefer to act more on your own, you can play tennis or track and field. Being a runner will make you sleek and sexy in no time!
Video games: while you're not going to lose weight sitting down, there are video games that are more active The Wii Fit has fun games and allows you to track your progress. And lots of people have lost weight playing games like Dance Revolution. The whole point here is to choose a game that you love to play so that you'll WANT to do play every single day 'cuz it's so darn much fun.
Exercise with a buddy. Workouts are much more fun if you're doing it with someone else. Grab a friend and go for a walk or jog. You can push each other to do constantly improve.
Workout DVDs and CDs: too shy about physical workouts in front of other people – like in a gym? Then purchase a couple of workout videos you can do in the privacy of your own home. You can use both cardio workouts and strength building workouts. Some videos will combine both into one iron-pumping routine.
Musical theater: if sports leave you cold, you may wish to try out for your high school musical. Goup dance routines can be an excellent method to burn tons of calories, as well as becoming exhilerated with activity
A teenage weight loss plan doesn't have to be eternal misery. A smart combination of sane eating and fun activity will bring amazing results. Fitness and dieting are natural partners and always remember that if you decide upon an activity that you hate, you'll stop doing your workout. Set goals and challenge yourself for best results.
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