Health Insurance Daily

Young People And Exercise

The thought of exercise doesn't make everyone jump with joy. But don't believe that you were just born with a rubbish-at-sport gene - there's an activity out there to suit everyone. It's time to stop making excuses.

The excuses:

"It's not cool." Try telling David Beckham, Tiger Woods and Ellen MacArthur. All right, we can't all reach the very top, but we can get a lot out of being fitter. People who tell you it's not cool are usually the ones who couldn't run to catch a bus if their lives depended on it.

"None of my friends or family do it." Be a trail blazer! They might be inspired by your example and take it up themselves. If your friends and family make offhand remarks about fit folk it might be because they're jealous.

"It's a boy thing." It's true more boys than girls take exercise, but that's not because girls are rubbish at sport. Many girls don't find the activities at school suit them but there are things to try outside school, such as dance or martial arts.

"It's sore/uncomfortable/sweaty." It should never be sore for long or uncomfortable, and feeling a bit stiff after activity is natural. Yes, activity does make you sweat, but if you're enjoying yourself you probably won't notice - and everyone else is sweaty too.

"I don't want muscles." Being fit and having bulgy muscles don't necessarily go together. To get big muscles you would have to do a programme of specific exercises.

"I'm overweight/skinny/disabled." Don't worry about what you think you look like - get in there and enjoy yourself. If you're genuinely very overweight, not just a stone or less, talk to your doctor and tell them what you want to do. If you're disabled don't let yourself be cut out of the action - getting fit benefits everyone.

"I don't like joining in/teams." Fine. If teams leave you cold, check out activities you can do by yourself or with a friend.

"I'd rather play with the computer/watch TV/talk to my mates." It doesn't have to be either/or. You can do both.

What's in it for you?

It's an opportunity to meet up with friends or make new ones.
Better general fitness, and stronger bones and muscles.
It stops you putting on weight.
You'll feel a sense of achievement.
Taking exercise is fun - really.

Just give it a try!

This article can be viewed in its entirety at Healthy Kids

posted by Mike @ 9:50 AM