GET STARTED WORKING OUT
We all know that exercise is great for your health- but where do you start? Here's a handy guide
We all know that it's good for us. But for many young people, especially those who don't do sports, exercise can seem overwhelming. There are so many conflicting opinions about what you should do and how often you should do it. In the face of all of this confusion, a lot of people forego exercise entirely. But if you're young and want to get started working out, it doesn't have to be complicated. Here are some simple tips to point you in the right direction.
Typically as a kid, a good place to start is with bodyweight exercises, such as sit-ups and push-ups. It is important to work on technique without using weights. If you decide to jump to using weights without mastering techniques first, painful injuries like strains could occur. When proper technique is mastered or you are very comfortable with the weightless techniques, a relatively light weight can be used with a high number of repetitions (8–15). You can increase the weight, number of sets, or types of exercises as strength improves. A "rep" is the number of times you do the motion of your specific workout. At a young age, it is important to do low-weight high reps, rather than high-weight low reps. Kids as young as 7 or 8 years old can safely do strength training if they have good balance and control of their body, follow instructions, and can do the exercises with good form. A child's strength-training program shouldn't be a scaled-down version of an adult's weight training regimen. Some people even start their kids working out at the young age of 5 or 6 (but weightless, of course). That means that you can do it, too.
A very common question that many young people have is “does working out stunt your growth?” One of the biggest myths about weight lifting is that it stunts your growth, which means it harms your growing joints and stops you from growing taller. No scientific studies have ever shown that lifting weights stunts or inhibits growth. But, as with any exercise program, if you do too much too soon, physical problems can occur no matter how old the person doing the exercise is.
Another commonly asked question is if working out can make you taller. No, there's no evidence to support this common misconception. But if you focus on strength and flexibility, you may certainly start feeling taller.
Working out at a young age is good because it builds health and strength in the bones. When a child starts participating in high-intensity sports from a young age, their bodies get adapted to the activity and build bone strength that will help them in progressive workouts later on in their lives. Activity from an early age should be encouraged as it benefits a child's development. It enhances and promotes the development of motor skills, bones and muscles, cognitive and social skills.
At the end of the day, while it used to be accepted that children shouldn’t start working out until they hit adolescence, around the ages of 12-13, many experts now agree that around the ages of 7-8 it is okay to hit the gym as long as the child is mature enough. If you're young but want to get started working out, talk to your doctor to find out what level is right for you. Exercise may seem intimidating sometimes, but there's no doubt that it's worth it.
This is Terrell’s second year on staff and third year at Edgewood. He loves hanging out with friends and playing sports. He hopes to improve his writing skills and creativity.