Forsyth Medical Center 
Adolescent Girls
Exercise
| Exercise is an important factor in weight loss for everyone. |
When You Are Exercising:
- Your body burns fat to produce energy, which will help you maintain your weight or lose weight more easily
- Your heart pumps more blood and extracts more oxygen, which helps prevent heart and lung disease
- Your pituitary gland produces endorphins, which reduce stress, elevate your mood and moderate your appetite
- Your bones get stronger, slowing bone loss that can come with age
- Your bones become less susceptible to certain cancers
It isn't easy staying motivated to exercise, especially if you're a beginner. If you're trying to make exercise a habit, you may be surprised to learn that even veteran exercisers can lose motivation. Some of the most common factors that decrease motivation are:
- Focusing on the scale
- Working too hard--start easy and work your way up
- Comparing yourself to others
- Giving up too soon
Here are a few tips for making exercise a part of your daily routine:
- Adults should exercise as early as possible. Sometimes if you wait until the evening, other things come up.
- Plan indoor and outdoor activities that you and your kids enjoy.
- When shopping at the mall, take a couple of laps before you head home.
- Instead of spending hours on the phone talking to friends, make walk/talk dates.
- Lift arm/hand weights while watching TV.
- Do sit-ups before getting in the shower.
- If you can't spare 30 minutes at one time for exercise, split it into three, 10-minute segments.
For More Information
For more information about the Healthy Family Adolescent Weight Management Program, please contact the Sara Lee Center for Women's Health at (336) 718-3780 or call toll free (888) 218-1234.
