Personal Trainers Help Teens Lose Weight

By Stephen Daniels

It used to be unheard of for an adult of average income to hire a personal trainer. Trainers were considered to be a costly extravagance only for celebrities, models, and the fitness-obsessed ultra-rich. Today, it is common for people interested in weight loss, fitness or simply improving health to consult with a personal trainer. However, some may not be aware that trainers are a great resource for teenagers who want to lose weight and increase their fitness levels as well.

Like all other age groups in the U.S., obesity in teenagers is on the rise. High school physical education requirements have been minimized in recent years, while school lunches are all too often high in calories and low in nutrition.

Many teenagers deal with high stress and poor body image. Young people often turn to unhealthy and even dangerous fad diets in an attempt to conform to the ideals presented in advertising and the media as well as peer pressure. In the face of all this, overweight teens and their parents are asking personal trainers for help in creating healthy habits and setting reasonable weight loss goals.

The benefits of hiring a personal trainer are many. Having expert advice to create individual plans and realistic goals for fitness, nutrition and weight loss is invaluable. Personal trainers can provide motivation and accountability to help teens reach their goals, and can furthermore instruct in correct ways of exercising to prevent muscle strain and injury.

A good trainer will never encourage unhealthy fad diets, but will instead educate your teen about the problems with quick weight loss. A trainer can be the a voice of reason to counterbalance all the misinformation from peers and the media that bombard today's teenager.

While most overweight teens may be too embarrassed about their physical condition to participate in group activities and sports, working with personal training allows them the opportunity to experiment with various forms of activity and find exercise they can enjoy.

Personal coaches can assist in setting up exercise routines that are varied and balanced, including flexibility training, weight training and aerobics. Your teen will learn the correct movements for free form exercises, the correct usage of weight equipment and suggested repetitions of each exercise for maximum efficacy and safety. Understanding safe ways to exercise now can potentially prevent pain and injury years later.

While personal trainers can coach your teen through every workout session, you may want to choose a less frequent appointment. Your teen may just need a few sessions to set some goals and learn the best ways to exercise.

After the first appointment, it is a good idea to meet with a personal trainer at regular intervals. This helps keep fitness and weight loss goals on track and provides accountability. In addition, exercise routines should be varied to hold your teen's interest, as well as for maximum physical benefit. Group training sessions may also be available. Training together with friends or family might be a fun and more affordable option.

When choosing a personal trainer, it is important to make sure they are fully qualified. Asking a prospective trainer about their education and experience is a good idea. The ideal trainer for your teen will be one who is familiar with the specific weight loss and fitness issues that adolescents face. The right trainer can instill healthy habits that will serve your teen into adulthood. - 31828

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