Working out for a teen in highschool, help!

Hi! I'm new here and I'm an overweight teenager who has to go to highschool. I really want to lose weight and become more healthy. My problem is I don't have much time to exercize because I get home at 4:30 and then have about an hour and half of homework. I also don't have the money or resources to get good equipment or join a gym. Does anyone have any ideas for me?

• run up and down stairs
• jog//run
• pilates
• yoga
• jumping jacks
• crunches
• free weights
• walking?

Hey! I just left high school.
Its hard huh? No money, no time. But never fear, you can get some exercise in in as little as 10 min. Check this and this and this out

Also, to boost weight loss (by increasing your activity) you can do little things, such as take stairs instead of lifts, run up stairs, carry the groceries, with your muscles tensed, go for a walk at lunch time, play sport at lunch (even if its just throwing around a ball), whilst you're doing homework/reading, lift some weights with the free hand [no weights? Use heavy cans or objects). Its not much, but its better than nothing.

Goodluck!

Good thing your learning early that you need a change of life style.  If you think you don't have time now, try talking to your folks about how much time they have. 

anywho... for the time strapped teen.  I know you guys start your day early, but consider getting up earlier for a run/walk add a daily seven.   Try doing you homework standing up.  Get one of those CORE balls ($10-20) for when your watching The Simpson's or playing your video games all night long.  (just kidding ....kinda).  Can you walk/ride a bike to school?  Recruit your mom to do an aerobic exercise video with you.  Think outside the box.

Best Wishes, Geo

haha.. thinks back to highschool hiding in my (tiny) room with my bed leaned up against the wall (ok.. just a matress, I was an eccentric kid) and everything else pushed against a wall and doing pilates videos on my brothers 10" TV so my parents wouldnt know I was exercising (they tended to be overly enthousiastic when they knew I was trying to slim down).. now that I think back, getting my room ready was more of a workout than the actually video!

But, back on topic, home at 4:30 and 90 minutes of homework? plenty of time to throw in 30-60 minutes of exercise! wall-pushups, situps, jump rope, jumping jacks, run around the block, step-ups on a staircase, lunges, squats, an exercise video?... loads of stff you can do!

That is exactly why I hate telling my mom I want to lose weight, she becomes almost tyrannical about it. I know that that could be almost a good thing, but then when ever I do something wrong she gives me "the Look".

Thanks for all the feedback you guys!

i go to highschool too and i find time to fit 45 minutes of cardio into my days for up to five days a week (on a good week). i mainly do workout videos or if you're crazy like me i'll wake up at 4:45 and go on a 30 minute run in the morning before school. if the weather is nice though. or just do like 20 min. of some type of cardio every other day during the week and amp it up on the weekends when you hopefully do have the time to exercise.

the thing is, you have to make time...unfortunately, sometimes that means for me skimping on homework and making it up the next morning before school :(

Annoyed. I wrote a whole post for you and then I accidently close the wrong tab, grr.

Anyway, have a lifestyle change. Walk or take your bike to school. Walk to places instead of getting the bus / taking the car.

Cheap styles of cardio -
/ Cheap excercise DVD's (which tend to be superior)
/ Jogging
/ Walking
/ Rollerskating
/ Skateboarding
/ Bikeriding
/ Dancing
/ Headbanging
/ Jumping jacks

There is also pilates, tai chi, yoga, karate etc which tend to be cheap classes run in Church Halls! They really are cheap.

To tone up and build muscle (muscle burns fat) you need to do stretches and different types of excercises. These can be done with free dumbells or cans out of your food cupboard =P
/ Squats
/ Lunges
/ Bicep curls
/ Overhead press
- I know other excercises but not the names, lol, so I'll post some websites for you at the end of this post.

Nuritionally, you need to just eat healthily. It will actually help your school work because you will be able to concentrate better and think about things easier.
Swop things. Such as -
/ Wholemeal bread for white
/ Fruit instead of chocolate / cake
/ Jacket potatos and boiled potatos in place of chips
/ Green tea, orange juice and water inplace of soft drinks
/ Cut out alcohol (if you drink any)
/ Eat lean meats such as chicken
/ Eat fish such as tuna - which actually helps you neuronically
/ Buy a salad instead of a burger at McDonalds

etc.

I'm sure your parents will help you to find healthy alternatives if you tell them. If not, go shopping with them and gently 'persuade' them to buy healthier things for you =P

Websites for excercise / healthy eating:

http://health.ivillage.com/wellness

http://www.familycircle.com/fc/

http://www.prevention.com/home/0,5779,s1-21-0-0-0-0,00.html

http://www.shape.com/

http://www.weightlossforgood.co.uk/

Information on health:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/womens_health/

And as an interesting observation, the site for nutritional values in McDonalds foods:

http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/eat/nutrition_in fo.html

As a high school lacrosse coach, I suggest that if you have the time, go out for a sport! A lot of the sports, especially the individual ones like track, swimming, tennis, etc, don't care if you are good or not. This is especially true if you go to a small school. Even if you aren't good enough to win any points for your team, and some schools might even not have all of their athletes compete at all the games/matches/meets, you will still get to exercise regularly, make new friends, and all that. Good luck! 

hey!

i'm also a teen in highschool - sucks to be us huh?
are you an unhealthy eater? coz diet changes for the long run is important. but you've gotta commit. you should eat a good healthy breakfast, like i have a glass of milk and some cereal and fruit. bring your lunch to school instead of going to the canteen. you can pack healthier stuff like veggies and fruit for snacks. if you keep it up long enough you'll start to crave fruit over junk like me haha.

exercising can be hard to get into coz you get tired after a long day at school, but after getting into a routine it's a lot easier. i know what you mean by not having too much time - i have the most packed schedule ever! But getting out and going for a fast walk or run for just 30mins with some music is a good way to take a break from studying or homework and you can fit it in anywhere. plus going out later like 630 or 7 isnt bad coz the sun isn't in your face and it's less hot. otherwise you can do easy things like crunches in tv ad breaks, or incorporating walking into your travel arrangements.

good luck!