5 Workouts to Match Your Style

An hour of exercise each day. That’s what every teen needs to stay healthy. It may seem like a lot, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The best way to work out without feeling like it’s crazy-hard: Do what you love.

“Many teens think that they don’t need to exercise or that it’s a waste of time,” says Marc Rosamilia, a P.E. teacher and certified high school strength and conditioning specialist. “But if you make it fun, it won’t seem like a chore anymore and will help you stay motivated.”

The key is to find the type of workout that matches you -- and that you’ll want to stick with. Which one of these sounds like you?

“I get bored when I exercise.”

Workout match: Take a hike with a friend.

“Doing this, you’ll kill two birds with one stone. You can socialize and move at the same time,” says Eliza Kingsford, executive director of Wellspring Camps, health and wellness weight-loss camps.

Walk for about an hour, or take a bike ride together. You can bring your smartphone to take photos or play music if you don’t want to just walk.

Up for something more intense? Challenge your friend to a game of tennis, basketball, or another sport you both like. You don’t have to worry about keeping score, unless you like a little friendly competition.

“Exercise is too much hard, sweaty work for me.”

Workout match: Throw a Frisbee, go ice skating, or dance around your room.

You can pick anything you already like to do, as long as it gets you active. Even if they don’t seem like a lot of work, these activities are actually really good for you -- they improve your conditioning and help you move in all directions quickly, Rosamilia says. Just make sure you do something every day.

“If you don’t inherently enjoy exercise, it’s good to find ways of moving that don’t feel like exercise,” Kingsford says. “It’ll keep you moving and enjoying it, and it won’t feel like a prescription or something you have to do.”