Fitness Challenge for My Teenage Son
July 6, 2020 9:48 AM Subscribe
Please give me your recommendations for fitness challenges that would be appropriate for a teenage boy.
My teenage son is home and wants to get a little bit more fit. He is struggling with motivation and he would like to try some kind of personal fitness challenge. Can you give me any recommendations that you have tried? Right now he is walking on a treadmill, and sometimes doing a few pushups. We have some very light barbells, he also has a bike, but doesn't love cycling much. We could get some other equipment if needed.
My teenage son is home and wants to get a little bit more fit. He is struggling with motivation and he would like to try some kind of personal fitness challenge. Can you give me any recommendations that you have tried? Right now he is walking on a treadmill, and sometimes doing a few pushups. We have some very light barbells, he also has a bike, but doesn't love cycling much. We could get some other equipment if needed.
Do you need anything built, deconstructed, or excavated? Actual fruitful labor was the best physical part of my adolescence and is still my favorite fitness approach. The teenage joy of wailing on something with a seven foot steel prybar is massive.
It seems at the start of a project, if I’m out of shape, that I will never possibly finish. But usually I get stronger and more efficient as I go, and anyway you can shift any volume a wheelbarrow at a time, if you stick with it.
posted by clew at 9:57 AM on July 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
It seems at the start of a project, if I’m out of shape, that I will never possibly finish. But usually I get stronger and more efficient as I go, and anyway you can shift any volume a wheelbarrow at a time, if you stick with it.
posted by clew at 9:57 AM on July 6, 2020 [3 favorites]
Build rock wall :)
posted by amtho at 10:03 AM on July 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by amtho at 10:03 AM on July 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
It's not super exciting, but Couch25K will take most people from complete non-runners to able to comfortably run a 5K, and it's very step-by-step just do the next workout doable.
posted by LizardBreath at 10:05 AM on July 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by LizardBreath at 10:05 AM on July 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
Couch to 5K, maybe? There's a bazillion apps that will lay out the training program.
posted by jquinby at 10:06 AM on July 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by jquinby at 10:06 AM on July 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Zombies, Run! comes very highly recommended for Couch to 5K with a storyline.
If you have a Switch and can find it in stock, Ring Fit Adventure is pretty great.
posted by miratime at 10:19 AM on July 6, 2020 [5 favorites]
If you have a Switch and can find it in stock, Ring Fit Adventure is pretty great.
posted by miratime at 10:19 AM on July 6, 2020 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Good suggestions so far. I hadn't thought of anything that incorporated some gaming. That Darebee website has lots of ideas. I also really like the Zombies, Run idea too.
posted by bove at 10:29 AM on July 6, 2020
posted by bove at 10:29 AM on July 6, 2020
Take a deck of cards. Separate faces from ranks.
For each suit pick a basic exercise: hearts = crunch, spades = push up, burpee, etc
For each face pick something harder: kings = 2 min plank, say.
Now just go through the deck and do the exercise corresponding to each card. This works best with either another person to call out sets or some push button digital arrangement.
posted by PMdixon at 10:48 AM on July 6, 2020
For each suit pick a basic exercise: hearts = crunch, spades = push up, burpee, etc
For each face pick something harder: kings = 2 min plank, say.
Now just go through the deck and do the exercise corresponding to each card. This works best with either another person to call out sets or some push button digital arrangement.
posted by PMdixon at 10:48 AM on July 6, 2020
I'm having a heck of a time figuring out what you can access if you don't want to invest in a membership (I signed up ages ago so I have broad access forever), but Nerd Fitness is another places that structures fitness goals in a game format.
posted by queensissy at 11:01 AM on July 6, 2020
posted by queensissy at 11:01 AM on July 6, 2020
Does he have a Switch? Check out Ring Fit Adventure.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:29 AM on July 6, 2020
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:29 AM on July 6, 2020
My son really likes the Seven app. It has short workouts, sort of gamified, with no need for extra equipment. There are different instructor voices, so maybe one of them will be the right motivation fit for your kid.
posted by rabidsegue at 12:25 PM on July 6, 2020
posted by rabidsegue at 12:25 PM on July 6, 2020
C25K +1 (original NHS version)
If you're in a house, get a cheap ass weight set and a pull up bar. I did that when I was a lanky pre-growth spurt teenager and got *cut* in a few months. Great for my self esteem.
Get a one-time personal trainer session. Set goals, have the trainer come up with a plan that uses whatever you have available.
posted by j_curiouser at 12:46 PM on July 6, 2020
If you're in a house, get a cheap ass weight set and a pull up bar. I did that when I was a lanky pre-growth spurt teenager and got *cut* in a few months. Great for my self esteem.
Get a one-time personal trainer session. Set goals, have the trainer come up with a plan that uses whatever you have available.
posted by j_curiouser at 12:46 PM on July 6, 2020
My 14 year old just downloaded zombies, Run! Seconding that-so much fun.
posted by purenitrous at 6:58 PM on July 6, 2020
posted by purenitrous at 6:58 PM on July 6, 2020
We've got a thing going in our house, a short run every day for a whole month without missing a single day earns a nintendo switch.
posted by compound eye at 9:45 PM on July 7, 2020
posted by compound eye at 9:45 PM on July 7, 2020
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posted by solotoro at 9:54 AM on July 6, 2020 [3 favorites]