Teens and Training

As teenagers we face everyday struggles that some of our older counterparts don’t. These are far and few as we are learning to grow up and be adults, but there are some that stick out more simply because of our age. These problems can elevate to point to where it makes it hard to train and eat right. So here are some ways around the everyday problems of the average teenagers.

School
This is first because of its importance. If you do bad in school, you will fail at life a majority of the time. Yes you can write the next great rap song or be able to run the 40 in 4.2 seconds, but if you suck in school then its virtually worthless. School can be extremely hard on a teenager, especially those in AP classes or who are in college part time(like me). The main thing to remember is: school comes first. Do your homework before you head to the weights, or in school if possible, and get it out of the way. You will feel less stressed and it can make all the difference in the gym. Eating while in school is also a huge problem in many cases. I myself leave a period early, so I am lucky enough to get to eat at home for lunch. But if you have a full school day here are a few things to get your meals in. Eat breakfast, this can keep you energized throughout the day if needed. Second, bring a small snack or shake to school. I bring a shake in a bottle to drink after 1st period everyday, so I get two meals in before I leave. Also, bring your lunch to school. School’s serve crap to eat and they know it, so by bringing your lunch you can eat right and save a bit of money in the process.

Jobs
This is something you will have to deal with your whole life(unless you win the lottery) so get used to it. Same basic rules apply as school, bring a snack and lunch. If its afterschool bring a snack and eat it on your break, which unless you are working 2 hours at a time you will get or your job is guilty of violating child labor laws, so take advantage of it. Try to hit the gym right before or right after as well, you may have to speed up the workout a bit but losing your job is bad. Or if possible just train on the days you dont work, including the weekends.

Family
Again you will deal with your family your whole life so get used to it. Family should be your number one priority, don’t take them for granted. If you are asked to a family function during training time, work around it. Find a time earlier or later in the day and go to the gym then. Or if its a birthday or holiday, either do the same or skip it all together. Missing one lone workout is not the end of the world, but losing time with your family is. Remember that.

Friends and Enemies
Skipping a date or a movie with friends is small, but if you can work around it do it. Your friends and relationship are a bit more important than training, unless you’re a pro, so make time for them when able. This doesn’t mean go to every kegger you are invited to, but if you are invited to a party go out and have fun. Take some water with you and maybe a shake, and avoid the illegal stuff.

People you dislike are gonna be there forever. It won’t always be the same person, but you will meet plenty that you desire to get lost at Mt. Everest’s peak and never be found. In school this is very true. Just remember, they will go away. Maybe not until you graduate, but they will be gone one day and they truly do not matter. Don’t go around picking fights, refrain from defaming them, and just be you. Acting like an asshole to an asshole is recipe for a bad result, especially when that other asshole will be nothing but a memory come graduation time. If you are dealing with a bully who just refuses to leave you alone, either tell him to gtfo or get some help. Your friends and family and sometimes even a school personel member can make the difference between getting into a fight and arrested, or keeping the peace and ridding yourself of them.

Parent’s just don’t understand
Yes, they do. Not everything, but they were in your shoes at a time. Talk to them, tell them your problems and seek advice. If they don’t understand or don’t want you to use supplements, explain the use of the supplement and why you would like to use it. Creatine is a huge problem here from what i have seen, and while you can go without it explaining it to them is atleast worth a try. But if they are paying for it or they forbid you to use it, then don’t. Its not the end of the world.

Sex & Drugs
Sex…if you’re doing it, wrap it up and use birth control. Be safe and reframe from drunken party sex. Not doing so can lead to std’s, pregnancy, and waking up next to a goat… and that is bad.

Drugs are a huge reality, especially in school. Now smoking a joint from time to time wont kill you and make you smoke meth, but it is still bad for you and illegal almost everywhere. If you do it do it infrequently, if not, then dont try it. Smoking and drinking are illegal until your are 18 and 21 so you SHOULDN’T be doing it in the first place, but if you choose to break the law and do it then keep it in private and on the downlow. Going out every weekend drinking is not gonna help you make gains. It’s a lot easier, safer, and smarter to just wait until you have enough hair on your balls to buy it. Almost everything is fine in moderation, so keep use of anything of the sort as an every so often thing, if a thing at all.

Well that’s about it, feel free to add onto this list. You are only a teenager for so long, and that means you have a short amount of time to take advantage of it. Don’t fuck it up by doing stupid stuff, and do not leave your family and friends behind. Stay strong and stay safe everyone.