Fitness
Can exercise improve mental health for teens? Interesting new survey

Going for a jog, a short yoga session, or a 12-minute quick bodyweight workout perks up my mood and puts a pep in my step. The sense of accomplishment and the mood-boosting endorphins are just some of the many benefits of moving your muscles. Does exercise also improve mental health for adolescents? Recently, Planet Fitness decided to find out.
New survey
“Summer slide” refers to the decline in learning that kids experience over the summer months when they’re off school. Planet Fitness pointed out another decline that occurs over the summer — fewer opportunities and less motivation to exercise. Instead of having fun in the sun, playing outdoors, running around, and engaging in sports, parents are voicing concerns that many teens are becoming less active when school is out.
Planet Fitness conducted the survey to learn more about the well-being and exercise habits of young people during these warmer months. The survey involved 1,000 parents of teens aged 14-19 and the teens.
The survey results

The results revealed the following:
- 50% of teens report their fitness levels drop during the summer holidays.
- 90% of teens say exercise helps them to feel happy.
- 93% of adolescents believe regular exercise is beneficial for handling life challenges.
- 66% of parents are concerned about the well-being and stress levels of their teens.
- Three out of five adolescents say their anxiety and stress aren’t getting better; instead, it’s all getting worse over time.
- 72% of parents think regular exercise could improve their teen’s mental health.
- 81% of teens say that screen time and social media take up a lot of time during their day, and most also agree that avoiding social media is helpful.
Concluding thoughts

When school’s out, it seems many teens tend to slow down in more ways than one. They don’t have the same structure, schedule, and activities, and they might be more tired from the busy school year. Additionally, some might not have access to a fitness center or the transportation to get there. Many teens are also busy with other goings on in life, so they aren’t thinking about whether or not they’re getting enough physical activity.
This survey indicates that most teens believe exercise makes them feel happier and they’re aware of many of the benefits. There also seems to be some awareness surrounding the overuse or excessive use of screens, which results in teens being less active while getting dopamine hits scrolling through social media. Stanford Medicine confirms that these social media apps work on the brain’s reward pathway and prompt the release of dopamine, just like heroin, meth, or alcohol. Amplifying these feel-good properties is addictive for teens and adults alike. On top of their addictive nature, when we’re scrolling through these apps, we aren’t moving our bodies and getting the physical and mental benefits of exercise.
Planet Fitness Free High School Summer Pass Program

The good news is that this survey also shows us that exercise could be a useful tool in improving mental health for teens, especially during the summer break. There are plenty of ways for teens to get more active, from playing sports or going hiking and doing activities with their friends and family to walking the dog, doing yard work, swimming, and dancing. Teens ages 14-19 can also check out the High School Summer Pass program at Planet Fitness, where they can work out for free at any PF gym nationwide.

Fitness
Donald Trump Fitness: Can His Golf Workouts Replace the Gym? Explore Trump’s Golf Exercise Routine and Health Benefits

Donald Trump’s fitness routine centres around golf, not the gym. Let’s know how his golf workouts burn calories, improve health, and whether golf can truly replace traditional exercise.
When you consider Donald Trump, you probably don’t think of fitness. Yet, one thing that he always swears by is golf. Beyond being a hobby, Trump uses golf in his leisure a great deal, as a way to stay active, socialise, and keep his body in motion. But here’s the big question: Can Trump’s Golf Workouts Replace the Gyms? Let’s explore his regimen and discover the unexpected health benefits of golf as a form of exercise.
Does Donald Trump Work Out At The Gym?
Unlike several celebrities or political figures who are stuck to a gym regimen, Donald Trump is not known for pumping iron or running on treadmills. Instead, it is his fitness in playing golf that comes first. Trump is said to spend hours of his day at the golf course, walking around, swinging and being active while he is managing both business and leisure conversation. While it may not sound like a real workout, golf requires you to move around, control your posture and your coordination all the time, making it a low-impact exercise for burning calories.
How Many Calories Does Playing Golf Burn?
Yes, and here’s why. On average:
- Walking 18 holes may cover 4 – 6 miles.
- The number of calories burned by carrying clubs or pushing a cart is 600-1,000 calories per round.
- A golf cart even allows golf players to burn up to 300-450 calories because of swinging, short walks, and postural control.
And when you’re an early riser, a workaholic and a frequent visitor to the course, as Donald Trump is, that calorie burn adds up, making golf something of a fitness powerhouse.
Health Benefits Of Trump’s Golf Routines
People grossly underestimate golf, but Trump’s steady play grants him some wrist flexing fitness advantages:
1. Improves Heart Health
Fitness
Michael Chiklis Had to Get in Football Shape Well After 50. Here’s How He Did It.

MICHAEL CHIKLIS HAS played tough cops in shows like The Shield and a granite-strong superhero in The Fantastic Four, but the most difficult physical challenge the actor has faced over a long career might just have been playing a regular, real-life guy. That regular guy did something remarkable, however—Chiklis’s most recent film, The Senior, is about 59-year-old Mike Flynt, who suited up for college football as the oldest player in the NCAA.
Stepping into the shoes of this character wasn’t a stretch for Chiklis, who is now 62—he says he was the captain of his football team in high school, so he has the background—but getting in shape for the film well after 50 was a trial. The actor did “about 90 percent” of the football action on screen, so he needed to be able to do more than just look the part. He had to be able to move, too.
How did he do it? A dedicated strength and conditioning plan (and plenty of focused warm-up and mobility). Chiklis stacked up full-body training sessions to prep his body to get into football shape. He did more than just gym training, however; Chiklis says he would often spent 40 minutes in the pool jogging and walked 10,000 steps to raise up his general activity levels.
Fitness
How Many Days a Week Should You Do HIIT? A Trainer Weighs In

For some people trying to lose weight, they might find that they’ve plateaued and wonder if there is anything they can add to their workout routine to jumpstart their metabolism. Enjoying a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout a handful of days per week can be just the thing that works.
“If you’re looking to be more explosive, athletic or build muscle, HIIT workouts are best suited to help you do that,” Rafique “Flex” Cabral previously told TODAY.com.
Trainer Tip of the Day: HIIT Workouts 3 Days a Week Boosts Metabolism
A HIIT workout focuses on brief moments of super-intense activity with rest periods sprinkled between the exercise. While the high energy exertion occurs in quick bursts — often 30 to 45 seconds, with rest in between — it demands more of the muscles. This type of exercise builds and maintains lean muscle mass, which can help with weight loss.
“Maintaining a routine that involves HIIT training three to four times a week will help compound that post-workout effect on your metabolism,” Cabral said.
HIIT sparks something called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), which enables people to burn calories even after their workout ends. The American Council on Exercise says that HIIT works best for kickstarting EPOC.
“You will produce an after-burn effects with 25% more calories burned post-workout compared to going for a walk or a run,” Lisa Reed, a performance coach and owner of Lisa Reed Fitness, previously told TODAY.com.
Why It Matters
HIIT’s impact on people’s metabolism lingers for some time — Reed estimates it bolsters metabolism up to 10% for three days after a workout.
Having lean muscle mass helps with weight loss but also promotes healthy aging. People with more lean muscle are less likely to experience falls and engage in their daily activities with ease.
How to Get Started
Dedicating even 20 minutes three times a week to a HIIT workout can lead to boosted metabolism and weight loss. Workouts can be customized to exercise preference and the equipment people have handy.
“You can also keep things interesting by switching up the sequence or swapping out different exercises from strength to high-intensity movement,” Reed says. “HIIT workouts are an excellent way to increase your workout intensity in a short amount of time — 20 minutes or less.”
TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.