The Life Magazine of Granite Bay

Inner beauty matters
Advice from Audrey Hepburn 
Date Published: March 2006
Health & Fitness
By Debra Skelton
Q. There is so much focus on outer beauty could you focus on inner beauty for my teenage daughter?

A. I think anyone who has seen Audrey Hepburn would agree that she was one of the most beautiful women ever, and it was not just her physical beauty that made her beautiful. The following quote is from Audrey Hepburn when she was asked to share her "beauty tips."

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone."

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears or the way she combs her hair. The true beauty of a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives and the passion that she shows.

Q. My teenage son, age 15, wants to start weight training. I heard this can stunt his growth if started too early. Is it safe for him to start a weight-training program?

A. As long as your child is using the proper techniques and lifting an appropriate amount of weight, strength training shouldn't have any negative effect on your child's growth plates, which is the layer of cartilage near the end of the bone where most of the bone growth occurs. At this age a good free-weight program will help his overall health and fitness level and contribute to good growth all around.

Advertisement

To ensure safety, proper technique and slow progression is a must. The only danger with weight training for teenagers is lifting too much weight or doing too many sets thereby doing damage to the joints. I would recommend starting with two sets of 12-15 repetitions on one basic exercise for each muscle group and after a few months with this program, add a second exercise for each muscle group.

It's important to always do a thorough warm-up and cool down before training and stretching should be incorporated into his program as well. With a properly designed and supervised program your child can improve his endurance, total fitness level and sports performance.



All information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult your physician regarding information provided.

Debra Skelton is a certified fitness consultant and a licensed nurse and is the owner of Motivative Health & Fitness, an in-home fitness training business. She can be reached at deb@gotatrainer.com.

RECENT ISSUES
Search archive