High Life: A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Many Teens Get Exercise Through Sports, Push-Ups

Much has been written lately about the physical condition of today’s teen-agers. The experts often pin the blame on television and video games for a generation of out-of-shape kids.

Are teen-agers wasting away their spare time--as well as their bodies--in the pursuit of nothing? Hot Topics wonders: “What kind of exercise do you get on the weekend?”

“I like to go on really long walks with my dog and my Walkman. I also go to the gym and lift weights--I don’t know of many girls that do that--and I go dancing at clubs.”

Adina Nack, 17, senior, Los Alamitos

“The only time I get exercise is by walking around the malls.”

Stephanie Yeo, 16, sophomore, Southern California Christian

“I usually bike between 60 and 80 miles on weekends.”

Brad Prosek, 15, sophomore, Santa Margarita

“I thrash in the waves with my jet ski.”

Mike Hanna, 16, junior, Corona del Mar

“I shoot hoops all day.”

James Gainey, 15, sophomore, Century

“I eat chips and watch TV.”

Brian Shook, 15, sophomore, Cypress

“I baby-sit, clean house and run up and down the stairs at work.”

Maribel Lopez, 17, senior, Santa Ana Valley

“I used to go to my jazz dancing class for a couple of hours. Now, I like to exercise to music in my own room. When I have time, I enjoy going to Racquetball World to work out with my friends.”

Dana Eskew, 17, senior, Brea-Olinda

“I just do push-ups and sit-ups.”

Duane Nguyen, 15, junior, Costa Mesa

“I do everything under the sun since I’m going on a diet. Right now, it’s getting my dog into the bathtub to get her clean, and strengthening my wrists by catching up on all the homework I didn’t do during the week.”

David Hoenig, 17, senior, Los Alamitos

“There’s no time for exercise!”

Melanie Fowler, 18, senior, Southern California Christian

“I pitch every day for a softball team, and on the weekends, we have our games.”

Melissa Levens, 14, freshman, Santa Margarita

“I usually go surfing. It is very good exercise for the upper body and legs.”

Scott Estrada, 15, sophomore, Brea-Olinda

“I run up and down the beach looking at surfers.”

Kim Selph, 17, senior, Los Alamitos

“I play six hours of basketball every Saturday and Sunday.”

Benny Gonzalez, 15, sophomore, Century

“I go horseback riding.”

Kris Heard, 17, senior, Santa Ana Valley

“Hitting the snooze button on the alarm, so I can sleep in.”

Yaniz Bar-Cohen, 17, senior, Los Alamitos

“My fingers get a lot of exercise on the weekends dialing all those seven digits.”

Charlene Razo, 15, sophomore, Southern California Christian

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?

Hot Topic responses gathered by Jooyoung Lee (Brea-Olinda), Jason Welty (Century), Dean Camaras (Corona del Mar), Cindy Nguyen (Costa Mesa), Blythe Latimer (Cypress), Jennifer Vineyard (Los Alamitos), Hang Nguyen (Santa Ana Valley), Suzanne Zamoyski (Santa Margarita) and Stacey Kimsey (Southern California Christian).