How young to start weight lifting

[markmark]

I have a 12yr old ready to start weight lifting..he works out now but with no weights.. I like him to hold back another 2 yrs. .. what do you think?

 

[SpyWizard]

it depends, he will not gain muscle until he starts going through puberty.. at the same time you dont' want him to do too heavy of a routine because of joint and ligament issues..

if you wait 2 yrs, the issue is he will probably be more interested in girls than building his body..

so i would suggest he put in writting his goals, then you can help him set up a routine and discipline that will help him reach that goal..

after all, he is trying to determine who he is, and he still wants your help.. i'd help him..

 

[nefertiti]

I'm no expert...but I think 12 is ok.

From a ballet perspective, another activity that takes a tremendous toll on joins and body as a whole, we were not allowed to start learning pointe untill we were 12. Completely different things, I know, but there has to be some similar reasoning behind it.

 

[markmark]

it depends, he will not gain muscle until he starts going through puberty.. at the same time you dont' want him to do too heavy of a routine because of joint and ligament issues..

if you wait 2 yrs, the issue is he will probably be more interested in girls than building his body..

so i would suggest he put in writting his goals, then you can help him set up a routine and discipline that will help him reach that goal..

after all, he is trying to determine who he is, and he still wants your help.. i'd help him..

girls are probably the reason he will like to start early.. Or because he wants to fallow in our foot steps. both my wife and I work out 4-5 days a week and he will like to be part of the healthy life style..

 

[-SD-]

cant hurt to wait. Theres always the chance of getting injured using weights at that age because 12 year olds arent exactly known for restraint or discipline. He will also have the rest of his life to be interested in girls.

 

[javaguru]

The biggest concern isn't that weight bearing exercises will "hurt" him. It's the fact he is more likely to practice poor form and overreaching for more weight on exercises which could lead to an injury. If he's being supervised by someone who knows what they are doing and emphasizes good form and weight training practices it's perfectly safe.

 

[NickyE3]

i would wait at least a couple years

 

[markmark]

injury is my main concern. So what age will be good to start.. I started at age 15 in high school with the help of musclemag..

 

[javaguru]

injury is my main concern. So what age will be good to start.. I started at age 15 in high school with the help of musclemag..

If he were my son, I would have him stick to bodyweight exercises until he was 13 or 14 and then supervise him thoroughly until he has the basics down and understands the importance of good form. There is no physiological reason to make him wait past age twelve.

 

[heatherrae]

I would have him wait until after puberty. Now, I would just encourage more sports conditioning type stuff. Something fun.

 

[-SD-]

situps, pushups, games of jailbreak and street football or basketball in the neighborhood. 12 year olds are usually very creative in ways they expend that boundless energy. Unless hes already fallen victim to videogame addiction.

 

[Tytan]

light weight, high rep stuff proly wouldn`t hurt. Just has to be minimal and very structured for that age.

 

[ksharp01]

Well, I had concerns myself but my son started out lightly with some weights he had at home. It was so cute to walk by and he is lifting his 10lb weight while checking out the place he will once have a bicept.lol
We join the gym a year ago, he just turned 13 and I don't see that it has done nothing negative but give him a big ol meat head..lol

 

[jh1]

Nobody here knows what the fuck they are talking about.

I suggest you go up to the Anabolic Board, Pronto and get a cycle setup for the lad.


Stop fucking around, get that boy jacked.

 

[puddlemonkey]

I'm no expert...but I think 12 is ok.

Pedophile