What age...?

[Roadblock]

is the proper age to start lifting weights?
Half a year ago I dragged my 14year old brother to the gym because I was tired of listening to his whining about how thin he was. Said and done, he got his membershipcard and he also got this free counceling on how the machines work, proper training etc. etc. he even got a training schedule for beginners. I told him to stick to it a couple of months so he would build up a little strength before doing anything heavy. After a while I started teaching him to do squats, deadlifts and other heavy lifts, thats when the councelor came up to me and told me not to push my brother so hard because he´s still growing, he told me to wait until he finished growing otherwise he´d loose a couple of inches in height. What the hell? Is he supposed to wait another 4years and meanwhile just stick to the girliemachines? (no offense to the girls )
I wish I´d started when I was 14, then I´d be a monster by now.

Here´s some picks to get the replys started http://bb.xl.ru/World reports/richard 7 yo.html

 

[Roadblock]

Anyone?
Bump.

 

[15yroldinNY]

Ive been benching for a couple of years now, but squats and dads are coming next week for me. I will also do them real light, so nothing happens to my growth plates. Try and teach him good form, high reps, low weight.

 

[Cackerot69]

Proper lifting won't stunt his growth.

Now go get him back in the gym doing deads, squats, benches, etc

 

[edgecrusher]

When I first started, I was doing only leg presses, extensions, curls. Later (after about a year) I began squatting. Well I'm 6'2, all be it the shortest of the men in my house, but about a foot taller then all the women. So I gotta agree w/ Cack nothing wrong w/ lifting at that age.

 

[MonStar1023]

I actually started working out when I was only 12 years old! I know that sounds ridiculously young but I ended up loving it and now 6 years later I still love it. I bought all the muscle magazines and worked out alot with concentration curls, and dumbbell flyes, and some other isolation exercises that I thought were the best for getting big.

 

[Roadblock]

Hell yeah! That´s what I want to hear
Time to make him a man

 

[Y_lifter]

I also see nothing wrong with starting to lift at 14.
I feel he should also do some cardio and keep the weight on the medium side so as not to get hurt.
Also show him how to stretch before/after every workout.

 

[Roadblock]

What do you think about the kid in the pics?
His dad looks like Nasser El Sonbaty..

 

[Y_lifter]

Whoa! I missed that link.. Damn that's too hardcore for that age IMO...
Getting strong and learning the form is one thing,
that's overboard.
And yea, he does look like him...

 

[Mesofreaky]

I shrunk an inch from heavy squatting no bs but I'm not comlainin if I can lose 2 more I'll be at perfect bber height.

 

[bigmag]

that trainer is full of shit....squats do wear down on cartalige which stunts growth but I say it's a small price to pay to look how you wanna look. Personally I think he should go tell that to just about every junior high or high school coach around....they'd all laugh in his face. Shit, I started doing squats when I was 12 and I haven't stopped doing them since!!!

 

[Dannyboy]

tsk........BS! I started at 13, doing squats an' everything, and I'm 6'3" now. but..........then again, maybe I would've been taller if I hadn't done them!

 

[AMP 33]

I am 15 and i started lifting last year in really have gone a long way. I use to ben 170 of pure fat and now im 165 with about 12 percent bodyfat because im bulking. I use to be about 6 percent BF but I think lifting helped girls notice me more and gave me more confidence in myself about everything. Just teach ur bro good form, tell him its not all about ego, and teach him out to eat the way a bodybuilder should, and he will turn out to be a monstar.

 

[taylor7]

I stared lifting at 14 with no problems in terms of stunting my growth...6'3 and the tallest one in my family. My son, who will enter puberty in a year or two, is an avid football player and extremely interested in weight training. Consequently, I researched the subject and came across some studies demonstrating that weight training will not hinder one's growth unless growth plates are actually INJURED, and this generally occurs via a combination of improper form and excessive weight. In fact, pre-pubescent children can make regular gains through weight training if light-to-moderate weights and proper form are incorporated.

Personally, I won't let my son lift with weights until he hits puberty. When he wants to train with me, he is limited to push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups. However, your brother should be ready to use any type of lift (bench, squats, deads, etc.) as long as he uses proper form.

There's tons of info on the Internet on the subject. Here's one link that may be usefull: http://www.protraineronline.com/past/jun1_01/children.cfm

 

[HumanShell]

but...dads are coming next week for me. I will also do them real light...

Uh...hope you have fun.

 

[Chris V.]

Might be coincidence but my neighbor who is a varsity football player started squatting in 8th grade for football. Now, he is 5'4" 215lbs Huge 21" inch guns.
His brother who is 4 years younger is 6'3" 185lbs.
He might've fucked up his plates since genetically his parents are about 5"10.
You be the judge...
I have 2 little brothers and I would feel really bad If I made them my fitness guinea pig
and just end up making them midgets.
It would really be traumatic for them growing up.
Im 6" tall and I just love my height since its perfect for bodybuilding. I wouldnt listen to the bandwagon and just decide on this impulsely.
YOU SHOULD REALLY THINK!!!
Of course it wouldnt stunt growth If done properly....
BUT Are you really sure he will do it in perfect form
EVERYTIME??

If I was you, I would stick to weighted chins, dips, wide grip pull ups and maybe some weighted push ups to build their base for now.

 

[MonStar1023]

I am 15 and i started lifting last year in really have gone a long way. I use to ben 170 of pure fat and now im 165 with about 12 percent bodyfat because im bulking. I use to be about 6 percent BF but I think lifting helped girls notice me more and gave me more confidence in myself about everything. Just teach ur bro good form, tell him its not all about ego, and teach him out to eat the way a bodybuilder should, and he will turn out to be a monstar.

Damn straight hell be a monSTAR!!

 

[Roadblock]

Chris V: If your neighbour´s that short and has that amount of weight isn´t it possible he did AS beeing too young?

But I think my bro should be fine if he does moderate weighted squats and deadlifts.

That trainer is short though(5"3 or 4) but ripped as hell

 

[needleboy]

Just keep it light so he doesn't end up with tendonitis!!!

 

[MrOlympia2004]

There isnt a consensus on when to start resistance training. I personally started lifting when I was in seventh grade. I think I was 12 years old. Luckily, my program concentrated on technique form and light weights. Then years later I increased the intensity and weights. Proper lifting won't stunt his growth, but a bad lifting technique will mess him up. The stunt your growth myth is from chemical abuse. T when your young will cause your natural growth cycle to be screwed up. Watch his form and weights closely. Get him a good pro trainer. You don't want to have a hunchbacked bro do you?

 

[Enock]

My friend may prove an example as a counter point.

Hes 5"10 ok thats not short, but everyone in his family is over 6ft, even the youngest brother (hes the middle of 3) is over 6ft. His older brother and I always call him midget, (I'm 6"3).

I should note that when he started he started purely for strength gains, he was hungary for the heavy weights coupled by the fact that at that time I'm sure the only thing he really knew was the old concencious of 3 sets of 10. Hes 17 now so hes got time to grow its possible he didn't stunt his growth only delayed it like. Either way it doesn't matter much since hes a decent height.

 

[KidMan]

I am 15 and i do squats and deads and lift heavy weights that i could hardl reach 8 reps.Is there any thing wrong with shortness????

 

[Welsh power house]

Proper lifting won't stunt his growth.

Now go get him back in the gym doing deads, squats, benches, etc

true to some extent, doing squats, deads and benching even with perfect form will probably stunt his growth if he is 14!!!

i started at 15/16 and thought that was early!
I think i would be taller if i had waited another year.
I was 5'10 at 15, i am now nearly 18 and still the same height....not saying it happens to everyone, but i would tell him to wait until he is a bit older.
if he is thin, tell him to eat more!
dont let him get fat though!

 

[Skeeter1]

It depends on the individual but 14 to 16 would be appropriate for most.