[Week 35] - How old should you be when you lift your first weight?

**Trick D** · 02-20-2006, 06:18 PM

Everyone has different opinions to how old you should be before you start lifting, but what is yours? Do you believe in the old fashioned verdict that there is no lifting until you have hair on your chest? Is it an age thing, a maturity thing?

**warriors** · 02-20-2006, 06:35 PM

well i remember that when i was in 7th grade the football team was lifting weights at that time and by the time they were seniors some of them were pretty damn big.

I myself wish i would have started around 15-16 yrs old.

**DarkFalcon** · 02-24-2006, 04:24 AM

I started at 14 but I had no clue what I was doing and of course never gained much besides some strength. I think 14-15 is a good age to start.

**Fitnfirm** · 02-24-2006, 02:44 PM

i think a young males body prolly starts to respond around 16 years old because of more testosterone. This is only a guess from what Ive seen in high school boys. A girls opinion

pammiejoe6 · 02-24-2006, 02:55 PM

heres a decent article on this subject

Dudeman · 02-24-2006, 10:45 PM

i started when i was 15ish. didnt see much of a diff until 16. its all about that individuals body, just like some hit puberty later some dont respond until older and vice versa.

A_N_91 · 02-24-2006, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudeman

i started when i was 15ish. didnt see much of a diff until 16. its all about that individuals body, just like some hit puberty later some dont respond until older and vice versa.

Definately.

Some people can start getting gains once there 16 and some can when they're 11. I was pretty mature in 7th grade; a hairy mutha.....so I started growing then.

I think you should start once your voice is deep and you're hairy. A bit general but it's IMO.

**Peaked_18** · 02-24-2006, 11:11 PM

I would say, stick to bodyweight exercises when your around twelve years old. Bodyweight exercises are some of the best ways to get started and also the safest. Most basic bodyweight exercises include: push ups, sit ups, body squats and chin ups. But you can also purchase Blast Straps which can be used for 10+ more bodyweight exercises you can use to strengthen your body when your younger. Then when you reach the age of thirteen years old, start out on a basic strength routine that will give you muscle bulk and strength to give them an advantage in the future. Some of the best routines to start out on are: Westside For Skinny Bastards, Lee Hayward's 12 Week Program, and my favorite Squats n' Milk. This will build a solid base for the athlete to become stronger and bigger and be successful at being an strength athlete. As he starts to get older, around sixteen years old, start him up on a basic powerlifting routine, such as Westside routine and 5 x 5 to name a few. At this point, you should have a lean mean killing machine.

_Underdog_ · 02-24-2006, 11:32 PM

I started doing resistance training when I was in grade 17...so around 12 years of age? I had that bogus machine called the total gym and I had plenty of boot-camp physical education to back up on. I have friends who started when they we're nine. They told me the other day of how they started doing chest flyes with 5 lbs. and worked their way up. Pity they didn't continue on lifting heavy or they would've been ridiculous.

But if I had a kid, I wouldn't allow him start using weights not until 15 or 16, and that's with a trainer (such as myself), so he can learn the correct form and execution.

A_N_91 · 02-25-2006, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peaked_18

I would say, stick to bodyweight exercises when your around twelve years old. Bodyweight exercises are some of the best ways to get started and also the safest. Most basic bodyweight exercises include: push ups, sit ups, body squats and chin ups. But you can also purchase Blast Straps which can be used for 10+ more bodyweight exercises you can use to strengthen your body when your younger. Then when you reach the age of thirteen years old, start out on a basic strength routine that will give you muscle bulk and strength to give them an advantage in the future. Some of the best routines to start out on are: Westside For Skinny Bastards, Lee Hayward's 12 Week Program, and my favorite Squats n' Milk. This will build a solid base for the athlete to become stronger and bigger and be successful at being an strength athlete. As he starts to get older, around sixteen years old, start him up on a basic powerlifting routine, such as Westside routine and 5 x 5 to name a few. At this point, you should have a lean mean killing machine.

That's what I'm gonna do with my little bro once he turns 8-11. Start with bodyweight, then at 7th grade start him doing Squats n Milk, then get him to do 5x5 then Westside.:evil5:

pammiejoe6 · 02-25-2006, 07:24 PM

good stuff there peaked! Thanks!

i have a son whos 13...almost 14.....he's been lifting dbs for about a year now and his arms are ROCK SOLID....he was commenting the other day how much he wishes you could actually SEE the muscle bulge up in his biceps instead of just feeling as hard as a rock and i told him to just be patient and keep with it...keep his protein up...and try to add in something green now and then...hahaha....he grimaced....
but seriously i am damn proud of him! he really had some serious muscle going already!! he is just now going through puberty i think....his face is exploding in zits and his voice is lower...getting a hairy chinny chin chin and all that....so i do believe my little boy is becomeing a man! what trip!!
i also have a boy age 7....he sees his older bro working out and his mama working out so he has the workout bug too...i let him do curls with the 5 and 10lb dbs as much as he wants...he even does leg extentions with 15lbs! i think he too is off to a great start!
now if only i can get my daughter to start lifting! hehe...shes 11....there's still time!

**Peaked_18** · 02-25-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pammiejoe6

good stuff there peaked! Thanks!

i have a son whos 13...almost 14.....he's been lifting dbs for about a year now and his arms are ROCK SOLID....he was commenting the other day how much he wishes you could actually SEE the muscle bulge up in his biceps instead of just feeling as hard as a rock and i told him to just be patient and keep with it...keep his protein up...and try to add in something green now and then...hahaha....he grimaced....
but seriously i am damn proud of him! he really had some serious muscle going already!! he is just now going through puberty i think....his face is exploding in zits and his voice is lower...getting a hairy chinny chin chin and all that....so i do believe my little boy is becomeing a man! what trip!!
i also have a boy age 7....he sees his older bro working out and his mama working out so he has the workout bug too...i let him do curls with the 5 and 10lb dbs as much as he wants...he even does leg extentions with 15lbs! i think he too is off to a great start!
now if only i can get my daughter to start lifting! hehe...shes 11....there's still time!

Tell your kid to squat.

pammiejoe6 · 02-25-2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peaked_18

Tell your kid to squat.

funny you say that....i was just talking to him yesterday about how important it is to work his whole body and not just his arms yanno...he said
" i dont want my legs to be muscular mom...and anywayz i work my legs when they make us run in gym".....

i tried to explain to him how much better shape he would be in if he would start to squat and deadlift but he wasnt interested at that moment....

ill keep working on him though until i win!! hahaha

Refuge · 02-25-2006, 10:17 PM

Through experience with my training my younger brothers I think 12 is a good age. Obviously stay with higher rep work and lighter weights which I believe makes them much more conditioned. Also it is safer, they both know the proper form of many exercises and because they go relatively light they aren't going to mess up any growth plates or anything. One of my brothers has the most amazing genetics, when he was 12ish I gave him a barbell with some weights and showed him how to do a few exercises, in a matter of weeks he had the most amazing biceps I have ever seen on someone that young. As he gets older he will be much stronger than I was and will probably be bigger also....I say he owes it all to my training and has nothing to do with his father's genetics what-so-ever (cough, cough)!!! When they hit like 14 I'll show them true BODYBUILDING!

**bigDman** · 02-26-2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peaked_18

I would say, stick to bodyweight exercises when your around twelve years old. Bodyweight exercises are some of the best ways to get started and also the safest. Most basic bodyweight exercises include: push ups, sit ups, body squats and chin ups. But you can also purchase Blast Straps which can be used for 10+ more bodyweight exercises you can use to strengthen your body when your younger. Then when you reach the age of thirteen years old, start out on a basic strength routine that will give you muscle bulk and strength to give them an advantage in the future. Some of the best routines to start out on are: Westside For Skinny Bastards, Lee Hayward's 12 Week Program, and my favorite Squats n' Milk. This will build a solid base for the athlete to become stronger and bigger and be successful at being an strength athlete. As he starts to get older, around sixteen years old, start him up on a basic powerlifting routine, such as Westside routine and 5 x 5 to name a few. At this point, you should have a lean mean killing machine.

i agree with peaked... I think you should also spend alot of time learning form and making sure its perfect

Diesel13 · 02-28-2006, 01:36 AM

I say body weight exercises almost any age as long as form is perfect. It really depends on the kid. I started at age 13, I learned perfect form, and I'm fine. Form first than weight.

Richo · 04-23-2006, 11:01 AM

There is alot of dicussion revolving around this hot topic. So how old should you be before you pick up that dumbbell?

In my opnion, I believe around 16years of age. Around that time, the body has matured a fair bit and thats the age where self-inflicting change starts to occur.

Lifting before 16 can be foolish and dangerous. Foolish, you have no idea what exercises to do, how to do them, correct rep range for weight etc. It is dangerous as ego's (especially in young teens as they try and claim their dominance in the pack) take over and they start putting on too much weight. and unfortunalty (sp) for the kid under the bar on the bench, all of his mates who meant to spot him are laughing their heads off at his facial expressions, so they don't help him and this can lead to serious injury.

If you want to change your body before 16, i recommend the following...

Ectomorphs:
- Do not lift weights AT ALL!!!
- Do bodyweight exercises (push-ups, dips, squats, lunges, pull-ups), aim for around 8-10reps, 3 sets
- Increase calorie intake
- (If a sporty/active ectomorph) Up the calorie intake even more. Do not worry about getting fat, as ecto's normally have fast metabolisms, you will burn alot of fat or whatever you bring in.

Mesomorphs:
- Do not lift weights AT ALL!!!
- Do bodyweight exercises as prescribed above except aim for 10-12reps of 3sets.
- No need to worry about diet at the moment...

Endomorphs:
- Do not lift weights AT ALL!!!
- Do bodyweight exercises as prescribe above except aim for 6reps doing them in a circuit. repeat circuit 3-4times.
- No need to go on a cutting diet with no carbs etc. Just cut out the un-needed fats, eg lollies, chocolates, sodas etc
- Start to be a little more active. kick the footy in the backyard with your younger brother. or have toss of the baseball in the park with a few mates. this will help burn calories

I started when i was 16 with a workout partner. Lucky for me, i had a couple advantages for me...

1/ I had a older brother who had the weight set we were going to use. So he had some experience under his belt. However, this wasn't the problem. He said "If you can not run 5km in under 30mins, you can't lift! So prove to me you can run it in under 30..." A couple weeks later I run it in 27.23 and i was allowed to lift. So this didn't make me rush into lifting and make many errors.

2/ Seeing as I wasn't allow to lift until i could run, i started reading up in magazines and on the internet (this started actually before i wanted to lift, the reading pumped me up to lift) but once i was getting closer, i took my research serious, like form, reps, weight etc

Now, if any young lads are reading my post, i am going to post only a couple of my regrets, where hopefully they will read and don't do them...

1/ Not eating enough - i did not (still not) meeting the right calorie intake. the members here will be mad to read but i have lost weight. So any ectomorphs (skinny) people out there, eat, eat eat.

2/ Not doing the right exercises - sure i knew how to do them, and what weight

02-20-2006, 06:35 PM	#2
warriors The world is yours Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,134 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 29	well i remember that when i was in 7th grade the football team was lifting weights at that time and by the time they were seniors some of them were pretty damn big. I myself wish i would have started around 15-16 yrs old. __________________ Not Around...

02-24-2006, 10:45 PM	#6
Dudeman Amateur Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: GA Posts: 39 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	i started when i was 15ish. didnt see much of a diff until 16. its all about that individuals body, just like some hit puberty later some dont respond until older and vice versa. __________________ :born:

02-24-2006, 11:32 PM	#9
_Underdog_ Pro Stature Join Date: May 2005 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 262 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 5	I started doing resistance training when I was in grade 17...so around 12 years of age? I had that bogus machine called the total gym and I had plenty of boot-camp physical education to back up on. I have friends who started when they we're nine. They told me the other day of how they started doing chest flyes with 5 lbs. and worked their way up. Pity they didn't continue on lifting heavy or they would've been ridiculous. But if I had a kid, I wouldn't allow him start using weights not until 15 or 16, and that's with a trainer (such as myself), so he can learn the correct form and execution. __________________ Current lifts / My goals (end of August): Squat - 135 / 215+ Bench - 130 / 160+ Barbell Rows - 105 / 150+ Deadlift - 235 / 300+ So I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the One who gave it all. I’ll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered, all I am is Yours.

02-25-2006, 10:17 PM	#14
Refuge IMPC Contestant Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Strappin on the gloves for a comeback... Posts: 393 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 7	Through experience with my training my younger brothers I think 12 is a good age. Obviously stay with higher rep work and lighter weights which I believe makes them much more conditioned. Also it is safer, they both know the proper form of many exercises and because they go relatively light they aren't going to mess up any growth plates or anything. One of my brothers has the most amazing genetics, when he was 12ish I gave him a barbell with some weights and showed him how to do a few exercises, in a matter of weeks he had the most amazing biceps I have ever seen on someone that young. As he gets older he will be much stronger than I was and will probably be bigger also....I say he owes it all to my training and has nothing to do with his father's genetics what-so-ever (cough, cough)!!! When they hit like 14 I'll show them true BODYBUILDING! __________________ “I am one, I walk alone. Follow me. "Journey Towards Refuge" "Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength." Arnold Schwarzenegger "FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING IS OF SOME VALUE, BUT GODLINESS HAS VALUE FOR ALL THINGS" (1 Timothy 4:8)

02-28-2006, 01:36 AM	#16
Diesel13 New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 14 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	I say body weight exercises almost any age as long as form is perfect. It really depends on the kid. I started at age 13, I learned perfect form, and I'm fine. Form first than weight. __________________ -Raw Stats- Age: 16 Weight: 173 lbs. Bench: 253 (shirted) tested Deadlift: 402 x 1 equipped tested

02-24-2006, 04:24 AM	#3
DarkFalcon I've got a RAGING clue! Join Date: May 2005 Location: dnyc99's cleaning staff Posts: 12,526 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 309	I started at 14 but I had no clue what I was doing and of course never gained much besides some strength. I think 14-15 is a good age to start.

02-24-2006, 02:44 PM	#4
Fitnfirm Spanky Doodle ! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Muscle Land Posts: 1,826 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 40	i think a young males body prolly starts to respond around 16 years old because of more testosterone. This is only a guess from what Ive seen in high school boys. A girls opinion

02-24-2006, 02:55 PM	#5
pammiejoe6 Pink Members Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: south texas Posts: 4,162 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 84	heres a decent article on this subject

02-24-2006, 11:11 PM	#8
Peaked_18 a la commode Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,297 Recipes: 2 Rep Power: 96	I would say, stick to bodyweight exercises when your around twelve years old. Bodyweight exercises are some of the best ways to get started and also the safest. Most basic bodyweight exercises include: push ups, sit ups, body squats and chin ups. But you can also purchase Blast Straps which can be used for 10+ more bodyweight exercises you can use to strengthen your body when your younger. Then when you reach the age of thirteen years old, start out on a basic strength routine that will give you muscle bulk and strength to give them an advantage in the future. Some of the best routines to start out on are: Westside For Skinny Bastards, Lee Hayward's 12 Week Program, and my favorite Squats n' Milk. This will build a solid base for the athlete to become stronger and bigger and be successful at being an strength athlete. As he starts to get older, around sixteen years old, start him up on a basic powerlifting routine, such as Westside routine and 5 x 5 to name a few. At this point, you should have a lean mean killing machine.

02-25-2006, 07:24 PM	#11
pammiejoe6 Pink Members Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: south texas Posts: 4,162 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 84	good stuff there peaked! Thanks! i have a son whos 13...almost 14.....he's been lifting dbs for about a year now and his arms are ROCK SOLID....he was commenting the other day how much he wishes you could actually SEE the muscle bulge up in his biceps instead of just feeling as hard as a rock and i told him to just be patient and keep with it...keep his protein up...and try to add in something green now and then...hahaha....he grimaced.... but seriously i am damn proud of him! he really had some serious muscle going already!! he is just now going through puberty i think....his face is exploding in zits and his voice is lower...getting a hairy chinny chin chin and all that....so i do believe my little boy is becomeing a man! what trip!! i also have a boy age 7....he sees his older bro working out and his mama working out so he has the workout bug too...i let him do curls with the 5 and 10lb dbs as much as he wants...he even does leg extentions with 15lbs! i think he too is off to a great start! now if only i can get my daughter to start lifting! hehe...shes 11....there's still time!