Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire How early can a teenager start lifting weights?

Bingo

Can't say specifically, but if he's into or going into puberty, it's probably a good time. As he's still growing, one should not try to max out, but strive for improvement in strength/technique and stamina. Socially, it would help greatly if there is some support around as well.

An interest in some of the other active type sports might also help with coordination and endurance as well (racquet ball, tennis, volleyball, swimming, soccer, basketball).

You are very short, and if I'm not mistaken, train very specifically for contest bench pressing. I assume you're suited, and have adapted to the wide grip, arched back = minimal range-of-motion style of benching. That is very highly specialized, and not related whatsoever to what is instructed by Rippetoe.

Nobody is going to out-pace connective tissue adaptation by doing whole body lifts in the manner instructed. Injury results from form compromise, not getting strong.

Agreed

I gotta tell you, you are wrong. I lift geared and raw. There is a window, right around 13 - 14, I might add, where hormones kick in. At that time, muscle growth can really accelerate. The kids may not have the connective tissue strength to handle it, and tears occur. How many promising football players have carreer ending knee injuries? Rotator tears? I really dont think there are enough very young lifters to get a reliable sample. Pushed hard enough, I think you will see tendon and ligament failures. I DO agree that form compromise results in injury. Although I only compete in bench, I also squat around the raw world record. I just do bench meets though. I do not deadlift, because of a back injury from gymnastics. Not gonna die on this hill, because we do agree on virtually everything else. More than one way to skin a cat, for sure.

I started at 13, it never harmed me. I am 62 and still do it.

Somehow I don't think the kid is going to be able to pull off starting strength without some serious coaching which I doubt is available.

Cross country would be a good sport, or even soccer to get his butt off the couch..

"Lifting weights" is a very broad term and as indicated by some, if done incorrectly a teenager can easily cause injuries he'll suffer from for the rest of his life.

There are a host of sports that can provide the opportunity to burn off flab and are less likely to cause injury. Not to mention working out in a group tends to be a much more motivating than hitting the weights in the gym or garage by yourself.

Nor sure how it is in Texas, but in our cross country running races whether it's the state champion coming in first, or the pudgy kid coming in 15 minutes later, parents and students from every school are cheering for every runner at every race.

Any time after 0400......grin

I started lifting weights when I was 12, but then again I was a wrestler. By the time I was 14, I was benching 300 pounds. If in your shoes, I'd focus on correct technique and endurance training. When in high school, other sports like football and basketball will be no sweat.

funny thread here , city [bleep] abound , gotta be tougher chit to tackle a Starbucks, good old country kids with duties and chores come out tougher than chit, not always does size mean stout let alone true grit. If Birdphuck is to be a hreo it will have to be on the keyboard protecting the Hill-da-beast

Took all of a couple pages for a simple question to turn into a dick measuring contest lol. I don't know schit about lifting or fitness except that gyms tend to be full of self-centered [bleep], and lots of guys used to be able to do a lot more than they can now.

That being said, it seems there is a whole lot more material out there now about how to do it healthily than there used to be.

Good post..

There's not much that compares to bucking hay bales and changing irrigation pipe, but some of these city folk and their kids don't get the opportunity to do this. When they don't get the opportunity to have to work their azzes off like some of us had to do when young, they have to resort to other methods to gain muscle and endurance. I consider myself lucky, having grown up in the desert where I got to ride motorcycles and walk over mountain ranges to stay in shape. I also enjoyed lifting weights and playing sports. It was when I got a little older that I was introduced to bucking hay bales. Let me tell you, that is a blast, as long as you are in shape for it. This goes back to when you are young and start lifting weights. It does help to prepare you for jobs later on in life. I still love physicaly active jobs and will continue to for a long time...

That's cool. Something to be commended for.

The body's natural testosterone is highest in the AM, and the kid will be ready to hit the rack after dinner. Too tired to get in much trouble. Win/win.

O.K. so you are his uncle and he thinks that you are "cool". So, what do you do next? You "plant seeds". You have to convince him that he wants to better himself. Lead by example. PT with him. Get him wanting to "be like Mike". Unless he wants to do it, he never will. The folks above are assuming that he is motivated to be the next "Arnold". Your hardest job will be to influence him enough that he wants to get fit. Take him hiking, be his mentor, Introduce him to a vigorous life. Once you have convinced him to want to be fit, then you can introduce him to ways to do it.

LOL ! ! !

I have a hard time relating to a 14 year old that just wants to sit in front of a computer.

If I had pulled that sort of stunt when I was that age, my dad would have put me to work doing something, from mucking out ditches with a shovel to stacking 50 lb apple boxes to 6'6, to wrenching on equipment.

The kid needs a way to improve the way he sees himself. He needs a friggin job. He can mow lawns, run errands, walk dogs, scoop dog poop, do minor tree ans shrub trimming, light painting, gutter cleaning, driveway cleaning, you name it.

Lifting weights isn't going to turn him into a stud, accomplishing something on his own will.

Or he can keep being a nerd.

Sir, thanks for the suggestions and the spirit in which they were offered, but I'm pretty sure that stuff is how one gets to be considered a cool uncle in the first place.

Birdwatcher