Is 14 too young for a gym?

[scottbombedout]

When I was young I weight trained like anything and never put any muscle on if truth be told , it was only when I got to 17/18 it made a diference. I think my body shape at that age was to be skinny and athletic.

So now my son at a similar age (14) wants to go to the gym with me and weight train. He is incredibly athletic but as skinny as a rake. I think its too young.

Any advice? Weight training too young a waste of time?

[stomachmonkey]

Might be a waste of time but it's also bad for them physically.

I believe they want you to wait for the onset of puberty.

Before then you risk stunted growth and skeletal/joint issues.

Now strength training is different and beneficial.

If he wants to go to the gym with you maybe find a personal trainer that specializes in youth strength training to develop a regimin for him.

[Rick Lee]

Isn't 14 beyond the onset of puberty?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Isn't 14 beyond the onset of puberty?

Generally I'd think so but depends on the individual.

[Evans, Marv]

I'd go with Stomachmonkey's advice. As I understand it, it can be bad for people who have not attained full growth and whose bones have stopped growing. I know I have Osgood Slater's (sp.?) disease. That is caused by being overactive as a little kid, and the excessive tension on the knee bone causes it to not develop properly preventing the top of the bone from properly growing up under the kneecap. At least that's the way it was explained to me a long time ago.

[Rick Lee]

When I was 14 that was 9th grade for me and my prep school had an amazing athletic facility, better than most college teams have. I don't recall any restrictions on anyone using that stuff and we did have 8th grade there too. I don't think anyone played football until 10th grade, but there was plenty of weightlifting opportunity for anyone who wanted it.

[icemann427]

Wait. If not you will stunt his growth.

[pavulon]

It's a resonable time to start working on familiarization with weight training. The trouble starts when young kids are pushed to make gains or (worse) try to "max out"...which with kids usually occurs each time they go to the gym with friends.

Any more, I think most of the work out should be about handling body weight (push-up/pull-up/lunging...) and core strengthening...some barbell/dumbell stuff but no H.S. superhero BS like "200 lb bench press club". Unless you're into competitve power lifting or olympic lifting, those numbers are for dudes/dudettes with self-esteem issues. As always, YMMV.

[RANDY P]

you'll damage stuff at that age going heavy. He can go just don't go for growth.

Work on flexibility and stamina- run around and stuff. Teach him good form too.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by pavulon

It's a resonable time to start working on familiarization with weight training. The trouble starts when young kids are pushed to make gains or (worse) try to "max out"...which with kids usually occurs each time they go to the gym with friends.

Any more, I think most of the work out should be about handling body weight (push-up/pull-up/lunging...) and core strengthening...some barbell/dumbell stuff but no H.S. superhero BS like "200 lb bench press club". Unless you're into competitve power lifting or olympic lifting, those numbers are for dudes/dudettes with self-esteem issues. As always, YMMV.

yep

and the club here is 315

[Evans, Marv]

Oooops! In post #5 I meant to say, "whose bones HAVE NOT stopped growing."

[VincentVega]

Are you power lifting? If not it's a great time to teach good form and get him interested in fitness. Build a good base of basic movements, stretching and cardio.

[Les Paul]

As an ex coach 30+ year weight lifter and have been to clinics etc. No heavy dead lift, squats with heavy weight unless there is a machine for it. Besides those 2 things, not likely he is strong enough to hurt anything right now. How much could he bench press right now? Some of you guys think he is going to go in there and start benching 200. Not going to happen. It certainly won't stunt his growth either.
Have him do circuit training with lighter weights and higher reps. 3 sets. All that said starting him out on good old push ups, sit ups, chin ups to get him started is a wise decision. If you don't want to go to the big bar stuff or want to hold off till you see he is committed use free weights. It teaches proper form and balance. Good luck. I started with weights when I was 10 in 1964 still like it.

[A930Rocket]

Good question. Our son is 16 y/o, 6'-1'' and weighs 135-140 lbs. He's skin and bones, but swims year round and doesn't have an ounce of fat on him.

He'd like to bulk up somewhat like his swim mates, but we are thinking a few more years to see if he fills out some. In addition to the swimming they do dryland exercise as well (running, push ups, sit ups, etc.).

Thoughts?

[Les Paul]

Has to eat more calories. GNC may be the place you need to go. They sell all kinds of protein mixes for weight gain as a bonus all the vitamins he needs. My son was 6ft 190 in 8th grade. He played football and they had weight programs for them even in jr high. I did have to have a talk with them about doing heavy squats and yelling at them if the didn't go all the way down.

[teenerted1]

get that kid into the gym. and maybe get some of his video game playing budies in there too. there are too many kids sitting at home not getting out and exercising. cant belive so many here are discouraging exercise.

14 is fine for light stuff with lots of reps work on stength and stamina. bulk not importaint at this time. does the gym have cardio gear too? check with his dr to see if they might have some restictions since they should know his physio levels

[Soterik]

A lot of the workouts for specific sports activities target the larger muscle groups without doing any of the heavy lifting you think he might want to get into, I think I would point you there towards those activities that he might then also take into High School. There are specific drills that can be done inside a gym, and outside that will give him all the resistance he needs. Just like you he might not be they type to build the visible muscles that perhaps he wants... but he will get strong just the same.

I've got 13yo and 17yo boys, both are into wrestling and football, both are naturally thin kids, and both have become incredibly strong primarily through wrestling. The older one is going to "state" championships tomorrow in 3A 145 lbs. I won't mess with him... nobody messes with wrestlers, you're on the ground and tied up in knots before you know it

Is there any particular reason that he wants to go do this with you now? Is he going into high school next year?

Both wrestling and football have built a lot of self confidence in my kids, and when the older one went into High School being immediately a part of the football team came instant "cred". If he's 14 now, he's probably going to start high school next year? If so, the high school he's going to go to will have spring camp for next years football, so that might be an area to start. My oldest was 5'7" as a freshman and weighed 135 for football and 125 for wrestling. In his senior year he weighed 165 for football and 145 for wrestling ( he worked his way down from 160, to 152, to 145 over the course of the season). He made "All Metro Linebacker" in his senior year and was capt of the team as well. You don't have to be big to achieve is what I'm trying to say.

my .02 on what has worked for us... it's a great time to be a parent, I'm having the time of my life...have fun!

eric

[pavulon]

when I was a kid, the strongest kids were "farm strong"...don't know if there is such a thing anymore but a summer wrestling with hay bales, animal feed and other heavy, awkward things is good work!

[M.D. Holloway]

Sto Mo - our Son has been lifting and running for FB. Yup, at first glance I thought he was to oyoung but there are certain weight restrictions but he really enjoys it and yes he has hit the big P. He had been bugging for 2 yrs for a gym membership so for his 13yr BD we got him one. We go every night. He works certain muscle groups a different day. he reads up on fitness and has established various goals. He also runs every day as well as some sort of aerobic activity. He is only allowed to go after his homework and chores are done and has to shower and get to bed early every night. He loves it and frankly it has been very beneficial for him. He is serious about his football dreams (personally I am not excited about it - I would rather see him play basketball or track but he has a passion for football and is will to work his butt off).

Am I worried about physical issues arising? Stunted growth? Not really. I think there is more at stake playing vid games or watching TV. I would rather have him lift proper for 30 min, row for 15 min, cycle for 20min, run for 15 and then maybe play some racketball or basketball with me!

[rcecale]

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