Doing weights...Good or bad?

[HamzaAbbasi]

I do weights with my cousins every monday, wednesday and friday.

Monday and friday is chest and back and wednesday is shoulders, back, biceps, triceps etc.

I can bench 38KG at the most without dying and I weigh 63k myself, I'm 5'10'' and I'm 13 years old.
I don't think I'll grow much anymore as I haven't seen any change for a year or so.

 

I wouldn't recommend weights at that age, you still have have another decade of growing...
I started when I was about 16, but not properly, just doing a little on my arms every now and then. It was only when I reached 18 when I started doing them properly.
You have tons of growing lol... when I was 13 I was like 5'5 maybe?
Now I'm 6'5.

 

[<3☻]

I agree with Shoopadoop, you're too young to be working out hard with weights, you've got a lot more time to grow, I didn't hit my growth spurt till late 16's early 17's.
When I was 13, no lie I was like 5'2 maybe 5'3 if I tiptoed, and I wanted to work out very bad at that age but new it wasn't a good idea because I didn't want to stunt my growth. I'm now 18 almost 19, and am now 6ft probably 6'1 and hopefully going for more, but I suggest you put off weights till 16 or 17 and just occupy your weight lifitng time with sports and activities.

 

[That Kid]

I completely agree with what both the other guys have advised.

At your age I wouldn't do it, train yourself on Cardio, go for runs, play sport etc; just basically keep your fitness up. Don't start training until you hit 16-18. I'm 19 now but my bones are really only 16 years old and i'm 6"6, ideally now is the best time for me to start doing weights but i've been doing them since I was 17.

 

[Simple]

In contrast to what the above posts are saying, there is nothing wrong with training at a young age. It will not stunt your growth whatsoever. In fact, the training you do from now until young adulthood will stay with you the rest of your life! I am glad to hear that you enjoy working out. Since you are still really young, don't push yourself too hard. Your body doesn't produce enough testosterone to give you massive gains just yet, but as you hit your later teens, that's when you should up the intensity. Instead, continue to workout a few times a week with your cousin and go on regular runs (if that's what you enjoy doing). If you enjoy athletics, enroll in lots of P.E courses at your school. After all, you're in the best physical condition of your life right now! Keep hitting the weights, but don't push yourself too hard!

 

[Asalci]

I worked out since I was younger than you and im just fine. Lifting weights is good but dont forget the cardio!

 

[HamzaAbbasi]

So should I continue and what's the most I should do?

 

[Liight]

Like its been said, you still have a long time of growing left, but that shouldn't stop you from working out in any ways. I personally started weights at the age of 13 because of Football, but I've been playing for about 10 years now so I gained some muscle naturally. If you are going to lift weights that early, take it somewhat slow. Also don't lift everyday. Make sure you have a routine like you said you do and stick to it.

Don't just do upper body as well, you want to even it out.

My schedule was Monday - Chest and Arms, Tuesday - All lower Body, Wednesday - Cardio (1 - 2 Mile Run), Thursday - Back and Shoulders, Friday = Rest.

Rest is incredibly important when working out, also what you eat is to.

 

[TehSkillz.]

You're never too young. I'd start off with some bodyweight excercises first to get a solid base, after I'd to Starting Strength. Don't do a split, work on compound movements.

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/The_Starting_Strength_Novice/Beginner_Programs

 

[Simple]

So should I continue and what's the most I should do?

Yes, you should continue. Don't listen to the first few posts, those guys have no idea what they're talking about. Perhaps you could post you and your cousins' workout for us to see? That way we can give you tips and advice.

 

Yes, you should continue. Don't listen to the first few posts, those guys have no idea what they're talking about. Perhaps you could post you and your cousins' workout for us to see? That way we can give you tips and advice.

Clearly not.
I've done martial arts since I was 7 and I was restricted from weight training then. Weight training is completely different to training in general, a few of my friends are bodybuilders and pretty much all of us are athletic, you made me doubt myself after seemingly being so confident, but I have aske my friends who are bodybuilders what they would recommend for a child at that age and even they said they wouldn't recommend body building.

 

[HamzaAbbasi]

Now I'm confused...:S yes or no??

Weekly routine (mine):

Monday:
Bench press- decline - incline - normal/flat - 3 sets of each position going from highest weight to lowest, highest is 38kg, lowest is 28kg - 10 reps for each set.

Pec fly - 3 sets of 10 reps going from lowest to highest - highest is 30kg lowest is 20kg.

Lat pulldown - I do four different types, inner grip facing bar, outer grip facing bar, chin-up grip facing bar and facing away from the bar pulling it down behind my neck - max Is 35kg min is 25kg. I do all these in order as one set. 10 reps.

Wednesday:
I do full arms shoulders and back here.
Shoulders - lifting bar up close grip from ground - 10 reps 3 sets max weight is 28kg min is 18kg.
Then I lift it straight up bringing it down to my checst then back up, 3 sets 10 reps, same weight as before.

Arms - tricep workout by leaning on bench with arm in right angle extending to the back with a dumbbell, max is 7.5kg min is 3.75kg. 3 sets 30 reps

Biceps - bicep curl max 28kg min is 18kg 3 sets 10 rePs standing and 3 sets 10 reps sitting with same weight.

Back - 2 here aswell, leaning on bench with arm in dead position with dumbell in hand lifting upwards, max Is 7.5 min is 3.75 and 3sets 30 reps.
Next I get the barbell and going into a bent position standing up slightly crouched with a straight back and lifting the barbell up to stomAch from knees, max is 28kg min is 18kg, 3sets 30 reps.

FRIDAY WORKOUT IS SAME AS MONDAY!!
Other days I rest, each new set I add or remove weight.

 

My friends and I and have all said no, but I'm going to the gym tomorrow after uni, so I'll ask one of the personal trainers and see what they say for you.

 

[Liight]

When you're training martial arts, you're restricted from Weight training, because its not about how big you are its about how your mobility. I've done martial arts for 10 years now. Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Krav Maga, Wrestling, Kickboxing, and now MMA.

Yes keep working out, when you're consistent with it, it'll pay off as you get older.

Just remember, you can be as big as you want but if you're going to play sports cardio is incredibly important.

 

[Simple]

@Shoopadoop, 7-years old is clearly too young to be weight training as your body hasn't entered puberty yet. You're right, there would be no point. However once you enter puberty, your body begins making some extreme physical and chemical changes. It begins growing at a rapid rate and there's nothing wrong with putting on "a little" muscle along the way (it will positively effect how your body grows into itself, so to speak), which will ultimately effect your body structure and stay with you the rest of your life. It's important to note that HamzaAbbasi isn't bodybuilding so much as weight lifting, a definite difference. I see him doing it recreationally with his cousin as opposed to professionally, although this is not uncommon. I would be interested in hearing what the personal trainers at your gym say regarding this topic.

@HamzaAbbasi, ultimately it is up to you whether you want to continue or wait a few years. Obviously there is mixed responses over this matter. However I see nothing negative in this at all - if anything it is preconditioning you for your teen years in which you will make the best gains of your life. Your workout looks pretty solid however I don't see any leg or ab exercises. You should ask your cousin to show you a couple (squats, deadlifts, leg curls, crunches, leg raises, plank, etc).

 

[HamzaAbbasi]

Just wrote out a long paragraph and iPod crashed. -_-
Summarised the paragraph is : I'll add leg and an workouts in Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with time for my upper body to rest those days and time for my lower to rest on my upper body workout, I'll probably Start going for cardio on Sunday's.

 

[blazee]

The above people have a few good points and I agree with some of their points. I started working out properly at 14 and a half. You can start and this age although you won't have massive gains. Don't push yourself too far and make sure you rest properly and know when to do what exercises to prevent injures that might haunt you for the rest of your life. Example, don't do chest and arms one day then do arms and back the next day.

Depending on how hard you work, try split your routine into a 4 day routine so you can maximize your resting time. I'd also say stay away from all compound lifts besides bench pressing. Enjoy!

 

[Pushing Limits]

Good question! i hope this doesnt come across wrong but i want to say theres alot of bad points from previous replies.

when i was 13 i started lifting weights, obviously only light weights, and not too often (this is fine), however my friend started full on routine, and hasnt given up yet. he's 18 same as me, i quit till 16, upon going back to the gym with him, i noticed i was gaining alot of strength! rapidly, im 6ft 2, i know bench 72kilo,

but thats not what im getting at, he's 5ft 6 and this is due to genetics of corse, however building big muscles from a younge age potentially stops the spinal cord from growing ( i do A Level P.E training to be a physio therapist) im 6ft 2 and althought i might not be as strong, i havent done aa quatre of the ammount he has, and his muscles are rather deformed / looks unatrual

My advice would be keep on top of cardio, and dont push yourself too hard! a couple of light work outs to tone yourself / develop into whater weight you have is fine, but dont try get big! train for your strength only!

 

[HamzaAbbasi]

What do you think the max I should bench is?

 

[blazee]

We don't know your body as well as you do so no-one can really say what's the max you should bench.