Question: My son just started doing some natural bodybuilding training and though I am very happy about that, I have heard that lifting too heavy a weight will cause growth to be stunted in kids. Is there an ideal weight range that my son can use so that he can reach his bodybuilding goals but also attain his ultimate height?

Answer: The whole notion of growth being stunted by natural bodybuilding training is a myth that I have been fighting for years. In conversations with my grandfather who used to be an Orthopedic Surgeon graduated from Northwestern University with top honors, I learned that as long as the resistance is not so high that it would cause the bones to become more dense and thus close the epiphysis (the growth area of a long bone) then there should not be any detrimental effects.

As a matter of fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed their policy (PEDIATRICS Vol. 107 No. 6 June 2001, pp. 1470-1472) regarding this topic by stating that “strength training programs do not seem to adversely affect linear growth and do not seem to have any long-term detrimental effect on cardiovascular health” as evidenced in recent studies.

I should also point out that the compression forces on your son’s legs and spine are far greater in running and jumping than they will ever be in a bodybuilding exercise like squatting. Compression forces in running and jumping can exceed 5 times his bodyweight. If he’s not squatting over 700 pounds, he’s generating greater compression in normal daily activities.

hugo-rod-bis2

Ideal Training Weight

I wouldn’t recommend that he lift any weight that he can’t do in a controlled fashion and with perfect form for at least 10 repetitions until he’s 18 or so. A weight that he can perform with perfect form for 10-15 repetitions will give him excellent bodybuilding results. Once 18, he can introduce weeks of heavier lifting, never going below 5 repetitions, as in my opinion, that is not needed for bodybuilding.

To be honest, when it comes to kids and bodybuilding training my concern isn’t so much the risk of stunting growth (which won’t happen with proper training); I am more concerned about the risk of injuring tendons, ligaments, or joints that are unused to the demands of heavy lifting. This is the reason why I can never emphasize enough the importance of proper weight selection and perfect exercise execution. [Note: for a GREAT programs with solid videos that teach the best exercise execution please take a look at my MI-40 review here]

 

Youngsters and Weight Training

At what age can a teenage boy can start working out with weights has always been a topic of debate. Some people say that weights should not be touched until after all of the growing is done or else you could affect the growth platelets and stunt your growth. Others say it is OK to start lifting weight at an early age. I have arrived at the following conclusions based on the latest research on this subject.

I believe that youngsters (anybody less than 14 years old) are better off doing exercises with just their body weight. If you are under 14 years of age, focus on bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, dips, pull-ups, pushups, one legged calf raises. Stick to proper form and higher repetition ranges (15-20 reps) in order to train the nervous system to activate the muscle fibers. The following exercises should compose a youngster’s program:

running or fast walking
dips
push-ups
pull-ups
chin-ups
squats with no weights
lunges with no weights
calf raises with no weight
crunches
leg raises

Depending on the age and motivation of the person, anywhere between 2-5 sets of each exercise for the maximum amount of reps possible in good form is sufficient. There should be 30 seconds of rest in between exercises and they should be performed 3 times a week.

An additional 15-20 minutes of fast walking or running on rest days is enough exercise for anyone who wishes to start an exercise program before the age of 14.

14-year-olds can start working out with weights as long as they’re practicing perfect form and staring out with a beginners program like this one: Bodybuilding Routine for Those Who Are Just Getting Started

Conclusion

If you look at it, lifting weights didn’t do a thing to stunt the growth of Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, Karl Malone, Michael Vick, etc. All started lifting in their early teens, and all have gone on to be over 6′ tall and star in professional sports. Dave Draper and Arnold Schwarzenegger started lifting younger than that; again, both are 6’1″ or taller. Many high school teams start their freshmen on lifting programs, meaning your son started at a perfectly appropriate age.

Provided that exercise form, proper weight selection and safety are always emphasized, your son won’t find his growth stunted by lifting; rather, he’ll find that he grows into his body much better and much more quickly than most of the peers around him.

Until next time, take care and train hard!

hugo_sign

 

 

 

.

In this article I talk about what natural bodybuilding workouts and diets teenagers can do to gain muscle quickly and steadily.

[Read more…]

One of the keys for teenagers (or any other bodybuilder for that matter) to have bodybuilding success is nutrition. Nutrition is what gives us the raw materials for recuperation, energy, and muscle growth so having the proper bodybuilding diet plan is essential. Without a good bodybuilding diet, your dreams of achieving your ideal body will never be reached.

In order to lose body fat and achieve good gains in muscle mass, your nutrition program needs to provide your body with quality nutrients in the form of carbohydrates (which serve to provide energy), proteins (which provide the amino acids to repair muscle tissue and other tissues in the body), good fats (which support healthy hormonal production) and finally water (as most of your body is made up of water).

[Read more…]

Since I have been talking lately to a lot of confused teenage bodybuilders who are in the same predicament today that I was back when I started in bodybuilding, I decided to cover the subject of bodybuilding workouts for teens.

I remember back in May 1990 when I picked up my first bodybuilding magazine and saw the pictures of great bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Labrada, Shawn Ray and Lee Haney. I was mesmerized by how these guys looked and immediately I wanted to look like them; sooner rather than later. As a matter of fact, I set a goal of achieving that look in 3 years. I also remember saying to myself: “if 3 sets per exercise are good, then 6 sets will be even better and if most bodybuilders train 90 minutes a day, then I will train for three hours.” While that philosophy made perfect sense to me, and the work ethic is certainly commendable, if I would have known what I now know I would have made way more gains than I made back then and would certainly only have spent a fraction of the original time that I spent working out.

[Read more…]

Get Shape Up Now For FREE & Join my All Natural Body Building Newsletter.