He should be able to lift weights. I’m 12, and I’ve been training for four years.(2 yrs. that were’nt very heavy, 2 yrs. that have been pretty serious.)
I’m not sure,but he should be able to lift weights no matter his own weight, since I could deadlift around 75lbs. when I was 8.
[quote]NoseGuardSeth wrote:
He should be able to lift weights. I’m 12, and I’ve been training for four years.(2 yrs. that were’nt very heavy, 2 yrs. that have been pretty serious.)
I’m not sure,but he should be able to lift weights no matter his own weight, since I could deadlift around 75lbs. when I was 8.[/quote]
It depends on the base you have to build on. At 12 you don’t just jump into it. You build a base with sports and body weight exercises. These are things you probably take for granted. Not everyone has had the same experiences you’ve had. Being able to lift weights and doing it safely are 2 different things.
There is nothing wrong with being able to lift at 12 years old. The point is to monitor the loading scheme and start off light while just focusing on form and using higher reps to build a base of conditioning.
If kids aren’t allowed to lift weights, then why do phys. ed techers use pullups,pushups,bw squats, and lunges when they are in elementary school? It is so hypocritical since majority of those exercises are maximal in intensity for some kids who can barely perform one rep(pullup and pushup).
bottom line: Supervise the child and monitor his progress. Form is emphasized and weight must be light. Calisthenics are awesome no doubt and I believe kids should focus on these first, but some need the free weights(mostly the upper body) as a supplement to get them conditioned to where they will be able to perform the bw exercises.
I was a fat kid. Like… DAMN! fat at age 12. I stayed fat for so long because
- I was an idiot (see point 2)
- I was scared to become a jock
- I hated running.
I cannot imagine how awesome it would have been to have been doing strongman training at age 12. I would have dominated. Dude, I’d be taking on Magnus VerMagnussen by now if someone had done that for me.
Just my $.02
[quote]Otep wrote:
I was a fat kid. Like… DAMN! fat at age 12. I stayed fat for so long because
- I was an idiot (see point 2)
- I was scared to become a jock
- I hated running.
I cannot imagine how awesome it would have been to have been doing strongman training at age 12. I would have dominated. Dude, I’d be taking on Magnus VerMagnussen by now if someone had done that for me.
Just my $.02[/quote]
I wish I had done SM type training instead of deciding training into being able to do 800 situps without stopping and 400 chest to ground pushups in a row in middle school. Damn, that shit kept me twiggy.
Would have, should have, could have, it’s all part of growing up and maturing. If you are happy with where you are currently, then you did something right along the way despite all of your mistakes and misguided education.
This is blanket statement Zep, not directed at you.
Sure things might be different. You could have trained differently and have a lifelong injury to show for it.
I guess my question’s similar to others: what ‘got him’ where he is? Does he have glandular issues? Or just another kid who didn’t run around and got fat? I would think if the kid’s already on cholesterol medication something more than playing Playstation and eating junk food is at work (but I’m not a doctor, maybe that happens more than I think).
I would think that lifting at 12 would be fine - isn’t that when most of us started? I mean, given his situation, he’s not going to be inclined to ‘overdo it’ and if you’re taking him on, then you can make sure it’s more for strength than mass.
Also, wouldn’t a good body-weight only regimen make sense? Get him to realize as well the size he is (not that he doesn’t) and how much effort it takes to move that around and why losing it makes sense.