|
2007/12/28, 09:04 PM
Hello all. I'm 38, 235lbs, 5'8". Believe it or not, I used to be a pretty good wrestler. Now, my 14 year old son is starting to get serious about wrestling. So the two of us have started working out together, although on different programs. His weight fluctuates between 120 and 125. He is 5'7". He wants to build some muscle mass. Well, not mass, he just wants strength. He is not concerned with his weight. He thinks he can be competitive at any weight, as long as he has the strength to go with it. So I am on a weight loss program, and he is on a muscle mass program. Because he wants to stay in top physical condition. He still runs, jumps rope, and does cardio like some kind of mad man.
Anyways, I said all this because one of the trainers at the gym we work at came up to me and asked exactly what his goal was. I basically told him what I just said. We have been working our programs just like what freetrainers suggests. Of course the weight is still light. I figure we would start light, and sooner or later we would be taking heavy. He suggested, for strength, he should start heavy, then get lighter for muscle fatigue to set in.
Can I get a little clarification? He kinda confused me.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
2007/12/30, 03:44 PM
I'm not a professional body builder here, I'm sure that many others can answer better than I can. But, since you haven't received an answer yet, I'll let you know what I know.
When you are lifting light weights for multiple reps, you are really doing more of a cardio workout rather than weight training and not serving much purpose. In order to build mass, or really to get an effective weight training workout, you (and your son) should be lifting weight heavy enough so that somewhere between the 8th and 12th rep you should not be able to complete the rep due to muscle exhaustion. If you can lift 8-12 with no problem, you are lifting too light.
Good luck!
|
|
2007/12/31, 12:11 PM
Thanks Returnofplex. Glad you added that.
|
|
2007/12/31, 09:27 AM
You need to be careful with the weight that you let your son work out with. He's still a growing boy, and could get hurt if you try to go too heavy with the weight. I would say that he needs to stay in the rep range of 10-12 with moderate amounts of weight. If he exceeds the 10-12 easily, add just a little bit more weight. As far as the actual exercises go, he's probably ok with whatever dad is doing. Just watch his form strictly, and don't let him cheat the reps out while trying to make his dad proud.
For yourself, it's fine to go into lower rep ranges with heavier weight, but be a good role model and insist on good form, and being smart about working out. It's not about who lifts the heaviest, it's about who lifts the smartest.
|
|
2008/01/01, 10:04 PM
Thanks for the response. I had my son read it also. At least he knows that I'm not purposely holding him back. I am concerned that he do this correctly, so he can be as successful as he can possibly be.
|
|
2008/01/02, 09:17 AM
I'm glad you let your son see the responses here. He will still get stronger as he progresses with the weight. The #1 thing about fitness is what you know. You could have all of the heart and will in the world, but if you don't know what you're doing it is basically all for nothing! Keep being a hero to your boy, and it'll pay dividends to him as he goes into high school and beyond.
|
