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weight training 4 12 year old????

solocomp Posts: 1 Joined: 2001/11/10	2001/01/20, 07:27 PM My 12 year old is interested in lifting weights. I purchased barbells, dumbbells,and a bench that has butterfly type apparatus (it is the type that is used laying down). It also has weights that can be added to leg lift 4 strengthening the thigh and back muscles. I am at a loss as to how heavy of weights he should use. What is appropriate for his age? I purchased it at Sports Authority. They indicated that at 12 years old a child needs to be careful to not put too much strain on the joints. Thus,... use very light weights. He recommended 5 lbs. My son can do 30 reps easily. I stop him after 30. I told him to wait until I obtain guidelines before overdoing it. Maybe a lot of reps using light weights is not good either??? Are there any guidelines to follow? I believe my son needs a program to follow that is suited to his age/development. Can you help? Thank You, Fred
tt_rocker Posts: 389 Joined: 2001/01/25	2001/01/20, 11:22 PM Hi...at the age of 12 your son shouldn't do any exercise that requires a lot of weight for the simple reason that both his skeletal and muscular systems are not yet capable of handling such high resistance. You might wana get him involved in some other physical activity that can also strengthen him..basketball or baseball would be great. Home training is also a great way to work out some common muscle parts without having any risk of injuries..he can do push-ups, cruches, pull-ups, and exercise aerobically. I'm not saying that he should avoid weights or any of those machines completely but that he should be really carefull as to how far he should go and what resistance to use. Dave Draper who is one of the bodybuilding legends also started weight training at age of 12...but he used to home train back then..using his own resistance to do all sorts of stuff untill he figured he was old enough to get into the gym.
Dark_Wolf Posts: 16 Joined: 2001/11/10	2001/01/22, 09:30 PM i don't know about 12 year olds but i'm 16 and have been lifting hard for 3 years. when i started at 13 i was with a friend and we started at benching 125 for reps. i think letting him find what he can lift a good 15 time is a start and when he can do it more than 15 reps up 5 lbs until he can do more that 15 reps. thats how i started i changed my program later that year but i'm now maxing 1RM 235 so i think it should word out with your help.
Dark_Wolf Posts: 16 Joined: 2001/11/10	2001/01/23, 03:53 PM sorry for spelling mistakes i was tired
bore Posts: 320 Joined: 2000/12/30	2001/01/24, 04:16 AM He is still growing so your right to be careful. But i grew up lifting heavy, when i was twelve i was lifting 100lbs sacks of grain and stacking them for 8hrs a day 6 days a week. It never seemed to effect my growth. He should never do a 1 rep max, but he should be ok to lift heavy enough to work his muscles, doing 12-15 reps. Rob
tt_rocker Posts: 389 Joined: 2001/01/25	2001/01/24, 09:53 AM so you've been traininig for 18 years bore... I bet your as big as Ronnie Coleman now
bicep Posts: 315 Joined: 2001/01/26	2001/01/27, 10:27 AM get him to sports that do not involve the weights resistance training....... I remeber when my freinds in grade 7-8 have joined a Tae Kwon Do classes they grew in no time...and it was back in grade school.....no weights just pure simple pushups situps,etc. ....they had better results than me and most people doin` weight training..
simonhall84 Posts: 57 Joined: 2002/04/07	2002/04/21, 04:31 PM Mayme a few press ups or sit up for a start until he gest older -------------- immortality
simonhall84 Posts: 57 Joined: 2002/04/07	2002/04/21, 04:31 PM i mean maybe not mayme!!!!!!!!! -------------- immortality
fireloard Posts: 665 Joined: 2001/03/27	2002/04/21, 09:21 PM Uh.. this post is about a year old.. I doubt most of the people who created/replied to it even come here anymore.. =/
Dymsim Posts: 6 Joined: 2004/03/02	2004/03/03, 09:03 AM LOL. Let's make it three years old :)
ssminnow Posts: 284 Joined: 2004/02/16	2004/03/03, 12:52 PM yeah, the kid is 15 now so he can start liftin weights. :laugh:
ReneeReed Posts: 13 Joined: 2004/02/24	2004/03/03, 04:32 PM How funny. Is this post really that old?:surprised:
ioioio Posts: 302 Joined: 2004/01/29	2004/03/04, 03:00 AM Man the kid is probably lifting heavy now, i wonder if he did lift at the age of 12?????:dumbbell: