OT: Teenage boys should be urged to lift.

[I am Ironman]

Teenage boys lifting in today's world?

 

[diontechristmas]

Sorta kinda rushed through the thread and didn’t read everything closely.
Apologies if already stated - use the right technique at any age. However, starting young is great, but do the lift correctly. Drives nuts to watch HS players try to squat the roof off the building and have knees well in front off their toes and 80% of the weight on their toes.
Lower the weight, correct technique and more reps.

OL

Great point. I know you coach so you see it first hand. Years ago I assisted with my high school with the strength program. First thing I did was make all the boys squat no more than 135 until they proved to me they had reasonably mastered the technique. 1/4 squats with knees way over the toes and heels off the ground does nothing but give kids tendinitis. I think 14 is the magic age to begin weight training. If kids are interested prior, they can increase strength quite a bit by doing push-ups, pull-ups etc. Teach technique, have kids do reps. Maxing our as youngster is very counterproductive.

I did the Bill Start 5x5 until I reached a college strength program. If nothing else kids should follow that basic outline. My old gym teacher/coach with his way too high bike shorts would approve.

 

[83wuzme]

Great point. I know you coach so you see it first hand. Years ago I assisted with my high school with the strength program. First thing I did was make all the boys squat no more than 135 until they proved to me they had reasonably mastered the technique. 1/4 squats with knees way over the toes and heels off the ground does nothing but give kids tendinitis. I think 14 is the magic age to begin weight training. If kids are interested prior, they can increase strength quite a bit by doing push-ups, pull-ups etc. Teach technique, have kids do reps. Maxing our as youngster is very counterproductive.

I did the Bill Start 5x5 until I reached a college strength program. If nothing else kids should follow that basic outline. My old gym teacher/coach with his way too high bike shorts would approve.

What about having the younger kids do exercises against their own body weight, i.e. push up’s, pull up’s, sit up’s etc ? That would seem to limit risk.

 

[Thomas1945]

All I know is that it’s been six months since I joined a gym, and in that timeframe there’s been no improvement in my core strength or physical appearance. I’m going there tomorrow for the first time and demand an answer.

 

[LionJim]

What about having the younger kids do exercises against their own body weight, i.e. push up’s, pull up’s, sit up’s etc ? That would seem to limit risk.

Al Kavadio has a lot of bodyweight workouts on T-Nation:

https://www.t-nation.com/training/5-damn-good-reasons-to-do-bodyweight-training

 

[Post_ShockTherapy_MackDaddy]

I really wish I had not wasted so much time running in my younger days. Lifting is what I should have been doing all along. For teens, this is a no-brainer, spending an hour in an activity where you can measure your progress every day. At a gym you hang around impressive people who work hard at life. You learn to push yourself consistently and to define success by how much you've improved.

Push the mathematics and push the gym and your son will be ready to make a difference when it's his time.

I said young man...

@LionJim you and I should make an inspirational video for today's youth. I can be the construction worker. Who do you wanna be? Be honest, now.

 

[phillybillyreprise]

Teenage boys need to lift my firewood into the truck, lift it onto the splitter, lift the split wood to a stack, and lift the stack into my basement. F this gym bullsh!t! Get some work done!

I grew up in rural Lancaster. County. The farm boys who milked cows and threw bales of hay or straw around were always good wrestlers and pole vaulters.

 

[TheBumble]

I don’t golf, but the idea that weights make one inflexible and bulky is from the 70’s. Strength training can help with any athletic endeavor as I don’t see how having stronger and better conditioned muscles and tendons is ever a bad thing. Golfers will not be training in the same manner as a DT so I understand that.

Yes, not all weight training is intended to build muscle mass. Pitchers, quarterbacks, and golfers are not going to be maxing out in much of anything. They'll be using lighter weights with a lot more reps.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

That’s only for wives...

Wives.....? So this product is aimed at the Morman community?

 

[GregInPitt]

I really wish I had not wasted so much time running in my younger days. Lifting is what I should have been doing all along. For teens, this is a no-brainer, spending an hour in an activity where you can measure your progress every day. At a gym you hang around impressive people who work hard at life. You learn to push yourself consistently and to define success by how much you've improved.

Push the mathematics and push the gym and your son will be ready to make a difference when it's his time.

Is this what you're talking about??

 

[ILLINOISLION]

All I know is that it’s been six months since I joined a gym, and in that timeframe there’s been no improvement in my core strength or physical appearance. I’m going there tomorrow for the first time and demand an answer.

Our local hospital system built a beautiful fitness and rehab center about two blocks from my house maybe 10-12 years ago. I gave up on it when parking became such a huge problem about 9-11 years ago.

For the record, I also was nervous.....why have a rehab center other than people could be hurting themselves in the fitness center!

 

[diontechristmas]

What about having the younger kids do exercises against their own body weight, i.e. push up’s, pull up’s, sit up’s etc ? That would seem to limit risk.

Yes, I am big proponent of doing so. If a kid can’t do 10-15 push-ups and 20 or so body weight squats there is no reason to start with the weights.

 

[Nittany Ziggy]

Who cares? Take it or leave it.

This is an awesome response. I truly appreciate your contributions on this forum but, this is some of your best work! Thanks!

 

[nits74]

All I know is that it’s been six months since I joined a gym, and in that timeframe there’s been no improvement in my core strength or physical appearance. I’m going there tomorrow for the first time and demand an answer.

That's funny, but not at all far-fetched. Years ago (early 80's) when the health club craze was taking hold, a friend of mine paid something like $1200 for a membership in Bally's (or one of those) and never went once.

 

[TheGLOV]

No Peolton?

Or Richard Simons work-out videos??

 

[The Spin Meister]

I have no idea if teenage girls should be urged to lift. My thinking is that they should be, but what the hell do I know? So I decided to leave that part alone.

All women should lift, especially women over 40. It has been proven that weight training is the best way to strenghten bones and stave off osteoporosis.

 

[Media Fan]

Reading, Writing, and Arithmetics every day.
Pushups and Sit-ups every morning.
Do enough of each and gee you might turn out alright.

 

[OhioLion]

Used to tell my players to alternate during commercial breaks between push ups and sit ups. During one commercial break, sit ups; next one push ups.
Then work into side planks.
Work the core. Problem now is my players don’t get commercial breaks while playing video games. Ugh!

Someone mentioned pull ups. Bought my son one his freshman year (of HS). Hooks onto the door jam. Started with 10 a night before bed and increased. I believe he was near the 60-70 mark each night. Different arm angles and he did get big.

OL

 

[83wuzme]

Reading, Writing, and Arithmetics every day.
Pushups and Sit-ups every morning.
Do enough of each and gee you might turn out alright.

Reads like the foundation of the Ron Swanson Pyramid of Success.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Remember these ads in the back of magazines

 

[DaTruth Farreal]

Al Kavadio has a lot of bodyweight workouts on T-Nation:

https://www.t-nation.com/training/5-damn-good-reasons-to-do-bodyweight-training

Personally I think the best measure of each lift is by % of your body weight. I realize you are talking body weight lifts but I always like to supplement this. Weighted pullups for example. I don't want to do 20 rep sets, so I add 50 to 75 lbs and get 8 reps.

I very rarely see big dudes doing this but when you do see it, it's even more impressive. There is a guy at our gym that is probably 6'2" 240 or so and he adds about 100 lbs on his weighted pullups and dips. You very rarely see this but it's impressive.

 

[PSUCYCLING]

Teenage boys need to lift my firewood into the truck, lift it onto the splitter, lift the split wood to a stack, and lift the stack into my basement. F this gym bullsh!t! Get some work done!

Rocky beat Drago and ended the Cold War by chopping lots of wood.

 

[katchthis]

Rocky beat Drago and ended the Cold War by chopping lots of wood.

• Didn't work out so well for Johnny Miller.

 

[sluggo72]

Rocky beat Drago and ended the Cold War by chopping lots of wood.

Ali chopped alot of trees down at his Deer Lake training camp.