When is the best time/age to lift weights?

[PCboy]

My doctor said it's okay to lift weights as long as you're not overloading your bodyweight/muscles and you are doing it properly because your body is still growing, otherwise you could stunt your growth. My friend says to wait until you're 18 and above but he started when he was 16 and he looks okay.

 

[thirtythree]

I hope it stunts my growth. I don't want to get any taller than 6'.

 

[rival]

i started lifting in high school, age 14-15...and im fine, i think

 

[Mrburns2007]

The stunting your growth is BS, most bodybuilders start early at age 14 or so and they all seem to grow to six feet and beyond. Your height is genetic and not controlled by weightlifting or other exercises.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: Mrburns2007
The stunting your growth is BS, most bodybuilders start early at age 14 or so and they all seem to grow to six feet and beyond. Your height is genetic and not controlled by weightlifting or other exercises.

Then what's up with the lifters in the olympics? They seem kinda short, no?

 

[Mrburns2007]

Originally posted by: erikiksaz

Originally posted by: Mrburns2007
The stunting your growth is BS, most bodybuilders start early at age 14 or so and they all seem to grow to six feet and beyond. Your height is genetic and not controlled by weightlifting or other exercises.

Then what's up with the lifters in the olympics? They seem kinda short, no?

depends what you think is short...6'2" is normal height to me and alot of the heavyweights are over 6' tall.

 

[tcsenter]

Everything either stunts your growth and puts your eye out. That's no fun!

There are concerns about youngins working out improperly, overtraining (which might be considered working out improperly), and injury. But when your testosterone levels are the highest around the ages of 15~21 is a perfect time to be lifting weights. It doesn't get any easier from approximately 25 onward, when testosterone levels start falling (for the average male).

When in doubt, consult with a real trainer who has formal training in sports conditioning and weight training, not the 'local expert' who reads T-Mag and learns by myth, rumor, trial and error.

 

[Corporate Thug]

as long as you dont overload yourself there is no particular age.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: Mrburns2007
The stunting your growth is BS, most bodybuilders start early at age 14 or so and they all seem to grow to six feet and beyond. Your height is genetic and not controlled by weightlifting or other exercises.

Actually most professional bodybuilders are really short. That might not be because of the weightlifting but its because the amount of muscle goes farther on a small frame.

 

[GermyBoy]

Any age, any time. It's never too late to be fit.

 

[yakko]

As long as you are not dead and are doing it properly any age is good.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Depends on what kind of results you're looking for. Some of the big guys like body builders and wrestlers all started early in their teenage years - you have all these hormones running through your body, plus your body is in critical growth mode - if you want to be "big" so to speak, that's the time to start. Otherwise if you want to do it to stay in shape and have a nice body any age is fine.

 

[boggsie]

It is difficult to say if it will stunt your growth or not.

This rationale is applied to weightlifters, wrestlers and gymnasts. The ones who really, really seem to excel are all relatively short.

However, if you have ever watched the Worlds Strongest Man competition, then you quickly realize that lifting and pushing lots of weight around doesn't necessarily stunt your growth.

Case in point:

Gregor Edmunds
Height: 6?4"
Weight: 264 lbs.
Chest: 50"
Bicep: 19"

Brian Schoonveld
Height: 6?3"
Weight: 320 lbs.
Chest: 55"
Bicep: 20.5"

 

[GasX]

Talk to an expert to make sure you are follwing a safe regimen and there is little risk.

basic reading

 

[NeoMadHatter]

Originally posted by: Deslocke
I hope it stunts my growth. I don't want to get any taller than 6'.

i'd like to be taller than 6' but that's not happening, 6'2 or 6'3 would be pretty nice.

 

[Conky]

I started at age 14 and it didn't stop me from growing to 6'4". The best time is from puberty til about 20 which, like others have pointed out, is when your natural testosterone will make you grow like crazy.

Go as heavy as you can for 8-10 reps on most exercises 3 times a week for maximum growth and definition. Eat a lot too.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: erikiksaz

Originally posted by: Mrburns2007
The stunting your growth is BS, most bodybuilders start early at age 14 or so and they all seem to grow to six feet and beyond. Your height is genetic and not controlled by weightlifting or other exercises.

Then what's up with the lifters in the olympics? They seem kinda short, no?

Thats because of the technicality of the lifting.

To lift better its better to have shorter arms then long ones. You end up having to lift the weight less of a distance then if you were taller and have longer limbs. Its easier to Snatch a weight when you have short arms and short legs. When you stand up with the weight its already pretty far up your body if you have short arms. If you have long arms its further down your leg. Therefore you have to work THAT much harder to get the weight high enough to catch it. Just biomechanics.

Originally posted by: boggsie
It is difficult to say if it will stunt your growth or not.

This rationale is applied to weightlifters, wrestlers and gymnasts. The ones who really, really seem to excel are all relatively short.

However, if you have ever watched the Worlds Strongest Man competition, then you quickly realize that lifting and pushing lots of weight around doesn't necessarily stunt your growth.

Case in point:

Gregor Edmunds
Height: 6?4"
Weight: 264 lbs.
Chest: 50"
Bicep: 19"

Brian Schoonveld
Height: 6?3"
Weight: 320 lbs.
Chest: 55"
Bicep: 20.5"

Because at the top of any sport you will always find a pattern.

The best O-Lifters, Wrestlers and Gymnasts are short because it prefered to be short. You never see a tall WORLD class Gymnast because its MUCH harder to do the positions and holds if you are taller. Your mass is more spread out over your body. If your shorter its easier to to do the moves and you can spin faster making the tumbles easier. You do get some taller Gymnasts but they aren't typically as amazing as the smaller ones.

Like you never see a WORLD class cyclist that is short. Same for being a long jumper or high jumper. You just can't compete if your 5"5 in High Jump.

Genetics will help when you are competiting against the worlds best.

I'm an O-Lifter myself. I'm 5"10 and I weigh 79kg (176lbs). My coach says for me to be at my ideal weight I would have to be at 95kg to suit my frame.

Its alright to start at any age. Just make sure you do the correct form. You can start lifting as young as 8yrs old. Of course you won't lift much but focus on technique (O-Lifting), even younger if your a Gymnast but you don't work with weights so much just a lot of training.

If your not wanting to compete then it doesn't matter so much. Just do some training and as long as you have correct form you are good to go.