Question about teenagers lifting weights...

beskinny

beskinny

Cathlete
My stepson is interested in lifting weights. He is 13 but is big for his age - he is 5'8" and 170lbs with very little fat.

He asked me (*blush*) to help him get started with lifting. I guess working out with Cathe in front of him since the beginning of last year has paid off!

I've done some research online but am confused on where to start. I was thinking of using Gym Styles to start with - just so he could see proper form, etc. My original inclination was 4DS but I don't want to go too heavy to start with. He is naturally strong and wants to strength train for football. He wanted to do whole body workouts but I think I have him conviced that doing a 3 or 4 day split is a better option. OH - and I'm thinking the abs section of Muscle Max for his abs routine. It's a killer and my fav!

Any suggestions? Have any of you gurus out there helped your own kids train?

(As a side note, I'm not actually new to the forums although I haven't posted in awhile. My old username was lincnkel...but I can't get a new password!!)

THANK YOU!
 
My thought would be to start with him the most basic exercises. If he wants to follow a video then I was thinking of the Pyramids (going down only for strength) as the exercises are very basic. GS is pretty good too.

If he doesn't care about a video then you can write down a routine for him. Go through it with him the first few times until you are sure his form is correct and then he can do it on his own.

As for abs, any Cathe ab routine would probably be fine.
 
I have a 14 year old daughter who is borderline obese. We are starting with Jari Love for weights and then Firms for cardio. Hopefully she can gradually expand her horizons with others. Hope this helps.
 
Jari Love is a great place to start your daughter!
My son's girlfriend lives in a college dorm and needed to get started. I purchased all the Jari Love's and a few Cathe for her.

I'm not sure I could get my son to do Jari?
Both my sons are older, and they like P90X. They want to look like Tony! My oldest did ab ripperX and couldn't stand up straight for a week:eek:
Maybe P90 or P90master series to start with? I don't own them, but maybe a beachbody team coach can advise you on these.

My husband like Cathe gym style and refuses to work out with Tony. He can't stand his chatter. My son's do not care.
 
As someone who lifted when she was teen: I would not worry about him going too heavy. With most of his growth in, he should be fine. Talk to him frankly about too much muscle affecting his growth as well as the dangers of bad form.

If you really enjoy the Gym Styles I think a 4 week rotation would be a great place for anyone to start. Tell him to start at about 1/2 Cathes weight until he learns good form, then let him move up as he feels comfortable (with you keeping an eye on his form). At the end of 4 weeks, let him do the 1RM tests. Also let him search the Cathe boards about the differences between split workouts and full body, there is so much good information here! (And maybe he will see a few rants about gym idiots who try to show off and instead make fools of themselves ;-))

In other words, teach him the great things you have learned here and let him make his own decisions about what workout programs to follow, he will stay more motivated and know that everyone has to learn about fitness, not just do it.
 
My son started doing the P90X ones with me. He wouldnt touch a cathe one - was too girlie for him... whatever - silly boy... As much as I tried to get him to do Cathe - he just wanted to do the Tony ones...

Now it is nice because his school has a Sports Development class - so during the school year he has that class with weight lifting 5 days a week. Now during the summer he has 4 day a week weight training for football.

ETA - he started lifting when he was in the 12-13 yr old age. He is currently 15 6'2" 240lbs - mostly muscle... bring on Football!!1 hehe...
 
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My 12 year old son plays football, if I can get him to train during the off season with light weights to build up his confidence I will be good to go. But he does get enough exercise riding bikes,etc., with his friends. I want both of my kids to become life long vidiots. Take it one step, one day, one weight at a time, I suppose.
 
Thank you so much for all of the information! I am writing down all of the options now. I really like the bodybuilding.com website. I may have him start with that abbreviated routine and then move into a gym styles rotation.

Thanks again!!
 
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