Teenagers and Bodybuilding (part 1)

Teenagers often come to a crisis in their lives whan it comes to physical appearance and an acceptable self image. These can be troubling times as they strive to reach their objectives, defeat is painful. This combined with the effects of adolesent hormones and subsequent appearence of spots and pimples, they are no doubt in an up hill struggle to reach that acceptable physical image.

Clothes and habits are copied to give that secure feeling of belonging to the gang, and large numbers are attracted by various adverts or images to take up for the first time, training with weights, with the sole object of rapidly building up some respectable muscles. The accent always being on "RAPID", far too many quit. For every ten teenagers taking up bodybuilding, seven will quit and drop out within the first three months. (i.e. just as does adults who attend slimming classes ) Disillusioned or disgusted, they quit because results fail to show as quick or as easy as they were led to believe, perhaps by the over hyped adverts and promises.

This is truly a great pity, because the main reason for failure is incorrect training. In most if not all, that means OVERTRAINING. Bodybuilding for young people should follow a specific and gradual pattern, and I now hope to set out some of the rights and wrongs, in an attempt to bring success to a far greater percentage of young trainers. It is difficult to define a right or wrong age at which to start training with weights, although movement and exercise should naturally be encouraged at any age.

From an early school age youngsters should be encouraged to take part in different sports which will help with muscle development and the learning of training skills. The objective of early training is to help children to become physically fit and they should be taught as soon as possible to Run, Jump and Swim. With the right encouragement these skills can be learnt within a week. The running and athletic exercises ensure healthy lungs and cardiovascular systems, which is a must if anyone wishes to begin heavier exercise.

Providing the youngster has a real desire to train, then they certainly should be encouraged and also closely coached. The first essential when training with weights is to avoid using too much resistance or poundage in the initial schedules. Anyone below the age of fourteen years should have definite and controlled supervision. The earliest age I would envisage purposeful use of light weight training would be about ten years of age. Between the ages of ten to fourteen weights should be very light.

The importance of Controlled Low Weight training is essencial for the development of the youngest. A full range of basic exercises with about tweve repetitions averaging 30 minutes should be carried out no more than three times a week. The presence of a professional coach is required to check the weights in use and ensure that a collar is worn when both barbell and dumbbell exercises are carried out. The coach must also ensure that all security measures are in place and insist on warming up and tapering off.

The type of exercises to avoid are dead lifts, good morning exercises, heavy squats or bouncing squats. Young trainers should under no circumstances use weights or do exercises that could compress the spine. Once a youth has progressed with regular continuity, heavier weights can be used under professional instruction, although heavy power lifts are unwise until the youth has finished his or her natural growth potential and bones, joints and tendons stabilize.

How about muscle being put to a purpose. Well, just two examples are Gymnastics and Martial arts, whereby muscle training by using heavier weights has an additional goal and not just image. Training can be increased to one or two hours, three times a week inorder to encourage the young trainer to obtain a useful development.

Author: Mick Hart... a Top Class Steroid & Bodybuilding expert facts on training, nutrition and steroids 100% USEFUL information Bodybuilding Info You Can Use Right Away
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