Youth is a time of high motivation for self-improvement and the obtaining of a satisfactory self image. Conversely it can also be a time of much self-doubt and despair. For many, early life can be sheer agony. Stick insect thin or obese conditions when young send many teenagers into almost suicidal despondency, so each and every straw is grasped in an attempt to become within the acceptable norm physically; always under peer pressure. Cures for pimples and spots are sought, only to be constantly defeated by adolescent hormones working overtime.
The youth of today find themselves attracted to image being a result of an extremely dedicated media society. But image is an important issue as it provides security and self esteem. The promise of a great physique in a short time space is what entices Teenagers into the world of Bodybuilding. But despair is just round the corner as there is no quick route to Rapid result and an average of seven out of ten quit within the first three months just as adults do with dieting.
It really is a great shame as it is only a question of correct training and not OVERTRAINING. I hope to be able to give some great advice on how Teenagers should get started with a step by step routine which should lead to more of them achieving a really great physical image. There isnt really a fixed age to start with weights although exercise should begin as soon as possible.
Children from the word go should be encouraged to take up Sporting activities such as running, jumping and swimming, which all help to produce fitness and help muscle development. With the correct training these skills can be learnt within one week. As well as toning their muscles, training ensures healthy lungs and cardiovascular systems. Only under these condtions can Teenagers even begin to think about taking on training with weights.
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.
Dead lifts, good morning excercises, heavy squats and bouncing squats should be avoided at all times by young trainees, as well as any form of weight exercise that could lead to compressing the spine. Having reached a stage whereby his or her natural growth potential and bones, joints and tendons have stabilized, heavier weights can be introduced into training, but it is imperative that a coach oversees at all times.
Now training programs can begin to increase to one or two hours, three times a week. Trainers should work on controlled muscle development which could be focused on sporting activities such as gymnastics agility exercises or martial arts, just two examples of muscle put to a purpose.
Stop bodybuilding and start athletic weight training. If you are not a bodybuilder, or aspire to be one, then don't train like one. Bodybuilding training is great for bodybuilding, but it is not the answer for a high level of fitness or an attractive, athletic body. There, I said it.
Just so we're clear, here is what I mean when I say bodybuilding. Bodybuilding uses sets, reps and loads with only one goal in mind, building muscle. The exercise selection strives to isolate muscles and treats the body as a collection of specific muscles. Often, split routines are used where the body is split into different parts and trained in groups, like back and bi, chest and tri, etc.
Sound familiar?
The "success" of a bodybuilding program is based on appearance, not performance. The size and shape of the muscles are the goal, the only goal. (Of course, fat loss plays a role, but is done only so you can SEE the muscles better, and not for health or performance reasons.) Quite frankly, health and performance are of no consequence, and in my opinion are often sacrificed in the quest for bigger muscles.
So, why do so many exercisers who aren't bodybuilders end up doing bodybuilding routines?
One of the driving forces to exercise is to look better. You look in the mirror and notice you are out of shape. Literally, your shape is out of whack. You're covered in fat in places you shouldn't be, and lacking in muscle where it should be. Changing your appearance is the main goal. Since the only goal of bodybuilding is changing appearance by building large muscles and eliminating fat covering them, it is easy to see how people make the transition to bodybuilding training.
But, more often than not, bodybuilding does not fit with the overall goals of the exerciser. How many times have I heard, "I want to put on some muscle, but I don't want to look like a bodybuilder!" Too many to count.
In my opinion, most exercisers want the strong, lean, athletic body of an athlete. They want a body with strong, hard muscles and void of fat. But they also want to feel and perform better. They want their weight training to improve health and enable them to meet the challenges of sport, work and life with excellence. So, they want to be more like an athlete than a bodybuilder.
Athletic weight training is better for most exercisers goals than bodybuilding training. It treats you as an athlete, not a bodybuilder. This change in weight training helps you perform better and feel better, and results in the muscular, lean, athletic body most exercisers want.
So ask yourself. Do you want to look like an athlete or a bodybuilder? If you answer "bodybuilder", then you already know what to do. (Most of the information on weight training is based on bodybuilding practices). If you answer "athlete", you're going to have to look a little harder. But finally reaching your fitness, fat loss and physique goals make it worth the effort!
Both Mick Hart & Eddie Lomax are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mick Hart has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Recreation and Sports and Bodybuilding Supplements. About the author: Mick Hart... a Top Class Steroid &Bodybuilding expert facts on training,nutrition and steroids 100% USEFUL information. Mick Hart's top article generates over 60500 views. Bookmark Mick Hart to your Favourites.
Eddie Lomax has sinced written about articles on various topics from Body Building, Aerobics and Fitness. Coach Eddie Lomax, founder of the Optimum Fitness Network, believes we are all athletes and should train like athletes. His Athletic Body Workout targets gener. Eddie Lomax's top article generates over 27100 views. Bookmark Eddie Lomax to your Favourites.