I am thirteen, strong for my age and am around 5ft 9 and just wanted to ask if I can begin lifting weights.?

Question

Please only answer if you are sure because I have heard that this could stun my growth.

Answer 1

whoa you are sooooo tall - i'm 16 and i'm 5ft9!!!!  i know all the books and everything say you aren't supposed to start lifting weights till you are 16, but i started before that, and since your so tall i think it would be fine.  just start off easy at first.

Answer 2

No thirteen is too young. it will stunt your growth and not just height wise.

i think the earliest you should start is 16.

but you can do some strenght training without weights.

you can start doing

pushups

pullups

squats

lunges

close grip pushups

underhand pull ups

and crunches

all of them will help you get built up and increase your strenght and stamina for sports or whatever. keep you fit and healthy too.

Answer 3

Yes it can stunt your growth.

You should wait until your 16 or older. Get a doctors opinion, not just someone who works in a gym and wants ur money. To try to explain it... as your muscles get bigger and stronger it can prevent your bones from growing to the length that they may have grown.

Do whatever resistance training you can using your own body weight. Good for you though, weight training can be lots of fun, but get some professional advice that is tailor made for your body.  

Answer 4

This will not stunt your growth, but as you are young make sure that when you commence weight training you have a trainer to assist you (gym instructor).  You will also need to increase your carbohydrate intake from foods like pasta, rice, breads etc and especially increase protein intake.  You get protein from fish, eggs, beef and chicken.  Also diary produce.  As you are quite young and still growing you will need adequate diary intake to help your bone growth and strength.  

Start with light weights and only do 6-8 repetitions of each exercise.  Rest for a minute then do another 6-8 repititions before another rest of a minute.  Then follow the same routine with the next exercise.  Do not lift weights more than 3 times a week.  You only grow muscle when you rest the muscle after intense exercise.  2-3 days rest will be needed.  

Good luck.

Answer 5

Dude im 14. I come from the streets like New Orleans and ya your definately ready. Your 13 your 5'9 so it seems to me you wont much grow taller as much no more so your definately ready to start weighlifting.  Im 5'5 i weightlift but you definately are ready.

Answer 6

hey i'm a natural bodybuilder and was lifting since i was 12 i'm 6 foot 3

the only way you can possibly stunt your growth is if you do lifts poorly or with improper form.

there are no risks to your height and at 5 foot 9 i'd say you don't need to start to worry for a few years so i'd start to hit the weights.

but please e-mail me for a training split and nutrition advice i don't want you to go in all gung ho, and tell me what your goals are, tone, strength, size

Answer 7

It can't hurt you like that.  There have been a lot of debunked myths about weightlifting and strength training through the years, and this is one of them.

Answer 8

i was pretty much same boat as you at that age, its not too young but don't go straight for heavy weights, start with body weight exercise like the answer above, and do maybe 2-3 days a week on moderate weights, because your cartilage has not fully developed you dont wanna put too much load on it and damage your joints for later life. when you get to 16-18 you can start increasing the load a bit. i was that height at 13 and am now 6ft 3, 210 pounds and a qualified physical training instructor

Answer 9

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Answer 10

You should consult your doctor or go to a gym and ask a trainer. Don't ever start any exercise program without consulting a professional. And your only 13 - do you really want bulky muscles? Then again ... look at that 10 year old body builder. My, my, what is the world coming to?

Answer 11

Holy c**p you're tall

yes it can stunt your growth.

One kid was made to do weights by his parents frmo a very young age, by the time he hwas 11, he had the body proportions of an 8 year old.

it isnt a good idea. it wont just stunt your height growth, it can stun your organ growth too.  It can also stretch your muscles