Bodybuilding Question (10 points)?

Question

Hey, I'm 15, male. I started going back to my personal trainer. I'm restricted by my doctor from going over 15 pound weights, and I would probably do good with heavier weights.

My personal trainer said I should cut instead of bulk until I can use heavier weights.

My question is, she basically wants me to use 10 and 15 pound weights for lots of reps until failure. For toning and bulking, you're supposed to use heavy weights with low reps, contrary to pupular belief.

Obviously that's not possible for me, having a 15 pound limit. So, is this the best thing to do?

Don't tell me that I should just listen to my personal trainer, I probably have more knowledge than her, I've done tons of research, and I know what I'm talking about.

Answer 1

Hi,

First of all,why your doctor restricted you not to lift more weight,please elaborate.You will not gain muscle if you lift same weight combined with high reps for long time.Progress slowly,in order to get muscles lift big.Try to add 3-5 pound every week.My link mention mention about reps and bodybuilding myths.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/topicoft...

http://www.building-muscle-guide.com/bod...

Answer 2

http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/

just remember one thing only

bodybuilding depends on your body    ** mind your body **

if you are capable and your body is fit for this ( your age 15 you have to be careful and first of all work out for your strength rather massive mussels ) take time do not use shortcuts .... shortcuts spoil the body

i m bodybuilder 'normal one'

Answer 3

Yeah i don't like personal trainers either. i feel they don't know much.

Since you can't overload or do anything close to heavy you should stick to lighter weights and do more reps. its not cutting, and that isn't going to get you more cut.

yes its a myth that high reps low weight gets you toned and

low reps with heavy weights gets you bulked.

but still since you are limited to low weights because of your surgery go with what you have.

cut (not in the sense of low weights) but

cut like the cutting and bulking stages.

cut your carbs , watch your diet and basically drop alot of body fat.

do your low weight high reps so that your body gets used to the lactic acid build up.

also when you switch back to max-ot it'll feel like a different way to train and your muscle wont be used to it.

so thats the best thing to do and pretty much the only option too.

goodluck

Answer 4

I agree with Jeff, your nutritionist is not qualified to recommend exercise physiology (you are smarter than he/she). There is no such thing as cutting exercises. Muscle either grows or it does not. Using 10-15 lbs weight will do very little for your fitness levels. Cutting means dropping bodyfat so that your existing muscle shows better.

Same question as to why your doctor is advising staying below 15 lbs. I have guys your age bench pressing 200 lbs without injury.

Answer 5

Well since u have had the surgery, u should def listen to ur doctor.  Let urself heal completely then get back into the gym.  I have known so many people in the gym that try to come back early from an injury or whatever and just end up back at stage 1, worse than they were b4.  So u just want to basically listen to ur doc and keep the weight 15lbs or below.  Ud have to ask him how long it will be b4 u can increase weights, and so on.  DO NOT assume ur healed and go heavier.  Remember, as a rule of thumb, just b/c u feel ur better doesnt mean that ur better.  Feeling good doesnt mean uve healed completely.  Ulitize basic movements to start off with, but stay away from squat and deadlift.  Any lift that requires u to stand without any back support (a weight belt should not be used in place of a back support from a bench or wall), should not be done wen ur first starting off.  For example, do not do DB or barbell curls standing up, sit down on a bench with a back support, or if u want to stand, then brace ur back against a wall and do curls (this is great even without a back problem, b/c it decreases the chance of cheating during the lift).  Also, ur personal trainer is a r****d.  Do not go to failure for a ton of reps.  Ur just starting back from surgery, this will definitely lead u to injury.  Use the appropriate resistance (15lbs and under of course) and just stay around the 10-20 range.  Dont go to failure, esp in the beginning.  Once ur doc says u can go heavier and go to failure, then do so but with caution.  I no it sucks but its better than nothing right?  Just be patient and in time ull be back.

also, if this trainer is that bad then get rid of her, she will just hurt u in time.  I hate most personal trainers b/c they think they no everyting b/c they took a 10 week easy course and lift a few times a week.

One last thing, it is a big controversy on what builds better mucsle.  High reps, low reps, medium reps.  But the truth is, a combination  of low and medium reps r the best.  8-12 reps (medium) is optimum for hypertrophy, and 2-5/6 is best for strength.  So a combination of both will target type IIa and IIb muscle fibers.  Both of which can grow the biggest and strongest over the type 1 fibers.  The best thing to do is a few months of hypertrophy, and then 2-3 months of strength training.  This will allow for optimum muscle growth.  Bigger muscles r stronger muscles and stronger muscles r bigger muscles.

if u need ne more advice, feel free to email me

Answer 6

Your probably not gonna get anywhere with below 15 lb. weights. And lots of reps until failure builds muscle ENDURANCE, not size or strength. Your trainer is an idiot.

Answer 7

First of all why the 15 pound restriction, are you recovering from injury?  If so, you need to follow those instructions until released to do more.  There must be a good reason for a doctor to restrict you to such a thing.  

And you are right, the low weight/high reps is for toning purposes, high weight/low rep will do the bulking.  

I am a trainer who once had many clients who thought they knew more than me and educating yourself is an excellent way to train yourself but when an injury is in the picture you must be very careful with your training so as not to make that injury worse.

I can't tell you to simply do as you please not knowing if an injury recovery is the source of your restriction; however, if it is follow instructions prior to a doctor's release.  Once the release is valid even your trainer will be happy to raise that weight limit.

Good Luck!