Are You Ready To Start Lifting Weights

One of the best ways to lose weight or change the way your body looks is by lifting weights. Lifting weights is a much easier method to shed weight than by doing cardio or following a strict diet. They are equally important but not as effective.

When it comes to lifting weights, one of the most important question is what is the right age to start? It is a common belief that lifting weights at a young age stunts the growth. Studies however reveal that this is not true. In fact Olympic athletes start lifting weights at a very young age and they are definitely fitter than the average person, so they prove the belief wrong. Moreover to improve performance, a person has to work on the muscles, so it is almost mandatory that he/she starts early.

However it is advisable that one does not start lifting weights till one is about 18 years old. This has nothing to do with growth. This is because the human body does not have the necessary hormones to build muscles till the age of 18. So it increases the rate of injury without much of a chance of building muscles.

Teens are more likely to injure themselves than adults and hence they need proper guidance while lifting weights. As a beginner, it is important to stick to the basics. One could either seek professional help or start with regular exercises like squats, bench presses and overhead presses among others. But even in this case, it would be better to train with an expert, at least initially, till one gets the basics right and learns how to go about it.

But it is recommended that at a young age, instead of concentrating on heavier weights, one should go for lighter weights and more repetitions. Heavier weights can cause muscle, tissue and bone damage. It also raises the testosterone level. At a young age it will not stunt growth, but there are more chances of damaging the muscle or tissue. More repetitions with lighter weights is fine, as long as one does not exert himself too strenuously.

At a young age one should go for strength training than opting for weight lifting. The basic difference between the two is that, strength training makes one concentrate on becoming stronger and does not focus on gaining mass. It constitutes of high repetitions on basic exercises like push ups, pull ups and crunches.   

One of the most important things one must keep in mind while starting to lift weights is maintaining a proper diet. Any physical activity should be duly complemented with a healthy intake of food. Getting plenty of rest is as important as the exercise itself. It is when you rest then the muscles grow. Warm up is also very important. This helps the muscles to warm up and prevents injury.

Hence, it really not important at what age you start lifting weights just as long as you do it right and you do it under professional supervision.