How to gain muscle?

[baji-boy]

As some of you may know, I'm 14 years old. I know I'm still growing, but I'm pretty...well, I'm skinny! :) So, are there any ways to build muscle, or rather, mass?

I know pushups are a great way to build one's upperbody, and I should get lot's of Calcium, and protein right? But are there any ways to gain muscle mass, preferably soon? The Spring season is coming up, and hey, I'm in highschool! :) I also know that just training hard, and practicing MA should help as well.

The doctor said that I have grown my full height, and all I have to do now is grow wider. I dunno, I think my body is developing strangely, but it's all just part of growing up. The weird thing is, all of the fat I have, has gone to my thighs, without "spreading". Yeah, I know, it's part of growing up, as I've said many times. Anyways, thanks in advance! :)

[nospam]

Sure is. It's called hitting your highschool weight room and train smart. Start off with 3 total body workouts a week (if possible), eat sensibly and get lots of rest. Pick up some of the muscle mags, they have great articles or search the web..there are many great websites out there that will teach form of movement and nutrition.

Train hard and smart.

[8stepsifu]

Do legs first. Legs are a large muscle group so working them out hard releases lots of testosterone. Then do upperbody and keep the muscle because of the increased testosterone levels. Also balance legs and upperbody so that your body doens't get out of balance.

If your not bleeding, your not having enough fun.

[Kevin73]

I would go to a website and look around for MA and weight training. Or find a book that lists different exercises. I would take weight training class if your school offers it so then you can have someone help you out with your program and exercise form.

Don't get too discouraged. When I was a sophmore in high school I was 5'6 and 125 when I graduated I was 5'10 and 175, when I got out of college I was 6'0 and 200. Some people just grow later than others no matter what a Dr. says

"There are many who talk of the Way, but few who walk the Way."

[little chain monkey]

Here's a tip from an old timer whose been around gyms for a long time. You will develop mass the quickest with the compound excercises such as deadlift,squat and benchpress. The grandaddy of all excercises though for bulking up and gaining strength is the SQUAT. Eat lots of protein and do lots of heavy squats, you will bulk up faster than any other way!!!! Trust me I have seen this routine work with many guys over many years. :)

[qeySuS]

Well i'm only 17 so i can understand why you'd like some muscles. For me personally i feel like a jerk going weightlifting, being a newbie and all. I did it for a few months and well it was fine while i had a training partner to spot me so i could do a few extra reps, but once my buddy left the place and i was left to weightlift on my own, well i didnt last.

I like best just being on my own in the training hall and doing pushups/some ab workout, lunges and so forth, although someone told me that this would give me a great workout and make me strong, but the muscles would not bulge out and lookt "pretty" so.. :) I gained the most weight during my 4 month weightlifting period WITH A LIFTING PARTNER, not only did that help me doing a lot of the excercises, but i found myself forced to come to practice and work out in the gym, or else my friend would be left alone. While on my own i could sit at home and only be hurting myself (and so i did).

Free thinkers are dangerous.

[Waidan]

A lot of good info posted here. If you're looking for a good starting point:

1. Train with a dedicated partner.

2. Purchase "Arnold Schwartzenneger's Encyclopedia of Modern Body Building". It's got loads of great info, and a million illustrated excercises.

3. (as was mentioned earlier) stick to mass excercises like squats and bench at first, and move into higher rep isolation excercises once you've got something to work with.

4. Oh, and just as a general tip, stay the hell away from steriods of any kind (hang out at the gym long enough, and they will appear)...they're bad all the way around.

[jacob360]

I was always told not to start weight training until I was at least 16, but everyones body is different. I would probably take it pretty easy, and keep it simple, considering you're only 14, maybe only one to two exercises per body part.
Squats, calf raises, bench press, bar curl, skull crushers*, and military press, M W F should be a pretty good full body workout to start with. Add on or change as you progress. Make sure someone helps you with your form when you first start, you don't want to get hurt or develop one side more than the other. And of course lots of pushups, pullups, and ab exercises. Good Luck and keep it safe. * Oh yeah, I'm sure these are called something different, but you lie on the bench, keep a close grip on the bar, maybe one or two thumbs apart, keep your elbows up and in and bring the bar up from your forehead. I got the name skullcrushers from my older brother, he calls them that for two reasons, one, because if you try too much weight you could crush your skull if you drop it on your forehead, and two, if you can do 150lbs. you can crack someones skull when you get a good solid punch in. :eek:

PEACE

[baji-boy]

Thanks for the help everyone! I'll definately take all of the advice! :)

[Tiger Moon]

Welp i'd say to gain muscle, the key exercises would be, Bench Pressing, Curls, Push-Ups and Diamond Push Ups (which are where you form a diamond with your hands together in the center of your body) and Leg Presses for your legs. When you work out, make sure to just start off with a little bit and progress, don't rush anything so you don't injure yourself. Cause being injured of course only slows you down of course. 3 times a week or 4 times a week is how much you should work out, cause the muscles need to heal, so that they can repair and bulk up. Also you should do a couple repetitions for each exercise. But just take your time, your young and all so theres no rush ;-). Make sure you can do the exercises without straining and like forcing the weights to go, if your doing that take off some weight. Welp i hope this is helpful. Good luck to you, if you are into books a Book from Bruce Lee, called "The Art of expressing the human body" is a cool book to check out. Peace

~~Tiger-Moon~~

[obiwan]

Dont mix up mass with muscle!

I'm a lot skinnier than many of my friends, but I'm stronger. They are more built in appearance but not strength.

As a rule of thumb, (it's not perfect)
Lighter weights but more repititions for size gain.

Fewer reps but heavier weights for strength.

As I said, that's only a rule of thumb, but be careful. Make sure you train properly. Weights, despite their apparent simplicty, can actually injure you quite badly if you dont know what you're doing.

I trained with someone who had trained for a year with weights. I thought he knew what he was doing. He didnt. His exercises screwed my arms up for 3 weeks. Be careful, it's more difficult than it looks.

Also, avoid buying any of that muscle building stuff in magazines. They are not medically approved or tested because they do not fall under the FDA specs. (they're supplements therefore not food or drugs.) It's a pretty big gamble taking any of that stuff.

One of my friends took a lot of that stuff, and he started acting like a real meat head because of the increased testosterone levels.

Nothing beats a well balanced diet, and a good trainer.

Good luck

The Force will be with you...always

[Martial Joe]

I lift weights everyother day and do 500 crunches a day right now,i think i may move it up to 700 next week,maybe that can help you out.

[soy]

I train for agility.. I run 1/2 mile every other day.. And on the off days I do the following:

20 or so military press
25 standard situps
25 reverse situps (facing down, horizontal movement of shoulders up..
25 situps with nothing holding my feet down, engage muscles in stomache, you can also extend and bring in your legs.
25 more reverse situps
20 laying down lifting legs, put hands under butt to elivate and make it easier.
25 "Geni" crunches (From standing do the geni thing with your arms.. that means covering each elbow with your hand.. and keep your feet flat.. Lower ass to the level of your knees and press up.. Engage muscles in lower area for added benefit)

for that last one it's better if you start off with 15 and work your way up.. they're pretty intense..

Quickiest way is to join a set programme ,of some weights and jabs of ster01ds.,i think you go through a 6 weeks program,and magic.,you are ARNIE.....

kelvein chan

[brucelee2]

Hi,

I think I remember reading somewhere that men keep growing until they're 21. In any event, at your age of 14, I would definitely be careful- I think you're still growing. I would avoid all exercises that put alot of weight on the spine- squats, military presses, deadlifts, etc...- these can stunt your growth and injure your still developing spine. I would recommend doing exercises that use your own bodyweight- pushups, pullups, situps, bike riding, jogging, etc... When I was your age I used to come home from school and watch sitcoms for a couple of hours and every time there was a commercial I'd do a set of situps or pushups- I got alot stronger. Be careful of your body, you have to use it your whole life. Something that I think is an excellent exercise that uses bodyweight and can get you really strong and an awesome build is Power Yoga, also called Ashtanga Yoga. If you have this in your area and the teacher thinks you're old enough to do it, I would definitely recommend it! It will also give you flexibility and a meditative benefit. Good luck- and whatever workout you do, always listen to your body and lay off it there's pain (the wrong kind of pain- experience will teach you the difference)