Age limit for lifting?

[A7X]

I'm living close to home now and i have been thinking about taking my lil bro to the gym. How old do you need to be befor you start lifting?? He is 12 years old about to be 13. Should i wait a couple of years or is he good to start lifting light weights?? I'd hate to stunt his growth (Is that even true?).

[JasonT]

It would take a great deal of trauma to damage the growth plates...most will agree that it is highly unlikely that even heavy lifting could cause this trauma. There is a risk, but that risk is small. I would have him start with some basic bodyweight exercises like pullups, pushups, situps, and possibly even some resistance training.

[bcbrett]

take him to the gym and do the body weight exercises as suggested. then do normal compound lifts such as bench, row, deads, squats but with no weight or very little weight. have him focus on ROM and technique. then in a few years he will be miles ahead of 99% of the people at the gym.

also keep it fun and dont push him to hard or else he will never be interested in lifting later in life.

[quarry206]

i started benching in 7th grade.. i would just do sets with 90 pounds, maybe 4 sets of 8-10

i use to do a up right rows, shoulder pres and bicep curls with a 60 pound barbell i had also.

thats the only 4 or 5 work outs i did until i was about 15-16 though.

[MotoLifter]

i started lifting weights around his age and am 6'3"


Moto

[A7X]

now is a higher protien diet alright for his age? and what about protien shakes could he take a pwo shake?