14 and want to bulk up a bit over the summer...

[Woodt]

At the moment I am 5ft 9, and around 10 stone/ between 135-140lbs. I am a fairly tall and skinny build, and I find it fairly hard to gain weight. I am not sure on my body fat percentage. Anyway I want to play for school rugby team next year, I could probably play at the moment, but I figure that with slightly more muscle and mass I would be stronger and faster. I don't want to train myself over my limits at my age as I am still growing a fair bit. But I want to bulk up slightly. I have 7 weeks off (UK summer) to do it. Although I don't put on weight my fitness level is constantly very high and I am not very injury prone.
Anyway, I do have access to a gym, however I am meant to be 16 to use it, so the gym won't always be an option. So what should I do in the way of pressups, situps ect? I can do around 40-50 pressups in 30 seconds and maybe 80-100 in one go.

Thank you for your help. Please share your suggestions. I might post some pictures of my upper body later thanks.

 

[xtonymarsx]

Honestly man, I would just stick to pushups, chinups, crunches, and running. At your age, if you do that, you are going to start putting on muscle like crazy unless you are what's known as a "hardgainer". Make sure to eat a lot too if you want to bulk.

 

[Woodt]

Ok mate, cheers. I'll stick to basic exercises then.

 

[xtonymarsx]

I think that's probably the best idea. You don't want to work out too hard and end up stunting your growth or anything. It's best not really take supplements or anything until you are like 18 or older. If you play sports though, they will probably have you weight training and such, especially football.

 

[RandyRhoads]

You won't stunt your growth. Do all the squats, deads, benchin you want; do some research and eat a lot of protein.

 

[malkore]

You won't stunt your growth.

No, he just might damage his growth plates on major bones, causing a lifetime of other medical issues.

but as long as his growth isn't stunted right??

 

[Steve-O-68]

No, he just might damage his growth plates on major bones, causing a lifetime of other medical issues.

Where did you get that info from?

 

[bigred3562]

No, he just might damage his growth plates on major bones, causing a lifetime of other medical issues.

but as long as his growth isn't stunted right??

as long as he dosent go over his limits and lift wayyy to much weight then he would be fine. Weight lifting can be very safe as long as you dont go crazy and lift 2x ure body weight in ure first time around on the bench.

Squat is something u have to be very careful with though, blowing out ure knees or hurting your back is something that can occur.

 

[xtonymarsx]

You won't stunt your growth.

It can stunt your growth. Look at gymnists...strong as all hell, but small. Granted, that is extreme, but working out when you are so young DOES have an effect on your growth patterns.

 

[Woodt]

I've heard about kids overworking and stunting their growth, rumours or not I don't want to get injured ect. So what would be a suggestable workout for me? I am working on gaining bodymass, slightly noticable. Around 10lbs to 14lbs of fat/muscle. Atm I don't really put on weight much, but I seem to be very strong. Should I eat more often? And how about running? At the moment I run a fair bit, would it hurt my weight gain if I still ran a lot. I suppose if I put some weight on, then in September when I am back at school ran off some of the extra load. Sorry I am completely new to this.

 

[Steve-O-68]

Weightlifting does not stunt your growth! It's just a myth that weightlifting can damage your epiphyseal growth plates (growth plates at the end of long bones). I suppose that none of the pro basket ball players or football players ever lifted a weight when they were teens...