A good number to shoot for.

thekid24 · Post by **thekid24** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:23 pm

So what's a good number to shoot for when it comes to "bulking".
I'm thinking 6 months at the least cause I might be going on vacation this coming summer. I'm at 130-135 right now and about 5'5.

I've been tryna put on weight for a few months now and I've gone from 125 to 130-135.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:24 pm

i don't like bulking phases...

alternate btw muscle gaining and leaning out phases every 6 - 12 weeks...you won't continually build muscle anyway over a 6 month period, not without gaining more and more fat as you go along...the longer you bulk for the more fat you have to take off later

thekid24 · Post by **thekid24** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:09 pm

thanks katie..

and swanso, so do you think i start leaning down now for about 6 weeks? thing is i really wanna atleast get up to 150 lbs. cuz i'm small just about 5'5.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:15 am

have a look in the mirror and be honest, do you think you need to? if so then yes, if not then keep going until you think you need to

Packard · Post by **Packard** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:02 am

How old are you?

How long have you been lifting?

We need to get a better picture of what we are dealing with. With training it is not "one size fits all".

thekid24 · Post by **thekid24** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:34 am

good point swanso. i think its time for me to lean down a little. BUT that means i'm gonna lose a few pounds right? so i'll prolly have to change goal weight. or i'll just forget about the scale numbers and rely on what i see in the mirror, you know body comp and all that.

packard, i'm 16 and been lifting for a little over a year but i've been lifting religiously for about 6 months or so. when i started, i knew what i had to do EATING wise but never really paid much attention to it. now, i'm more conscious of what i eat and i know a lot more from when i started.

Packard · Post by **Packard** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:22 am

father would not let me lift heavy until I went off to college. He was of the opinion that joints were not fully developed at 14 years of age and that I should only do lifts that I could execute at least 10 reps with.

I think in retrospect that he was correct.

I would think about just overall training with balance for the next two years. You need to accommodate both the growth of muscles and the growth of your body. I think that a general exercise program now will prepare you for the heavier and more intense lifting that you will do in 2 years.

mzaruba423 · Post by **mzaruba423** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:37 pm

yeah lifting heavy at a young age isn't a good thing. i learned that shit from experience. i messed up shoulders pretty bad going heavy weight with the wrong form.

thekid24 · Post by **thekid24** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:14 pm

well, i've been lifting for a little over a year now and i've never had joint problems and such. everything's been real positive when it comes to strength and size gains. also, if you read interviews, some pros actually started earlier than 16.

and i agree. lifting with wrong form at a young age will you up. but like i said, i started real slow and tried to master the forms before i went heavy.

DianaB · Post by **DianaB** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 3:37 pm

mzaruba423 wrote:yeah lifting heavy at a young age isn't a good thing. i learned that shit from experience. i messed up shoulders pretty bad going heavy weight with the wrong form.

What does that have to do with your age? Anyone going heavy with bad form can get injured.
In many places in the world, weightlifters start as early as age 9. oly coach started at 10 and has been training OL for more than 30 years, basically injury free.
With the proper guidance, I have no problem with teens weightlifting, it's when they are left to their own devices that problems occur.

thekid24 · Post by **thekid24** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:42 pm

exactly and that's one of the reasons why we come to this forum.
for guidance

DianaB · Post by **DianaB** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:01 pm

thekid24 wrote:exactly and that's one of the reasons why we come to this forum.
for guidance

I mean real guidance, from a coach. You can learn stuff on forums, but nothing replaces an experienced person helping you out in the weight room. For any beginner, no matter what age.

thekid24 · Post by **thekid24** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:08 am

iknow . i mean i got a coach in school and PT's in gyms, say what you want about them but they can teach you to perform exercises with good techniques.

DianaB · Post by **DianaB** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:37 am

thekid24 wrote:iknow . i mean i got a coach in school and PT's in gyms, say what you want about them but they can teach you to perform exercises with good techniques.

I'd never knock down a PT, it's how I make a living.
Sounds like you are on the right track then!

Packard · Post by **Packard** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:41 am

DianaB wrote:
mzaruba423 wrote:yeah lifting heavy at a young age isn't a good thing. i learned that shit from experience. i messed up shoulders pretty bad going heavy weight with the wrong form.
What does that have to do with your age? Anyone going heavy with bad form can get injured.
In many places in the world, weightlifters start as early as age 9. oly coach started at 10 and has been training OL for more than 30 years, basically injury free.
With the proper guidance, I have no problem with teens weightlifting, it's when they are left to their own devices that problems occur.

Bad form with a fully developed shoulder joint is less likely to be injurious than bad form with a shoulder joint that is not fully developed. Indeed, even good form with heavy weights might cause injury to a joint that is not mature.