Toxik
07-12-2003, 10:21 PM
The age long question....
Most responses I get to this are usually biased from gym buffs who deny that it's true. Honestly though, is this statement a valid one? I started lifting when about 4 months away from my 17th bithday. This august will mark my 3rd year lifting (am now 19). I probably started lifting heavy (5-8 reps) a year after I first started working out. And I started lifting really low reps (mostly only 5 reps per set, with a few sets where I do 8, but not many) since January. Anyway, I was just wondering if there's a possibility that my growth was stunted due to weightlifting. I am 5'8 without socks or shoes and am just curious if I could have been slightly taller had I not lifted heavy. Thank you.
[This message has been edited by Toxik (edited 07-12-2003).]
Most responses I get to this are usually biased from gym buffs who deny that it's true. Honestly though, is this statement a valid one? I started lifting when about 4 months away from my 17th bithday. This august will mark my 3rd year lifting (am now 19). I probably started lifting heavy (5-8 reps) a year after I first started working out. And I started lifting really low reps (mostly only 5 reps per set, with a few sets where I do 8, but not many) since January. Anyway, I was just wondering if there's a possibility that my growth was stunted due to weightlifting. I am 5'8 without socks or shoes and am just curious if I could have been slightly taller had I not lifted heavy. Thank you.
[This message has been edited by Toxik (edited 07-12-2003).]
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beast69
07-13-2003, 12:50 PM
The statement "weightlifting stunts your growth" has never been scientifically proven. To stunt your growth, the spaces between your growth plates need to close off, which can only be done through injury, or growing. Personally, I think there is a higher chance of injury in games such as football, soccer, baseball,etc. than there is in weightlifting, but should we stop kids from playing sports because it stunts their growth? It is highly unlikely.
As long as you lift with proper form, you will not stunt your growth.
As long as you lift with proper form, you will not stunt your growth.
Ruh-Roh
07-13-2003, 01:59 PM
Hey toxik, I used to worry about this alot too and for good reason, im alot younger than you. I started lifting when I was 14 for hockey, but I was reluctant because my oldest brother had always told me about people he knew in highschool who were runts because they started lifting too early. Most people in athletics I could talk to at my school said that it wouldn't, but I should stick with med-high reps so that I didn't injure myself. Then I started to see an endocronologist (A person who deals with growth, and hormones and stuff) and he said theres nothing wrong at all with weightlifting.
The only theory I've heard that makes sense is, when you lift real heavy ie. 1-3 reps, it can damage your joints and caralige, which takes your body more time you repair instead of spending its time making you grow.
Another thing is, I started going to this guy when I was about 11. He took this thing called like a "bone culture" or something, some X-ray of my wrist bone. They can tell from your wrist bone how tall you have the potential to be. He said id probably be 5'9-5'10. At the time I was 5'3, now im almost 5'7, and I think i've grown the most after I started lifting.
Anyhow, I wouldn't worry about it, especially if you started at that age. Most people who are incharge or adolesent or kid lifting programs advise that you start after 13-14, so if you started when you were 17 id say your in the clear.
The only theory I've heard that makes sense is, when you lift real heavy ie. 1-3 reps, it can damage your joints and caralige, which takes your body more time you repair instead of spending its time making you grow.
Another thing is, I started going to this guy when I was about 11. He took this thing called like a "bone culture" or something, some X-ray of my wrist bone. They can tell from your wrist bone how tall you have the potential to be. He said id probably be 5'9-5'10. At the time I was 5'3, now im almost 5'7, and I think i've grown the most after I started lifting.
Anyhow, I wouldn't worry about it, especially if you started at that age. Most people who are incharge or adolesent or kid lifting programs advise that you start after 13-14, so if you started when you were 17 id say your in the clear.
Rixtar
07-14-2003, 01:47 PM
I am not sure about this but I do not think there is any correlation between weightlifting and height. Human genetic code is what has been established as the determining factor in physical devleopment. Of course there are exceptions but that would be extremely rare and also genetically based not environmental.
Look at your biological family to find your answers. If your parents and grandparents fall into a height range then you will most likely fall into the same range regardless of your exercise habits. Muscle structure also is genetically contolled and as such the limits to devleopment are predetermined and accounts for the development of substances to circumvent nature and add additional muscle tissue to the body.
Look at your biological family to find your answers. If your parents and grandparents fall into a height range then you will most likely fall into the same range regardless of your exercise habits. Muscle structure also is genetically contolled and as such the limits to devleopment are predetermined and accounts for the development of substances to circumvent nature and add additional muscle tissue to the body.
anik456
07-21-2003, 10:41 AM
Hey...
I started doin light weights when I was 14... at that time I was 5.6" and around 50kgs. After I turned 15 I started picking up a little heavier and along with that I began doing pullups and alot of stretching excercises .. I would hang from a bar and stretch my feet as far as I could ... I would try to touch my toes to the ground. I started to swim aswell and also began eating much more... slowly I started to grow taller I became 5.8".. I continued with this routine... and as the months went by I grew even taller and started to fill up. On my 16th birthday.. I was 5.10" and weighed around 61kgs. I started taking whey protein and began lifting as heavy as I could I also ate like a pig!!(... but all the right foods). On my 17th birthday I was 6.1" and weighed around 72kgs. Now on my 18th birthday .. which was on the 4th of this month... I am Now 6.2" and 79kgs. .
So honestly... weight lifting didnt stop my height infact it stimulated it...
[This message has been edited by anik456 (edited 08-01-2003).]
I started doin light weights when I was 14... at that time I was 5.6" and around 50kgs. After I turned 15 I started picking up a little heavier and along with that I began doing pullups and alot of stretching excercises .. I would hang from a bar and stretch my feet as far as I could ... I would try to touch my toes to the ground. I started to swim aswell and also began eating much more... slowly I started to grow taller I became 5.8".. I continued with this routine... and as the months went by I grew even taller and started to fill up. On my 16th birthday.. I was 5.10" and weighed around 61kgs. I started taking whey protein and began lifting as heavy as I could I also ate like a pig!!(... but all the right foods). On my 17th birthday I was 6.1" and weighed around 72kgs. Now on my 18th birthday .. which was on the 4th of this month... I am Now 6.2" and 79kgs. .
So honestly... weight lifting didnt stop my height infact it stimulated it...
[This message has been edited by anik456 (edited 08-01-2003).]