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Old 05-28-2009, 09:46 AM   #8 (permalink)
LOLfitness
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 8
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When I was 14 or so, I wanted to try a gym. I was the kid who was never interested in moving, but I thought those machines just looked awesome. I thought this was going to rock. My mom drove me to a big empty gym where I did situps for half an hour, with little or no instruction. It was obviously meant to discourage me, and clear that no one wanted to train a kid.

I went on to sit on my ass for 15 years and develop severly weakened leg muscles and chondromalacia. Everyone is different, of course, but I really wish someone had given the 14 year old me a chance to learn what I know now. I too had body issues when I was in my early teens, and I think weight traiing would have helped. Body issues are often about taking control over your body (sadly often in a destructive or anorexic way). Weight training showed me a positive way to take control over my body. My ideal body type changed. I began to value strength.

I'm rambling. Yes, training kids must be hard. But I think it can be a tremendously beneficial influence. If you're up for the challenge. God knows it's better she learns from you than from Shape and Cosmo.
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