@#$# off genetics

[Aj]

Bah. Where shall I start?

I'm a 14 year old kid whos been cross training for about a year, year and a half, and though I've gotten a lot stronger and can bench 225 but my mortal enemy genetics seems to hate me. I just haven't developed many see-able signs of improvement. Now I'm just a tall skinny teen with signs of strength. :| Any suggestions for developing abs and bi/triceps? My personal trainer says he could work something out but he'd like me to stay on the cross training I've got now, just thought I'd ask for suggestions?

[Bill Hartman]

I have very bad news for you...

If you're 14 and can bench press 225, you have superior genetics ...really.

That level of strength development is very unusual.

Your primary issue is growth and development and time. You are most likely in a period of accelerated growth related to height and maturatation which "steals" a great deal of energy and "building materials" from changes in muscle mass.

Your trainer is pretty smart. Keep developing the foundation that you're already working on. I would however stay away from anything aerobic unless you gravitate toward long distance sports (which I doubt with your strength levels).

Two years from now you will be one of the strongest people you know. 4 years from now, with proper programming, you will be at a level of greatness that you could not have imagined at such a young age (I'm jealous [img]tongue.gif[/img] ).

Stick to the program, and enjoy the process.

Always remember to have fun.

You will be great!

Bill Hartman
Founder of The HARTMAN Institute for Human Performance, Rehabilitation, and All that is Good in the World

P.S. Don't take any short-cuts. You don't need them.

[fitone]

Why, are teenagers so impatient all the time? Wait untill your our age and things stop or slow down what are you going to then? Your body will always improve especially in your teen years.I would agree w/ Bill's post a 225 bench at 14 years old is amazing.

[fitone]

Not only that he has a smart presonal trainer at age 14 damn I wish I had one those when I was young at least I would go through all the trial and error learning what works and doesn't in weightlifting.

In Health,

Silas C.

[Jean-Paul]

I agree with you Silas. Jeez! The injuries and stupid mistakes that I made back then could probably have been averted. Oh well, can't go back and time and fix it though... might as well help a few young folks along the way to help to prevent them from making the same mistakes.

[zlightning]

Nobody mentioned diet?

[zlightning]

Oh and hey kid don't sweat it benching 225 is good. Iknow a kid that benched around that mark at 14 and now benches over 300lbs easy. he's 18 now

[Aj]

yay....

[Marcel]

I smell BS... makes me remember some teen forums at teenbodybuilding.... either that or really bad form... usually with people who don't weightlift on a weekly basis, as yourself.

[Jean-Paul]

I usually take most people's claims on their max lifts with a grain of salt unless it is a sanctioned competition with published results. I don't really attack them because I might be wrong, and even if I'm not, I don't want to start an argument over something that trivial. I must say though, at 14 I don't think I was even getting 100 pounds on a bench, let alone more than twice that, and I was a good athlete.

[zlightning]

Well in 8th grade I was able to lift 200lbs so I think it is possible. I was and am big though.