He is 19, works out for 4 hours a day... legs one day, arms the next... but it's still 4 hours on each muscle group. Is this safe for him? I always thought it was bad for you to work out that much... Anybody out there know?
He is 6 ft tall, thin, but healthy. He eats the average teenage diet, mostly fast-food, some dinners at home, he smokes between 1/2 and one pack of cigarettes a day. He played Water Polo for 3 years of high school, but hasn't exercised much in the past 2 years. He drinks something called "No Explode" and I have NO idea what that is. I am concerned that he is overdoing it...
One more note: He IS lifting weights for the 4 hours, at a gym, he told me last night that his legs hurt pretty badly and explained that he had the machine on max resistance.
The other part of this whole thing that has me so worried is that his mother (I'm the step-mom) and his grandmother are obsessive about working out, eating ZERO fat, and have been bulemic for years... he went through a "spell" where he claimed food made him throw-up. We got on that REALLY QUICK!!!! He hasn't done that since, but now this working out thing seems excessive...
We all know how teenagers are... I try to say something and he rolls his eyes, sighs, and usually just changes the subject. (Becuase you know the parents NEVER know ANYTHING... right??? LOL) The good news is that last night he said he was going to slow down, he wasn't feeling good and he thinks he might be working out too much... :-)
As far as the cigarettes go, he knows they are unhealthy, but chooses to continue smoking. I don't think he KNOWS that excessive exercise is also unhealthy, which is why I was concerned. Thank you everybody for your responses!!!!
I liked Lynne's comment about the smoking being the unhealthiest things he is doing. He IS exercising too much, but that's not as bad as emphysema and/or lung cancer.
I'd recommend having him meet with a reputable, certified trainer to get guidance.
Good luck
Hi, A.,
I often exercised four hours a day when I was your son's age. (I was an athlete as a child, high school and college student. I spent more time swimming, cycling, running and kick boxing than weight lifting, though.) Whether four hours a day of exercise (all lifting?) is healthy for your son or not depends on how much he is lifting and how he is lifting (his technique). Assuming that he is lifting carefully, not anorexic, and occasionally (once a week) takes a day off, I don't think that that much is unhealthy.
If you are really concerned about your son's weight training, then you might consider hiring a physical trainer and nutritionist for a short while.
The smoking seems more unhealthy.
Sincerely,
Lynne E
**Adding This: No Explode is a creatine protein drink... you can look it up online to find out more about it, pros' and cons.
Try research it online....
But wow, 4 hours a day, per muscle group, sounds like a LOT to me... unless he is a professional athlete or college athlete, but still, I think that's a lot.
Bear in mind that people can also get injuries from over-usage.
Does he ever have a day-off on working out... because THIS is important for the muscles as well.
Do you think your son is obsessive about it? Is that your concern as well?
Is he already in shape and good physical condition, or he is starting off from being obese or not in shape? And in conjunction with his working-out...is he eating normally? Or is he dieting? or is he on some kind of specific diet?
I would see what others say, and research it online... or call you local gym and ask them... and per your son's age.
Or call his Doctor.
All the best, I think its good you are curious about this,
Susan
All the best,
Susan
No one should work out everyday. Further, he probably needs to quit smoking, I am sure you know. I would say all you can do is interview some good trainers and make sure they are not on the same regimen. Hopefully they will get through to him that a work out everyday will get him no where and his muscles will stop doing what he wants. If his mother and grandmother do this, it sounds as though there is a little more going on and it could be a disorder of some sort. He may also need counseling. Sounds like the alcoholic, gambler, overeater, "obsessive personality" going on.
Good luck.
Great for your sonn heis being a active lad instead of sitting at a computer al day doing nothing active if he keeps this up he can posabll live into his 80s like me enchurge him not negate this activity, it would also be nice for him to have some friends good luck and you should try some of his exersises not as much as him but some. A. in no.hills
he's gotta take days off. can't do that every day!
also, if anyone has 4 hours a day extra, they need to be working more? that's a lot of extra time in a day. maybe i'm just jealous, but really.....
I think it is kinda normal at this age. A couple things I would ask are is he lifting weight the whole 4 hours? Does he do this at home or at a gym? If it is at a gym he may be socializing part of the time, playing basketball, or not really even going to the gym the whole time. Do you see him working out this long or is he telling you he is doing it? My son 15 is in football practice at least 4 hours six days a week they weight lift for an hour or so and do other training the rest of the time but I still think it is a lot. He sometimes comes home & goes to the gym too. At this age they are totally into looking good. My daughters boyfriend (20) spends a lot of time at the gym or playing sports I would agree with the other moms that I would worry more about the smoking then the working out. I also wanted to add my husband smoked from like 16 to 37 was in great shape could out run me and lifted weights in very large amounts he felt like smoking didn't effect his physical ability at all until he had a heart attack on the football field and the doctors said it was from the smoking he hasn't smoked in 5 years. Try & get him to stop why he can. Good luck!!
unless he's a pro athlete that seems like a bit much. reminds me the other day Dr. phil had boys on who were basically anorexic and worked out several hours a day to the point of obsession. one dad caught his son doing push ups in the bathroom when they tried to make him slow down. the boys ended up needing psych help. i don't mean to scare you but i would just pay close attention, maybe try to figure out why he's doing it, and above all...trust your mom instincts. good luck.
K.
I've read recently that our bodies only gets the benefit of ten minutes of workout at a time and that 30 minutes a day is good. Get some men's health mag issues to show him. He may be over doing it which will cause more harm than improve his body in the long run.
C.
Too much!!! I would recommend no more than one hour a day because after that the muscle starts to break down and does more damage than good.
If he is trying to build muscle I can help with some advice. Please check out my website...
www.HolisticWellnessAndNutrition.webs.com
J.
