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Does lifting weights slow down your growth?
Hi! I am 13 and I am also a javelin thrower, and thus, I lift weights to become stronger. I am 1.78 metres tall (5ft 10) and weigh 70kg (154lbs) and I have 7% of body fat. So, for the last about 7 months I haven't grown a centimetre. Now that I have stoped lifting and throwing for the summer, I only do calisthenics exercises. In the last 2 weeks I have gained 2 centimetres. What is the cause of this? Is it because I stoped lifting, or is it because of my low body fat, or is it just natural because my hormones are going crazy? I think that I should also mention that I consume a lot of Ώ3 fats and other healthy fats, I drink milk and eat cheese daily and I have a balanced diet.
Eating all that dairy probably isn't that good for you -- do some homework on dairy. Look up its effect on magnesium levels and on inflammation. But that aside, you're only 13, so don't go nuts on any program whatever it is. You're still developing. As to growing, your profile says you're female. Is that true? Females grow sooner in age than males generally. For a female you're already pretty tall and might have pretty much reached your full height, though only time will tell that. If you're male, you could grow a lot. It will happen on its own time, and has nothing to do with lifting weights. However, one problem with lifting weights -- once you start, if you stop, that muscle you built can start to turn to fat, especially when you get a few years older. At your age, probably no big deal, but something to consider. Just relax -- I know 13 is the oldest you've ever been, but in the scheme of your life you're really really young and won't be fully developed in body and mind for many years yet.
Eating all that dairy probably isn't that good for you -- do some homework on dairy. Look up its effect on magnesium levels and on inflammation. But that aside, you're only 13, so don't go nuts on any program whatever it is. You're still developing. As to growing, your profile says you're female. Is that true? Females grow sooner in age than males generally. For a female you're already pretty tall and might have pretty much reached your full height, though only time will tell that. If you're male, you could grow a lot. It will happen on its own time, and has nothing to do with lifting weights. However, one problem with lifting weights -- once you start, if you stop, that muscle you built can start to turn to fat, especially when you get a few years older. At your age, probably no big deal, but something to consider. Just relax -- I know 13 is the oldest you've ever been, but in the scheme of your life you're really really young and won't be fully developed in body and mind for many years yet.
3 Comments
Thank you. I will do my research on that dairy stuff. I am a male btw. Can you answer my other question though? Could my low fat levels be bad for me as my body might need more fat to grow properly.
You're fine. Females tend to have more fat than men in general, but again, you're 13. You're very active. When you get older and start to wonder where that belly is starting to come from, you'll look back at now and salivate.
Unless of course you want to be a football offensive lineman!
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