Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I searched for a forum dealing with this before posting just so you guys know. But I used to lift dumbbells and then do protein shakes. The protein I used was PRO5 cookies and cream. But then I stopped working out all together. I recently started doing P90X which is an exercise program that supposedly will help you lose weight and get bigger and more form. I'm 15 and I weigh around 180, I'm 6 foot 4. Oh and I don't do any protein shakes since I started P90X. I have already noticed that my arms are starting to get bigger. But is there something more I should be doing? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

If you are 15 years old, and already 6'4" and 180 then I would not be worried about protein shakes, or the P90X to get into shape. If you have the resources look into a fitness program at your Y or the nearest gym. Being that size you can just go with push ups, sit ups and run or bike daily and you will see improvements. When you get older, then you may need the P90X or other training guides.
Unless you plan on playing football or basketball in high school then just let nature take its course. If playing sports, talk with a certified nutritionists before you do anything.

Just my 2 cents

If you are 15 years old, and already 6'4" and 180 then I would not be worried about protein shakes, or the P90X to get into shape. If you have the resources look into a fitness program at your Y or the nearest gym. Being that size you can just go with push ups, sit ups and run or bike daily and you will see improvements. When you get older, then you may need the P90X or other training guides.
Unless you plan on playing football or basketball in high school then just let nature take its course. If playing sports, talk with a certified nutritionists before you do anything.

Just my 2 cents

Thanks for the info, but my 180 is hard to believe. I'm really, really scrawny! But I was planning on playing both basketball and football this year. And I can't afford a program at the Y..

Thanks for the info, but my 180 is hard to believe. I'm really, really scrawny! But I was planning on playing both basketball and football this year. And I can't afford a program at the Y..

Meh....

Don't worry about being "scrawny". Your metabolism at that age is probably through the roof, and being as tall as you are, you won't "fill out" until you get in your 20's at least. IMO, your money is better spent on food as opposed to supplements.

IMO, and based on my own experience, one of THE biggest mistakes young dudes make when they start lifting in their teens, is to focus on "body sculpting" as opposed to developing strength and power. Unless they have a decent strength coach, most will focus on specific exercises targeting individual body parts as opposed to the compound exercises that develop strength and power as a whole.

If I had it to do all over again, I would ditch the "body sculpting" approach I used most of the time, and would stick with the core power exercises and O lifts, as they develop greater practical strength and power that can be applied for sport and duty purposes alike. Barbell squats, dead lifts, bench press, cleans, snatches, and overhead press variants are the money makers, but you rarely see these performed in a typical gym.

Look into a book called "Starting strength" by Mark Rippetoe. He does a good job of comparing and explaining the benefits of the "strength" approach as opposed to the "sculpt" approach most people take.

Check out the crossfit program as well. IMO, crossfit does a great job of combining both power development, and aerobic capacity, and both are needed in sports.

Meh....

Don't worry about being "scrawny". Your metabolism at that age is probably through the roof, and being as tall as you are, you won't "fill out" until you get in your 20's at least. IMO, your money is better spent on food as opposed to supplements.

IMO, and based on my own experience, one of THE biggest mistakes young dudes make when they start lifting in their teens, is to focus on "body sculpting" as opposed to developing strength and power. Unless they have a decent strength coach, most will focus on specific exercises targeting individual body parts as opposed to the compound exercises that develop strength and power as a whole.

If I had it to do all over again, I would ditch the "body sculpting" approach I used most of the time, and would stick with the core power exercises and O lifts, as they develop greater practical strength and power that can be applied for sport and duty purposes alike. Barbell squats, dead lifts, bench press, cleans, snatches, and overhead press variants are the money makers, but you rarely see these performed in a typical gym.

Look into a book called "Starting strength" by Mark Rippetoe. He does a good job of comparing and explaining the benefits of the "strength" approach as opposed to the "sculpt" approach most people take.

Check out the crossfit program as well. IMO, crossfit does a great job of combining both power development, and aerobic capacity, and both are needed in sports.

I will check out those books. And I guess your right. But most of the guys at school are HUGE, but I guess that doesn't really matter as long as you have the strength.

But most of the guys at school are HUGE, but I guess that doesn't really matter as long as you have the strength.

Nobody has any control over the genetics they are born with, so you've got to make the best of what you've got. At 15, you've still got plenty of growing left to do, and a huge frame to build on, so do it, but focus on strength and not size. Size WILL eventually come, but it really doesn't matter as long as you are consistently getting STRONGER.

Thank you all for the good info!

Nobody has any control over the genetics they are born with, so you've got to make the best of what you've got. At 15, you've still got plenty of growing left to do, and a huge frame to build on, so do it, but focus on strength and not size. Size WILL eventually come, but it really doesn't matter as long as you are consistently getting STRONGER.

Similar to what I was going to post I agree with the rest so many young adults get so focused on body image until they do more damage then good if you are 6'4 I agree YOU WILL be scrawny :) I would stay away from supplements I've never been a big fan of them from a medical point of view too many hidden things in them that just don't seem very healthy , it will happen just stay focused on your goal and work hard :)

I searched for a forum dealing with this before posting just so you guys know. But I used to lift dumbbells and then do protein shakes. The protein I used was PRO5 cookies and cream. But then I stopped working out all together. I recently started doing P90X which is an exercise program that supposedly will help you lose weight and get bigger and more form. I'm 15 and I weigh around 180, I'm 6 foot 4. Oh and I don't do any protein shakes since I started P90X. I have already noticed that my arms are starting to get bigger. But is there something more I should be doing? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Just my .02 cents and I'm not an expert but I always thought of the regular protein powder as being a substitute for protein rich foods without all the calories from fat and carbs. But you need calories. I think you'd be better off getting your protein from fish, chicken, beef, eggs, beans, etc. Your body will process 40g of protein from chicken a lot better than 40g from whey powder. The extra calories from bread, barbecue sauce and fat won't hurt you the way it would hurt the guy trying to lose weight while building muscle mass.

And if you are looking at building muscle mass, you may want to do straight power lifting regimens that are safe for teenagers with active growth plates. As I understand it, P90X is a variant of circuit training and is designed to keep your heart rate in the aerobic zone and maximize physical effort (morethan traditional circuit stuff). It will get you into shape and it's intense and fits into busy lifestyle. But at 15 where you can spend a lot of time in the gym, I would be more old school and do power lifting on free weights and then use running for aerobic fitness. I would be a lot more cautious on trying intense new workout styles while your bones are still growing. Stick with the old school stuff. real food, free weights and running/swimming/biking.

on edit: I just read what Joe wrote. I could have shortened it considerably by saying 'What Joe said.'

Just my .02 cents and I'm not an expert but I always thought of the regular protein powder as being a substitute for protein rich foods without all the calories from fat and carbs. But you need calories. I think you'd be better off getting your protein from fish, chicken, beef, eggs, beans, etc. Your body will process 40g of protein from chicken a lot better than 40g from whey powder. The extra calories from bread, barbecue sauce and fat won't hurt you the way it would hurt the guy trying to lose weight while building muscle mass.

And if you are looking at building muscle mass, you may want to do straight power lifting regimens that are safe for teenagers with active growth plates. As I understand it, P90X is a variant of circuit training and is designed to keep your heart rate in the aerobic zone and maximize physical effort (morethan traditional circuit stuff). It will get you into shape and it's intense and fits into busy lifestyle. But at 15 where you can spend a lot of time in the gym, I would be more old school and do power lifting on free weights and then use running for aerobic fitness. I would be a lot more cautious on trying intense new workout styles while your bones are still growing. Stick with the old school stuff. real food, free weights and running/swimming/biking.

on edit: I just read what Joe wrote. I could have shortened it considerably by saying 'What Joe said.'

Lol thanks for taking time to answer it. But you have some stuff in there that is different from what Joe said. All of you seem to have the same advice so I guess you know what you're talking about. I'm not gonna change my mind about P90X though simply because I have knee damage and I never stretch and ever since starting the program my knee and ankle have been feeling a lot better. And I feel stronger. But I will stop taking the supplements. I moved to a pill called "One a Day: Teens" and it seems to be helping as well. It's like a vitamin pill and I don't see anything wrong with it. Thanks everyone!

I would stick with P90X, I have been doing it for about a year and got amazing results from it.

I would stick with P90X, I have been doing it for about a year and got amazing results from it.

This thread hasn't had a post in over 7 months. If you have something to say about the subject, please start a new thread and not resurrect old ones, okay?