How many reps should I do?

[Baseballkid14]

right now I do 8 - 10 reps. goal is to gain muscle mass. Should I increase the weights and go down a few reps (like to 5 reps) or should I stay the same. I also have another question. Right now, I do 4 sets of 6 - 7 pull ups ever tuesday and thursday. Anyway, I go down do about a 100 degree angle before coming back up. I can do 3 full all the way up and all the way down (180 degree) pull ups. Which would build more muscle? And how is a pull up supposed to be done (all the way down or not)?

Thanks
-Baseballkid14

[swanso5]

if you're 14 then you shouldn't be touching wts yet....

[Heelus]

if you're 14 then you shouldn't be touching wts yet....

Unless he'S already really strong.

[swanso5]

still shouldn't...what if he's only strong at masturbating? quick get those deadlifts set up i'm ready to go!!!!

[Baseballkid14]

Actually, I'm 15. And I'm not heavy lifting. Right now, I can safely without any risk of injury curl 20 lbs for 8 reps. It's not that un-safe to go up to 25 lbs for 5 reps. I can handle it.

Oh yeah, and can you answer chin-up question.?

[swanso5]

i love when 15 yr olds say "...i can safely curl 20pds x 8 reps..."like it;'s a big deal...

answer me these:

1 - can you do 20 perffect push ups

2 - can you do 10 single leg pistol squats?

3 - can you do 15 perfect invertred rows with feet elevated on a bench?

4 - can you do 10 chin ups?

no, then don't bother with wts

full range of motion is onbviously better then partial range of motion...do 5 x sets of 2 adding 1 set each week until at 1o sets then go back to 5 sets and 3 reps and work back up again

[mzaruba423]

i think that i was pretty strong at 14-15. i could've probably done all of those criteria, not that easily though (i don't know what a pistol squat is). but damn i could do 1 hand pushups like a champ.
anyways, you can't blame kids for wanting to get bigger in high school. when you enter and everyone is so much bigger than you, it's intimidating for a lot of people. i have minimal regrets about working out at that young of an age, i just wish i had better programs back then.

[FIREANDICIT]

Your 15 just be careful they say it is not good to train with weights till your older. But i have a good friend of mine that started training at 14 he had good genetics, he was benching 200lbs at 14 and by the time he was 19 he had won numerous powerlifting competitions. So if your gonna do it just do it smart.

swanso5 wrote:
if you're 14 then you shouldn't be touching wts yet....

dont listen to a trainer that tells you just not to do it. Listen to someone that is willing to work with you and help you develop properly.
Once your ready for power training 6-8 reps and always have a goal weight, and stick to the basics you will figure out what your body best responds to with time. and incase your wondering when i was 20 i was benching 350lbs, deadlifting 500lbs and squating 650lbs at 200lbs with 10% . Things come with time and the more you know the more you grow so stick it out and you wont be disappointed.

[swanso5]

as D said, a teenager with guidence is fine but most don't have any, they see, they do, they get hurt...it's just as important why you're doing something then to actually do it

[FIREANDICIT]

Swanso5 just give the kid advise dont judge him because of his age

[Baseballkid14]

I can curl 35 lbs for 2 reps so I'm way under full potential here.

1 - can you do 20 perffect push ups

2 - can you do 10 single leg pistol squats?

3 - can you do 15 perfect invertred rows with feet elevated on a bench?

4 - can you do 10 chin ups?

no, then don't bother with wts

1. I can do 30

2. Never Tried it

3. Never tried it

4. I can do 17 (assuming I am doing them correctly)

[swanso5]

i ask him some background questions, what's your problem mate? he came for advice, i'm giving him some