Puberty and Nutrition

Question
Hello Phil,

I am a 19 year old teen from Canada. I have a question regarding fitness and nutrition.

Two years ago when I was 17, I was highly overweight (80kg - 172cm) and low on puberty (lack of facial hair, child-like appearance). But then once I came to university, I set a goal in summer of losing weight and lo! I monitored my diet and worked out frequently and lost 15 kg (height: 176cm) in 2008!

But unfortunately, I have become so skinny that I barely have any muscular strength left in my arms. Moreover, I still continue to have lack of facial hair - especially at the chin. My moustache hair is still sparse and doesn't have the rigidity of a grown up man's moustache. My face continues to look like a 10 year old child - even though I am 19. This summer, I really want to set a goal of building muscles and becoming more "mature".

Can you please help me:
1) What diet should I aim to follow to speed up my puberty this summer? Like gain more facial hair - add strength to weak hair?

2) What kind of diet will suit me to build muscles and become more mature - in addition to weightlifting at the gym?

Thank you for your time.

Answer
Tim-

You need to eat, you went from over fat to starving neither are good for proper growth and maturity. I bet you went on a LOW fat diet which is horrible for hormone production. Fat and cholesterol is the building blocks of our hormones.

I would go simple eat LOTS of good foods and train hard., Eat real food, red meat, chicken, fish etc eggs, dairy, fruits, veggies and nut, get plenty of healthy fats from your red meats, eggs, nuts and oils, Stop the long distance cardio and start basing training on BIG heavy lifts, like squats, presses, deadlifts chins and rows. Work hard eat hard and rest hard. Be patient it takes a LONG time you cant totally control how fast you mature and 10 years from now when people start looking old take pride in the fact you look younger. Your 19 you more then likely look 19 your a child still. Why does everyone young want to look old and everyone old want o look young. :)O


For more info you should join our free discussion forum, you will get lots of great advice and discussion there www.teamstaley.com start a training log. We can help with training, diet and then give advice on supplementation

Phil
www.staleytraining.com

I also ask you to take a look at my charity strength event with proceeds going to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Look at the online raffle make a donation no matter how small they all help the cause and give you a chance of winning some great prizes at the same time
http://www.lift4hope.org

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