Can you bench press your own weight?  Athens Drive High School offers a Weight Training course which will help students achieve that goal.

“There are definitely a lot of ups where weightlifting is concerned,” said Christopher J. Martin, weightlifting coach.

According to Scooby’s Workshop, a site dedicated to “Home Fitness and Bodybuilding,” it is crucial to be active and maintain a healthy Body Mass Index.  Fitness is scientifically proven to be an important aspect for teens.

Martin also claimed that weightlifting is essential for self-esteem and personal fitness.

“It makes you stronger and prevents you from getting injured, and achieving your goals gives you a sense of accomplishment,” said Martin.

Weightlifting, otherwise known as powerlifting, is a rigorous strength- related sport that involves lifting barbells or other heavy weights through three core exercises – bench presses, power clean and squats.

“I used to be the kid who couldn’t even lift a bar. I was always called out at school. Today, I can bench 325 lbs, squat 375 lbs and power clean 250 lbs, and I definitely think people respect me more,” said Ahmed Aljaberi.

Aljaberi further added that his success was not a miracle; it involved a lot of time and effort. He explained that he has an intense workout routine everyday that lasts about four hours and is not satisfied until he does that much.

“Weight lifting is a great stress reliever. It’s very fun to do and ultimately builds your personality,” said Halil Seferovic, freshman.

Seferovic emphasised the fact that lifting weights is not gender specific and both males and females can benefit from it.

“You shouldn’t be discouraged when you aren’t able to attain a goal immediately. You overcome obstacles gradually and notice your day- to- day progress over a short amount of time, which is very exciting,” he continued.

Apart from building muscles, lifting weights has several salient benefits. It can prevent many lifestyle diseases such as obesity, osteoporosis and diabetes. It can assist in recovery from several chronic illnesses like stroke or heart disease. It also improves strength and balance, which help provide stability to the human body as people age.

“As far as fitness and working out are concerned, it should not always be about how the result makes you look. It should be about how it makes you feel, and the benefits it provides you with,” said Aljaberi.