My dad said building up my muscles and lifting weights is "unnecessary"

It is unneccesary.

Well, I'm just going to throw some anecdotal evidence into the mix. I have a friend who has been doing weights and gymnastics for years(he will be in the 2012 olympics so I've been told) and he is 5'1 at 18, both of his parents are over 6 foot.

To the OP, weights are pointless. You're not in the army, you're not a wrestler, you're not an underwear model, in the 21st century there is absolutely no need for them for 90% of people. You are artificially causing strain to your muscles. I maintain the best exercise is sport, because you are actually using your muscles for a purpose, of course they build up way slower and are unlikey to grow huge but quality over quantity? I can beat those guys with huge veiny muscley arms in an arm wrestle no problem and I'm slightly chubby.

And if your doing it for the 'aesthetics', stop being a faggot. With my beer belly I get more pussy than you ever will.

Peace

Why? there are many things in life which necessitate strength.

And which of those activities do you perform which have necessitated the strength gained from weight lifting?

He's allowed an opinion on what you're doing. Stop throwing such a hissy fit.

How can getting stronger and looking better be pointless??

I think you need to tell your dad that WEIGHT TRAINING burns waaay more calories than CARDIO, leading to stronger lungs, more effective fat loss and a healthier lifestyle!
Look at cardio athletes, then look at power athletes and tell me which one looks healthier? The marathon runners and other cardio athletes look sick and anorexic, where as the sprinters and the long jumpers look cut, full and healthy!

Give your dad your computer and tell him to google search: Benefits of weight lifting

Wait, i will even do the first step for him: http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=benefits+of+weight+lifting

that's his opinion on me going to the gym and lifting weights. he has recently started going to the gym (he wasn't grossly unfit or fat compared to other men his age but he could be better) and he does light cardio work. he thinks all you need is cardio work to keep fit and remain healthy. he keeps telling me weights are "unnecessary" and "what's the point? you'd be better spending your money on something useful instead of a membership to the gym to lift weights because there's no point". i tell him i enjoy it and i do it for myself because i like the feeling of progressing and getting stronger and more muscular. i said i might even take part in tournaments in 5 or so years time. but he still thinks there's no point.

he's even said i eat too much and i should cut back on eating. i tell him i need to eat more than usual or else you hardly put on muscle but he doesn't listen. then i tell him i will make a contribution to food a week but he doesn't want that. all he says is he wants me to stop eating as much.

it's annoying me loads. my mum doesn't voice her opinion and simply goes along with whatever my dad says. how do i deal with this tricky situation?

doing various things such as moving washing machines, overhead pressing furniture into lofts. picking cars off young children. defending onesself from worthless maggots with ease etc.

are you an idiot?
everything in bold is wrong, ESPECIALLY for lung strength, i honestly have no idea where you got that from as either you or someone else made that up
do you even know what a proper cardio work out is?

would you still think them pointless when a powerlifter crushes your face and then deadlifts you, subsequently throwing you off a bridge and ending your life?

Yes im an idiot .. I suck at maths and science! Bodybuilding is my ambition ..

I am referring to LONG DISTANCE CARDIO .. Spending hours on a treadmill is pointless, when 15 minutes HIIT does more! And are you saying that resistance training does not burn more calories than cardio? If that is the case, then im guessing you have never lifted a 'proper' weight in your life? I guarantee, that 4 sets of 8 reps of the bench press with 140 KG will burn a LOT more calories than 30 minutes on a treadmill ..

I am a resistance trainer, i occasionally do 15 mins HIIT every so often, but i have NEVER done a long distance cardio workout in my life, yet I consistently get 19 - 21 on the bleep test ... way more than my cross country friends!

im about 5ft11 but i wnna be 6ft1 and am 16 years old. i started going to the gym but try to stay away from the weights just incase lol.

that's his opinion on me going to the gym and lifting weights. he has recently started going to the gym (he wasn't grossly unfit or fat compared to other men his age but he could be better) and he does light cardio work. he thinks all you need is cardio work to keep fit and remain healthy. he keeps telling me weights are "unnecessary" and "what's the point? you'd be better spending your money on something useful instead of a membership to the gym to lift weights because there's no point". i tell him i enjoy it and i do it for myself because i like the feeling of progressing and getting stronger and more muscular. i said i might even take part in tournaments in 5 or so years time. but he still thinks there's no point.

he's even said i eat too much and i should cut back on eating. i tell him i need to eat more than usual or else you hardly put on muscle but he doesn't listen. then i tell him i will make a contribution to food a week but he doesn't want that. all he says is he wants me to stop eating as much.

it's annoying me loads. my mum doesn't voice her opinion and simply goes along with whatever my dad says. how do i deal with this tricky situation?