Im looking for new workout programs but honestly I'm sure of what level i am myself. I used to lift all the time, had hernia, and just started lifting again in october maybe. It was lighter then I did Kris Gethin's 12 week hardcore trainer. My squat strength is much higher than my bodyweight my bench is probably only 50lbs higher.
my go currently is strength and size. Do i do a beginner program like starting strength or all pro or look for something with more frequency?
how are workouts based on periodization? I'm just trying to figure things out
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Thread: Am I beginner or intermediate
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04-24-2012, 07:48 AM #1
Am I beginner or intermediate
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04-24-2012, 07:53 AM #2
Based on your stats, you should be able to make fairly rapid progress. Take advantage of that by using a good basic beginner program, such as this one:
*Routine: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=4195843No brain, no gain.
"The fitness and nutrition world is a breeding ground for obsessive-compulsive behavior. The irony is that many of the things people worry about have no impact on results either way, and therefore aren't worth an ounce of concern."--Alan Aragon
Where the mind goes, the body follows.
Ironwill Gym:
https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpost.php?p=629719403&postcount=3388
Ironwill2008 Journal:
https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=157459343&p=1145168733
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04-24-2012, 07:53 AM #3
- Join Date: Jan 2007
- Location: Suffolk, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Posts: 54,512
- Rep Power: 1338185
At your height and weight, I'd say you are highly likely to be novice...
Bench Press Latest Update: Jan 30, 2012 88.2kg
Squats Latest Update: Jan 31, 2012 134.6kg
Deadlift Latest Update: N/A
Bicep Curl Latest Update: N/A
Barbell Rows Latest Update: Jan 30, 2012 69.1kg
Overhead Press Latest Update: Jan 30, 2012 62.3kg
No deadlift? Shame because it's probably one of the most reliable indicators...
You could probably still make novice progression.
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04-24-2012, 08:00 AM #4
thanks, thats one of the ones i have been looking into it
i stopped recording my workouts on the site. only my weight and BF. i record my workouts on my iPhone apps. there wasn't much deadlifting in kris gethins workout or any of the big classic barbell exercises. but i did drop 30lbs and 10%BF in 10 weeks on it
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04-24-2012, 08:36 AM #5
Give us some actual numbers on your lifts.
Are you really benching 205 @ 155 lbs? If so, that is probably pretty close to intermediate. What is your squat? Deadlift? Overhead Press?
Is your primary goal to increase strength?My Journal (RIP 05/11 - 09/13):
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=134256491
DIY Plyo Boxes:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=151765733
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04-24-2012, 08:48 AM #6
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04-24-2012, 08:56 AM #7
Im still trying to go through the log in my app to find applicable examples of strength. Towards the of kris gethins plan it was a lot of supersets, giant sets, and DTP ( supersets set up like this 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50). those had me so exhausted, not sure if i was lifting near my max
if i had to guess my bench is probably still near 195lbs - 200lbs if i did it rested
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04-24-2012, 09:34 AM #8
- Join Date: Aug 2011
- Location: Arkansas, United States
- Age: 37
- Posts: 168
- Rep Power: 159
Man dont listen to that crap. Being a beginner or novice has nothing to do with how much weight you are moving. You think Hidetada and Jay lift the same? but they are on the same stage arent they. The truth is, only you know if you are beginner or novice. Are you ready to start dividing bodyparts and doing specialized training? I doubt it at 6ft. 155 lbs, but its possible. IMO you can never go wrong with a solid well balanced beginners program. Even pros will resort back to basics from time to time to keep their muscles from plateau. I still use some of the same routines from when i started, and they still are producing gains. If something works well, stick with it as long as it is working. Ride that beginner horse until it dies on you.
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04-24-2012, 09:51 AM #9
Horrible analogy
The truth is, only you know if you are beginner or novice.
I agree that how much you lift doesn't determine experience level and neither does how many years/months you've been training.Goals:
1.5 bw Bench
2.0+ bw Squat
2.5 bw Deadlift
Gain 20 lbs
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04-24-2012, 09:56 AM #10
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04-24-2012, 10:45 AM #11
- Join Date: Aug 2011
- Location: Arkansas, United States
- Age: 37
- Posts: 168
- Rep Power: 159
It seems like a horrible analogy i know. but it illustrates my point perfectly. They are not even close to the same size, and obviously dont lift close to the same amount of weight, but they are both pros. everyone always wants to group you by the numbers on your lifts, but a guy that is 5'5" is not going to lift as heavy as a guy that is 6'4" even if they are identical fitness wise. In contrast, a very experienced small framed guy might not lift as heavy as a large framed noob. It's just foolishness to say "if you squat 300 you are a professional. " its just not true.
and as far as adding weight every week. If the pros had been adding 5 lbs a week to their lifts the entire 20 years they've been pros, they would be lifting 6000 lbs man. think about it. sometimes you will gain strength (i.e. adding weight) and sometimes you will be stuck at a weight for a while and have to tweak it some other way. that IS bodybuilding and even the best of the best experience it.
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04-24-2012, 10:59 AM #12
I think you're missing the point.
There comes a time when a lifter can no longer progress weekly. At that point, the lifter needs to re-evaluate because they are at an intermediate level.
Experience and elite athletes are an entirely different animal and comparing them is pointless, especially when trying to inform a novice lifter
Beginner/novice lifters have it easy in terms of measuring progress. As one moves up the ranks, gains are slow and progress is harder to measure (in a traditional sense)Goals:
1.5 bw Bench
2.0+ bw Squat
2.5 bw Deadlift
Gain 20 lbs
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04-24-2012, 11:01 AM #13
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04-24-2012, 11:26 AM #14
- Join Date: Jan 2007
- Location: Suffolk, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Posts: 54,512
- Rep Power: 1338185
A novice can follow novice progression and an intermediate cannot. It's that simple.
Using lifts as a guide might give an indication but nobody really knows until they actually try a beginner progression... Sure you can always find exceptions - really big guys who can bench 300 first time they try it and tiny guys who will never bench 300 but there is nothing wrong with using rules of thumb for average folks to try to help them out.
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04-24-2012, 11:37 AM #15
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04-24-2012, 12:02 PM #16
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