What do you consider the time period of 'beginner', 'intermediate', 'advanced', etc.

**davtown** · 03-08-2007, 05:11 AM

Just like the title states... How long until you become an intermediate trainee? How long until you become an advanced trainee?

I haven't been training for very long in comparison to many on this board (2.5 years), so my personal experience is limited in this topic as I know there are people here who have been lifting for many, many years. If I had to make a guess, I would say beginner is from 0-2 years, intermediate from 2-6, and then advanced 6+ years, obviously the longer you train the more advanced you are. I am unaware if there are other common categories or classifications when speaking about this topic.

I'm curious what my fellow IM people have to say about this.

**romanaz** · 03-08-2007, 05:19 AM

I think 0-3 years would be beginner status. You know kinda what your doing in the later stages, but you still haven't reached a point where you've "matured" in your training and abilities to train.

Also have to factor if you take time off (like long breaks, say 6 months-ish) and whether or not you constantly read up on everything possible.

Vegeto · 03-08-2007, 05:46 AM

Well, I'm not sure.

Me, for example, -this is my eighth year. Most of my skills are to do with technique and movement. I know much less about building mass (although I spent some time with that). All the experience builds up, no matter what your specific skills are, but it's pretty tough to measure and compare.

In some ways, it's not the years, but the amount of dedication within the years. It also really depends on the person. Some people stay very physical (I'm assuming) and make progress by continually pushing and 'working hard' and being steady, whereas other people do more learning and develope more skills and make breakthroughs. So, a very 'hard worker' may not necessarily have developed much of a resevoir of knowlege to share. On the other side, the learner type might not have as much steady commitment.

You also may want to take into consideration that some people who start out pretty strong and built often may not learn and grow inside as much as someone who had to take every inch they could travel along the path. ...And then there's the Steroid guys (who obviously have experience with steroids) but may not know much about true natural lifting.

Is 8 years 8 years? Or is there something else?
I guess I don't know. But I think experience is always graded on a curve.

**Jayhawkk** · 03-08-2007, 01:21 PM

I believe the status should focus on the state that the body is in and the level of information you have obtained

For example, a person could be 5-7 years in the gym but if this person has no clue on diet and training he/she could still be a beginner. Time alone in the gym shouldn't determine progression on its own, in my opinion.

**DJSTARER** · 03-08-2007, 02:26 PM

you are an intermediate, like me, davtown

**madman911** · 03-08-2007, 02:55 PM

It think level of accomplishment is the only real standard to judge by, rather than a certain time frame. One's progress should never end, so I'd argue that when it comes to judging who's 'advanced', it is all relative. Compared to a newb, I'm advanced. Compared to someone who has been bodybuilding for 20 years and achieved a high level of success in the sport, I'm a beginner.

**davtown** · 03-08-2007, 08:19 PM

Great responses so far. Keeping them in mind, I have a question for the people who have been lifting for many years. How long, personally, do you feel it took you to reach the stages of intermediate, advanced, and beyond?

**DarkFalcon** · 03-08-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davtown

Great responses so far. Keeping them in mind, I have a question for the people who have been lifting for many years. How long, personally, do you feel it took you to reach the stages of intermediate, advanced, and beyond?

I've been lifting on and off since I was 13 years old (24yrs) and I made all my progess in the last 5-6. I still feel like a noob though cause there is something new to learn everyday. BB really is a science so I wouldn't give them timeframes it's more of a personal learning curve. You may lift for 10 years and still be a noob cause you don't how to lift properly while someone else may only be 3 months in but have their diet and training spot on thereby being advanced. It's all education and how you apply it IMHO.

Vegeto · 03-09-2007, 12:30 AM

The trouble is- how do you grade progress? Put an olympic lifter next to a bodybuilder. One of them has a fairly strong snatch and clean+jerk, the other has a fairly well built physique. Who is better? There are many other unsung accomplishments too, aren't there?

Also- If we judge experience according to how well built someone is, or how strong they are, then does a person who started out strong and well built have the 'authority' or 'experience level' to give out advice to someone who doesn't have the same access to inheritance? If not, then what about someone who hasn't accomplished much, but has learned over 100 times more than the person who already 'has it'? Does that person's experience, struggle, character, and knowlege have no value when used to give advice? Who can a person learn more from of those two^?

03-08-2007, 05:11 AM	#1
davtown OM NOM NOM NOM Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,360 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 128	What do you consider the time period of 'beginner', 'intermediate', 'advanced', etc. Just like the title states... How long until you become an intermediate trainee? How long until you become an advanced trainee? I haven't been training for very long in comparison to many on this board (2.5 years), so my personal experience is limited in this topic as I know there are people here who have been lifting for many, many years. If I had to make a guess, I would say beginner is from 0-2 years, intermediate from 2-6, and then advanced 6+ years, obviously the longer you train the more advanced you are. I am unaware if there are other common categories or classifications when speaking about this topic. I'm curious what my fellow IM people have to say about this. __________________ --Training Journal-- current/goal D: 350/380 S: 280/300 B: 235/260

03-08-2007, 05:46 AM	#3
Vegeto blameless sinner Join Date: May 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 803 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 15	Well, I'm not sure. Me, for example, -this is my eighth year. Most of my skills are to do with technique and movement. I know much less about building mass (although I spent some time with that). All the experience builds up, no matter what your specific skills are, but it's pretty tough to measure and compare. In some ways, it's not the years, but the amount of dedication within the years. It also really depends on the person. Some people stay very physical (I'm assuming) and make progress by continually pushing and 'working hard' and being steady, whereas other people do more learning and develope more skills and make breakthroughs. So, a very 'hard worker' may not necessarily have developed much of a resevoir of knowlege to share. On the other side, the learner type might not have as much steady commitment. You also may want to take into consideration that some people who start out pretty strong and built often may not learn and grow inside as much as someone who had to take every inch they could travel along the path. ...And then there's the Steroid guys (who obviously have experience with steroids) but may not know much about true natural lifting. Is 8 years 8 years? Or is there something else? I guess I don't know. But I think experience is always graded on a curve. __________________ ______________ ________________ ......Busy Training...... __________________ ________________ __________________

03-08-2007, 01:21 PM	#4
Jayhawkk Nutraplanet Rep Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,106 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 44	I believe the status should focus on the state that the body is in and the level of information you have obtained For example, a person could be 5-7 years in the gym but if this person has no clue on diet and training he/she could still be a beginner. Time alone in the gym shouldn't determine progression on its own, in my opinion. __________________ Nutraplanet.com for all your supplement needs! ------------------------------ Hangin's too good for 'em! BURNIN'S too good for 'em! They should be ripped into itsy-bitsy little pieces and BURIED ALIVE!

03-08-2007, 02:26 PM	#5
DJSTARER eating more folate... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 3,996 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 113	you are an intermediate, like me, davtown __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: 500lbs squat and a total over 1400 in competition

03-08-2007, 02:55 PM	#6
madman911 Metamorphosizing Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston Area Posts: 1,526 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 60	It think level of accomplishment is the only real standard to judge by, rather than a certain time frame. One's progress should never end, so I'd argue that when it comes to judging who's 'advanced', it is all relative. Compared to a newb, I'm advanced. Compared to someone who has been bodybuilding for 20 years and achieved a high level of success in the sport, I'm a beginner. __________________ Millennium Sport Technologies Sponsored Athlete http://www.millenniumsport.net IMPC 2006 Novice Division Champ IMPC 2007 Open Division Champ Never underestimate the power of the bandana.

03-08-2007, 08:19 PM	#7
davtown OM NOM NOM NOM Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,360 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 128	Great responses so far. Keeping them in mind, I have a question for the people who have been lifting for many years. How long, personally, do you feel it took you to reach the stages of intermediate, advanced, and beyond? __________________ --Training Journal-- current/goal D: 350/380 S: 280/300 B: 235/260

03-09-2007, 12:30 AM	#9
Vegeto blameless sinner Join Date: May 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 803 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 15	The trouble is- how do you grade progress? Put an olympic lifter next to a bodybuilder. One of them has a fairly strong snatch and clean+jerk, the other has a fairly well built physique. Who is better? There are many other unsung accomplishments too, aren't there? Also- If we judge experience according to how well built someone is, or how strong they are, then does a person who started out strong and well built have the 'authority' or 'experience level' to give out advice to someone who doesn't have the same access to inheritance? If not, then what about someone who hasn't accomplished much, but has learned over 100 times more than the person who already 'has it'? Does that person's experience, struggle, character, and knowlege have no value when used to give advice? Who can a person learn more from of those two^? __________________ ______________ ________________ ......Busy Training...... __________________ ________________ __________________

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