T Nation

When is a Beginner Not a Beginner?

Beginners
#1

Just out of interest, what kinda lifts would you attribute to an intermediate level lifter?

I’m 186lbs (84kg) at 5 10, heres some lifts:

Dead - 150kg x 1 (chasing a 2x bw)
Squat 115kg x1
Bench - 80kg x 2 (struggle with bench)
Clean+Push press - 70kg x 1
WG dead stop pull ups - 5 reps with no added weight.

The machine in my gym says im at 15% bodyfat. I’d like to be below 10 (just an arbitrary goal since im training mostly for asthetic reasons)

I was aiming for 2xbw deads, 1.5xbw squats, 1xbw bench, 10 wg pull ups before i allowed myself to think of myself as anything but a begginner haha.

…I think this post is largely pointless. Ah well i’ve typed the bastard now, so have at it.

#2

http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html

youll find a million tables like those and then a million people give you their opinion on it and youll end up with millions of different answers.
whether or not someone is a “beginner” at something or not cant be answered that easily. truth is, it doesnt really matter and what youve typed up is a good guideline to stick to.

in the end, everybody has their own opinion and you know what they say about opinions and assholes…

#3

When you need a week to recover from a workout, you’re an intermediate. I don’t mean totally recovery, but let’s say you train chest and it takes a full week to be back up to strength.

When you need 2 weeks or more, you’re advanced.

If you can train 2x a week on the same lift/group of muscles and add weight every time you train, you’re still a beginner.

#4

[quote]Samir wrote:
When you need a week to recover from a workout, you’re an intermediate. I don’t mean totally recovery, but let’s say you train chest and it takes a full week to be back up to strength.

When you need 2 weeks or more, you’re advanced.

If you can train 2x a week on the same lift/group of muscles and add weight every time you train, you’re still a beginner. [/quote]

That’s a pretty handy rule. Not sure how useful it is to know if you’re a “beginner” “intermediate” or “advanced” though.

#5

I’ve never seen someone who is advanced on this board recommend training a body part only twice a month?

If anything I figured you can train more frequently as you get more advanced. Not adding weight every workout though.

#6

There are many standards, mine are you are not intermediate until you have atleast a 2X bodyweight squat, a 2.5 X body weight deadlift, a 1.5 X body weigh benchpress, and a bodyweight overhead press. (without using momentum or bending your back) You are an intermediate when you need a light day in between the week, advanced when you need 2+ weeks to progress.

#7

[quote]chamelious wrote:
Just out of interest, what kinda lifts would you attribute to an intermediate level lifter?[/quote]

#8

It’s nothing quantifiable…it’s about attitude and maturity in your training.

#9

[quote]Samir wrote:
When you need a week to recover from a workout, you’re an intermediate. I don’t mean totally recovery, but let’s say you train chest and it takes a full week to be back up to strength.

When you need 2 weeks or more, you’re advanced.

If you can train 2x a week on the same lift/group of muscles and add weight every time you train, you’re still a beginner. [/quote]

I disagree. As I have got more advanced I have found ways to train more frequently and still recover. I would say an intermediate/advanced lifter status is obtained when the person knows their body well enough to train optimally for certain goals.

#10

I think you stop being a beginner when you stop worrying about whether you’re a beginner or not. People focus too much on things that don’t matter like that.

#11

[quote]Samir wrote:
When you need a week to recover from a workout, you’re an intermediate. I don’t mean totally recovery, but let’s say you train chest and it takes a full week to be back up to strength.

When you need 2 weeks or more, you’re advanced.

If you can train 2x a week on the same lift/group of muscles and add weight every time you train, you’re still a beginner. [/quote]
^^This^^ is ridiculous.

#12

[quote]EveryLastingScar wrote:
I think you stop being a beginner when you stop worrying about whether you’re a beginner or not. People focus too much on things that don’t matter like that.[/quote]

I’m not focusing on it, i was just bored at work and thought the discussion might be interesting.

#13

[quote]chamelious wrote:

I’m not focusing on it, i was just bored at work and thought the discussion might be interesting.[/quote]

its been discussed 100 times and unsurprisingly it turns out that its boring as fuck :confused: