Where am I?

[bblazer]

I'm at the gym today all wrapped up in the squat rack with bands all over the place trying not to get launched across the room when one of the guys I try to help from time to time comes over.

After my set he asks what on the surface seems like a very simple question, but I didn't have an answer for him and was hoping you guys could help out.

"Where am I?"

What he meant, was "Where am I in my training?"

As I said I didn't know how to answer.

In other sports, for example, you can gauge your progress rather easily. I know that when I run less than a 30 min 5k I am doing just slightly better than a novice runner. A 25 min 5k and I am in the top 30% of people who would turn out for a local charity run.

Now in the weight room, a lot of it depends on what you are training for. But even then a lot of generic terms and phrases are used like "I want to be more athletic" or "I would like to look better and be stronger." These are really hard to quantify.

In my chosen world, I powerlift. In my state in one of the federations, the state record for squat in my age and experience group is 525. Well, I can do that for reps. Does that make me elite? Or does that just mean that there isn't a lot of competition in that category and/or its not as popular. When I look at a national level, I'm not even close to being able to spot what some of these PLers are doing. Could I stand up 1k lbs out of the rack? Maybe. But there is a good chance I might get so compressed that I would have no problem blowing myself when that condo comes crashing down on me.

I guess after all this rambling, is how can we quantify what we are doing, and then put that into some sort of matrix to see where we stand? Would you consider a guy in his mid-late 50's being able to do all three major lifts @ 305 in very good or just average condition?

Does this even make any sense?

B-

 

[mattu3743]

i know what your sayn bro...

to me there a few ways to determine where that person is in there training:

first is confidence... confident on how you feel, look, and well being.

second is listening to your body... knowing when you need to take a break, knowing when to change your workout routine, knowing what body part to spend more time on

third and finale is knowledge of exercise and equipment.....just knowing what all of them do for you and how to use them correctly

these to me are how you know where you are in you training, i didnt learn all these things all at the same time, this took me many years to accomplish...and i'll be the first to admit that that i still learn more and more shit every single day and every single workout i clasify myself as an elite but you never stop learning

to me knowing where you are in your training just doesnt mean how you look but are you learning whats right for you, how does it affect your workout

 

[captainahole]

To add to above. Most guys who train for 4 plus years fall into the intemediate category. Advanced is usually lifestyle/full time or making a living off it.

 

[bblazer]

After rereading my original post, I guess it may have a tone of competitiveness to it. While I am a very competitive person, I just want to make sure that no one is taking this thread that way.

captainahole quantifies it as "time served" while mattu puts more of a Zen "mindfullness" slant to it.

Interesting thoughts.

Being a computer geek, I am trying to figure out some sort of relational metrics chart. Sort of like a BMI but only for progress as it relates to a population/demographic.

B-

 

[Jocques Straap]

I think Ultimately, the question comes down to your goals. If you don't have specific goals. then you should make some. Goals can be short term or long term, but they should have something to quantify them. A number, a size, a time, a measurement. These are good goals.

If your looking for some sort of, Strength standard, then click.

 

[bblazer]

I appreciate the link. Thank you. I don't necessarily agree with the numbers (I think they should be higher) but that is pretty close to what I was looking for.

B-

 

[SouthernLord]

Nothing to add other than.........

"A goal without a plan is only a wish."

I seen this on a marquee in front of a gas station the other day and I thought it sounded good. It makes a lot of sense really.

 

[mattu3743]

After rereading my original post, I guess it may have a tone of competitiveness to it. While I am a very competitive person, I just want to make sure that no one is taking this thread that way.

captainahole quantifies it as "time served" while mattu puts more of a Zen "mindfullness" slant to it.

Interesting thoughts.

Being a computer geek, I am trying to figure out some sort of relational metrics chart. Sort of like a BMI but only for progress as it relates to a population/demographic.

B-

you might be on to something blazer, do you think that is possible, can you make an relational metrics chart?

 

[mattu3743]

To add to above. Most guys who train for 4 plus years fall into the intemediate category. Advanced is usually lifestyle/full time or making a living off it.

i agree with you too, but the reason why i didnt put that in my post is because i've seen guys work out for a few years and i have never seen progress from them. They come in and do the same work out day in and day out. And they still cant do a proper squat!!!!

 

[02gixxersix]

I think where you are at definitely depends on your goals like you said. I would place anyone who can do the main three lifts at 305 or over in the very good category as I would be willing to bet that 99.9% of the able bodied adult male population cannot do so. Truthfully though I feel that where you are "at" is very closely related to where you started, your genetic capability, the amount of effort you put into it, the amount of time you have been at it, your consistency level, etc. BB'ing and PL'ing are so truly sports where you get out what you put in, that no one but you can really gauge if you are where you should be.

 

[bblazer]

you might be on to something blazer, do you think that is possible, can you make an relational metrics chart?

Maybe.

I would need some demographic data that wasn't BS, and the input of some REAL trainers, etc.

Let me do some thinking on it and what it would all entail - at least from a geek perspective.

B-

 

[scotty too hotty]

Good post. One must first decide who the competition is, in order to compare accomplishments. This decides the overall progress or worth of the individual, compared to similar individuals. What is a personal record for someone might be another man's warm-up. I try to only compete with myself, that way it's okay to be a sore loser, but I never truly lose because I never give up! If I am truly honest with myself, only positive changes can be made. It would be interesting and motivating, however, to see some sort of demographic analysis from my area, to determine how I compare to similar weightlifters. I would bet that EliteFitness members are some of the strongest people in the whole country!

 

[Jocques Straap]

I'm agree those numbers do seem low. But who are we to be the judge?

I'll trust Kilgore, Rippetoe, and Pendlay. These are the guys who have their names associated with that linked performance standard.


Lon Kilgore, PhD Professor of Kinesiology at Midwestern State University -Former national weightlifting champion - Director of the Midwestern State University Strength Research Laboratory & USA Weightlifting Regional Development Center


Dr. Lon Kilgore is an associate professor of kinesiology at Midwestern State University (USA) where he teaches exercise physiology and anatomy. He also holds a senior faculty appointment in Exercise Science at Warnborough University (UK). He is author of two textbooks and numerous research articles on the biology of exercise. A nationally ranked weightlifter from age 13, he has extensive practical experience as an NCAA strength coach, and as coach of international caliber competitive weightlifters. He has been a member or Chair of the Sports Science Committee for USA Weightlifting since 1999, a researcher on the USOC Weightlifting Performance Enhancement Team project, and is a member of the Board of Certification for the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.

 

[bblazer]

I like where you are going with this. It seems like it would set a progression based standard rather than an absolute like a specific weight.

B-

 

[mattu3743]

i can see this is going to be a nice little find