How long did it take you to get to the level your are now?

[cranny]

For me it took 15yrs before I got it and was educated enough to really be effective. Forever it was a few pair of DB's and a pull up bar at home. Then I graduated to a gym membership along with my faithful monthly workout plan from Men's Heath magazine. Finally in 05' I joined a nice little gym in town and got to be friends with a few PL'ers as well as a couple of BB'ing wannabes. They really showed me how to work out more than anyone else. And damn what a difference it's made. I've no where near perfected my training but I hate that it took so long to finally "get it" for the lack of a better term. I owe a lot to my PL'ing buds; I would be no where near my current level had it not been for them.

[Ulter]

It took me about 10 years because I just wasn't devoted to it. I hit my pique about 2001 and have scaled my training back ever since. Mostly due to injury. As far as knowledge, I am smarter today than I was yesterday so I'll let you know when I'm "educated enough". :)

[Tweak]

I've been working out for years but didn't start competing til about a year and a half ago. Still haven't hit my peaked/dialed it in where I want... I project it taking me another year.

[Test-Daddy]

I've been weight training in onr form or another since I was 15. This round I've learned to be more scientific about my training. I used to just grip and rip.

[G-REX]

Started lifting when I was 21. Just some freeweight and a rack. It wasn't until I got into a gym with a couple of good powerlifters and began to actually educate myself about weight training, nutrition and supplementation. I'm 37 now and am stronger than I've ever been, bigger than ever and more knowledgable. Like TD I used to just go into the gym and tear it up, now that I'm older I've learned to lift smarter instead of harder. Although I'm stronger, it's actually easier for me to make gains now. I know what my body reponds to, I know when I need to back off. I also know that I don't know enough, I'll never know enough. In order for me to evolve as a lifter, my education has to continue. I'll keep reading the forums, reading the latest articles, scouring the net to find the latest info and learn the newest training techniques. My experimentation in the gym will continue, even when my own journey through the iron world is over. When my time in the game is over, it's my duty to give back to the sport. Powerlifting has brought me the majority of friends I have today. It brought me together with my beautiful wife. In effect, it's given me the life I now lead. I owe the sport. I'll continue to coach and train lifters, probably until I'm no longer physically able. Nothing like taking a young lifter in and guiding him through the iron jungle. I get more out of coaching than I do my own personal lifting. Nothing like seeing someone you've helped reach their goal up on that platform. Absolutely nothing like it!

[GTLifter]

About 4 years. Keep in mind within a year I was training at a pretty well stocked PL gym full of knowladgable lifters. Not about bench shirts as G-Rex can tell you but had everything else locked down. :rofl:

[dirty~d~]

It's an obvious statement, but I'm more knowledgeable now than I have ever been. It's taken me close to 17 years of lifting, coaching and self education. I've learned to listen to my body and not my ego. Granted I'm not currently at my best level of conditioning, but that's a simple matter of time spent in the gym. My 'grip and rip' days are behind me, as G-Rex and TD have mentioned. I think the biggest contributing factor in my growth has been through helping other people along the way. I've always enjoyed assisting others in learning; without that need to know more to help them I don't think my own training would be where it is today.

[CJB]

About 16 years. But it's not like I have "arrived" yet. Hopefully my best years are still ahead of me. Similar to what others have said, I did a lot of assing off in my younger years. Then after a few years of going nowhere, I started reading about the smart way to train. And like many others, I figured there was no way in hell you could make progress if you cut back volume and did big compound movements. How the hell could my arms grow if I didn't train them 3 times a week? Anyway, I gave it a shot. Well fuck me dry and call me dusty - turns out, all this stuff I was reading was right. I got bigger and stronger in the last 5-6 years than I did in the 10 years prior.

[cranny]

Interesting paths. Just to be clear, I'm not at all suggesting I've reached a state of all-knowing. Rather I'm at a point where I know enough to be competent in my training and helping others. I'm still learning everyday and soak up as much as I can continually. Before I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing nor what worked for me and what didn't with training and nutrition. There's no telling how much I have learned since I first joined here as well.
Great job all...

[A L]

I think we all have it pretty well figured out. Execution and dedication mixed with injuries and life make application hard at times.

To me I learned my base about 5 years ago. Very simple, very Rippetoe (thanks BiggT), and my body responded like crazy. Then Ulter explained some science to me, Mac chimed in and I learned what I think is all I needed to know. I honeslty do the exact same things told to me then. I don't have any gear related question as a result of being around this crew for so long now. Bunny hooked me up w/ diet knowledge, and last I checked that hadn't changed either.

I did waste years in the gym eating bad and training even worse!

[Doggy]

Been training consistently for 18 years; like some of the older guys, I hit my best condition ever in 2007 at age 46.
A year later; found out I had kidney disease and its been different since then.
Still train hard, eat what they let me & train a few quality clients each year...but I LEARN everyday!
Training is more than lifting weights to me...it gets me through each & every day!

[trivial]

I started lifting in 2000, but I have not yet hit anywhere near where I want to be. Mostly because of choosing to put so many things before this, and it's cool, it's how I wanted it to be. But I'm turning 33 this year and have a new outlook, new goals, new plans to get there. I'm looking forward not backward.

[dubdubs]

I have always worked out but was more a aerobic nut lol. I took up weight lifting about 1996 or so. I continued with it till I had my daughter in 2002 and took a long lay off of about 3 years or so. Came back full force in 2007 and just never looked back, never looked better (well not so much now but I have been on hiatus mode for a while with my injury). Hitting it hard next week and hoping over the next 2 weeks I can settle into just getting back. Then I start some plan... not sure yet what that will be but I am sure Pete will figure it out lol.. :ohnoes:

[Aesirian]

30 yrs of false starts, long layoffs, family priorites, and alot of learning. Had the good fortune of starting out PLing @ 20yrs old with Larry Pacifico in Dayton, Oh. He was always willing to share. I trained for a summer in 85' with Oscar Jacobson, Oly shot putter/discus thrower from Iceland...He introduced me to natural stones and to honor iron and stones by acknowledging their life force.
Competed last year for the first time in bbing @ 49 yrs old. Can't wait to do it again!

[sassy69]

Going on 30 yrs since I kicked on my first Universal machine. A couple of trainers and on-going lifting from 84-91, some sporadic moments while going to school, but I did a lot of swimming during those times (helped a LOT w/ stress). First serious combination of diet & training for results for a trip to Mexico in 1993, and turned the whole thing into a strict lifestyle in 1999 - 2010. Since 2000, its been a series of refinements. Finally hit national level, but now nee to be a serious contender. I see another couple years to see if I hit an age-related point of negative returns. I know a couple people who are upper 40s- 50s who compete so the competition aspect can continue until its not fun anymore. I've been lucky to not have any debilitating injuries, but I definitely have to spend more time w/ recovery & maintenance these days than ever before. I'm still learning new ways to do everything - but that's what I love about this - I've hit points where I just needed some time out of the gym, but I have yet to hit the point where there's "nothing new".

[GTLifter]

30 yrs of false starts, long layoffs, family priorites, and alot of learning. Had the good fortune of starting out PLing @ 20yrs old with Larry Pacifico in Dayton, Oh. He was always willing to share. I trained for a summer in 85' with Oscar Jacobson, Oly shot putter/discus thrower from Iceland...He introduced me to natural stones and to honor iron and stones by acknowledging their life force.
Competed last year for the first time in bbing @ 49 yrs old. Can't wait to do it again!

You trained with Larry Pacifico? That's awesome.

[roadwarrior]

Like many others... a lifetime... been going to gyms and working out in one form or another for 42 years since starting boxing at 8. I've gone up and down on dedication depending on other things in life. I've competed in boxing, TKD, Kenpo, and triathalons but that is in the distant past. I was always good not great. This was true even in track and field and football in high school where I had the discus record for a while and was all state but it was RI... nothing like TX or NB etc. For lifting, I phased in lifting about 6 or 7 years ago but I have working towards strength for 5 years but really only the last 3 have I known enough and done enough to see decent gains. As I have tried to learn and do a PL meet, I have found out that I know only the tip of the iceberg for that sport and look forward to learning and training better. I am good on diet but it's just the way I've always eaten... weird mix of 70's hippie, biker, and nerd... did the macrobiotics, tried vegie, eat organic wherever possible, grow some of my own etc. On supplements, I know enough to be dangerous but am smart enough to check with guys who know more. I'll never be great... not in my genes... but I will always be the best that I can be.