ACTIVIST
QUALIFICATIONS
If the shoe fits...
You are within the first 18 months of your training experience
You don’t know Jack shit but are cool with it
You may have some friends might physically scare you or intimidate you,
But those who do nothing scare you more
If you don’t have any type of sport background, then you may find Working out takes more energy than it gives back for now
“The science“ is still somewhat fresh and confusing
You have all the enthusiasm in the world that a couple squats are gonna change your life
and your dating prospects
If you’re being honest, You don’t really know the difference between getting bigger or getting stronger
You probably have at least one or two fitness apps on your phone for tracking or inspiration but you haven’t really used them yet
You may be mostly concerned with “toning up“
You find Machines are the most inviting,
but also the most confusing
“How do I lose belly fat”
You may find that you spend more time on treadmills or bodyweight movements than anything else
Your Favorite day is “rest day”
Or “cheat day”
You don’t really understand how food turns into fuel yet
You don’t know the difference between processed and prepared
You don’t really know what “whole foods” are
“There are two types of fat?”
You don’t know the difference between types of gyms
Or
You still hope deep down that you can get away without joining a gym if you haven’t already
You mat enjoy sharing super lame motivational memes
or very cheesy clichés
You still think the dietary recommendations might have some hint of truth..
You are beginning to understand that you’ve been lied to and fucked with
but you don’t understand how much just yet…
You exercise mostly to party more
or get away with it with less consequence
You may be impressed by certifications
You don’t know who’s on the sauce or not
You think feeling the burn is a good thing
You don’t know what water weight really is but yet have had your entire day ruined by it time and time again unexpectedly
You may wear gloves
However, nervously
Training lifetime: < 18 months
Push: 75% | 50%
Pull: 75% | 50%
Squat: 100% | 75%
Dead: 133% | 100%
Run: 1m
Fun: Base Mobility / Yoga
AMATUER
QUALIFICATIONS
If the shoe fits...
You have been training between 18 months to 3 years,
including falling out once or twice
Training has become one of your favorite things to do
Cause you started to see some results
You’ve likely overcome one or two major hurdles relating to motivation and education
You don’t understand why your family and friends don’t get into training
You are convinced that you figured out the secret
Nothing makes you more excited than discovering a new workout because you were beginning to think that you’ve done them all
Your feed has become mostly training stuff
You probably can’t stop talking about your new workout
Your wardrobe has begun to change considerably
You have begun to annoy your friends
You are no longer intimidated by your sedentary friends,
but are by the more advanced gym regulars
You likely have gone through a couple aches and pains and a few suspicious minor injuries
Your performance could be considered as healthy, but still requires high effort of input
If we’re being honest,
You have picked up just as many bad habits as good habits..
You have made the majority of the minor mistakes, however you have learned from them
You hold three or four pet peeves
or low level resentments towards people at the gym
But also,
You have become friends with some of the more consistent strangers without ever actually meeting them
You have a base understanding of gym etiquette and headphone hand signals
You have discovered the power of music and caffeine
You’re have set two or three legitimate personal bests
(But with kind of shaky technique, if you’re keeping it real)
You’ve trained at three or more major gyms
You no longer fear the gym,
but you don’t understand how many people actually still do
“Trust the science”
“I just read this study”
“You should watch Jeff Nippard’s video…“
“That’s not what so-and-so says on YouTube“
Body dysmorphia has fully set in but you don’t it yet
You still don’t know the difference between body fat and water weight
but you probably think you do..
You are the fittest person in the gym if you get lucky $
You have managed to modify your regular routine,
but still struggle with snacks at the wrong times
Probably just signed up for a 5K
Or bragging about their most recent..
This is generally the phase when you start acquiring accessory training equipment, such as a weight belt or lifting straps
The phase to wear gloves but more seriously
Training lifetime: >18 months
Push: 100% | 66%
Pull: 100% | 66%
Squat: 133% | 100%
Dead: 166% | 133%
Run: 3m
Fun: hike
ATHLETE
QUALIFICATIONS
If the shoe fits...
You are within the first 3 to 6 years of your training career
You are likely setting some significant and respectable performance bests
Most strange training lifestyle techniques have simply become a way of life.
Like drinking out of funky smelling shaker cups and carrying Tupperware food with you everywhere
You could be what one would consider “obsessed”
You’re likely the fittest person at your job
You’re likely the fittest person in the gym, half of the time (excluding peak time)
Body dysmorphia has begun It’s sinister twist
and while your physique has never been better, you begin to feel like it is never been worse
“Go hard or go home”
You have seen one medium level injury to both your body and your mind
Something always feels funny or is a little sore at this point
You unconsciously have begun to modify many different movements because of a “twinge or a tweak” here and there
You’re not able to keep up with all your personal bests because you’re setting them in so many weird & small departments
You look down on most commercial gym trainers for the amateurs that they are
You spend most of your time digging into more and more niche training related topics
You’re beginning to see the science repeat itself,
but you haven’t quite gotten to hip the secret yet because you’re too busy trying to “do it right”
You no longer care about your original friends who didn’t lift and have become friends with some sketchy individuals who do
At this point, you have either joined some kind of specialty gym or have built your own (atleast briefly)
Your favorite thing to do is find ways to “humble brag” about your lifts or moves
Mostly on socials…
You actually believe deep down, you might be the greatest of all time…
you just don’t know in what area yet
You realize the field of professional athletes are not all the same
And you could have an alcoholic golfer qualified as a pro
Just as a teenage tae kwon do sparring champion
You have your favorite supplements and you enjoy making fun of amateurs who are riding trends
You’re probably on your third or fourth generation fitness wardrobe
You’re ripping jeans at a concerning pace
You begin to legitimately resent the sedentary
This is where you find most jocks.
The good and bad ones
The top performers in this category are generally actual athletes even in most professional sports
If you’re gonna go pro, you are likely getting close to it by now
Or at least your performance qualifications are objectively close
From a performance perspective, your max numbers may not ever go higher than what they set during this phase
(Many lifetime, personal strength and conditioning best are set during this phase)
Unfortunately, serious injury is the most common reason for falling off.
Whether it be physical or mental
Training lifetime: >3 years
Push: 133% | 75%
Pull: 133% | 75%
Squat: 166% | 133%
Dead: 200% | 166%
Run: 6m
Fun: sport/ dance
ARTIST
QUALIFICATIONS
If the shoe fits...
Training lifetime: >6 years
Push: 150% | 100%
Pull: 150% | 113%
Squat: 200% | 166%
Dead: 233% | 200%
Run: 13.1m
Fun: striking
You have been training between 6-9 years
You’ve basically become a specialist within a certain niche
You can safely be considered within the top 10% of the fitness world
Just based on intentional reps performed tho
You are “that guy/ gal”
You are almost always the most fit person in the gym (but within your niche)
You are usually repurposing some shit out of convenience or curiosity
Sadly, You are the most judgey
And the least fun to be around
But You are the most entertaining to watch.
For reasons most mysterious..
You don’t even realize how much you know because you’ve kind of become silo’d off in your own little area
However, You may think that you have some kind of secret knowledge
You can’t even waste emotional energy dealing with the profane & sedentary anymore
The climb down off your high horse is often very lengthy and you are quick to count it as cardio
Nothing scares you more than losing your gainz
There are two types of artists-
Ones that cannot be bothered to help others out of selfish self-righteousness,
And others who escape through service all the time
You receive energy when people are watching you
& You have a weird love-hate relationship with being watched
You find it more annoying than flattering when somebody ask you questions or gives you compliments
You lost count of how many gyms you’ve trained at..
a while ago…
You are essentially getting away with dietary murder most often
At this point, Pretending fitness isn’t part of your personality is disingenuous
You can’t even remember the last time you were physically threatened by anyone
But…
You can remember every detail each moment your ego was threatened in the last two years
If you’re honest, you would admit that the seemingly smallest details drive you the most crazy
You could create your own line of supplements based on your favorite cocktails and concoctions
You could write a book with all your opinions
You don’t really share fitness memes anymore because your personality is essentially interwoven with it
(Or that’s exclusively all you share)
After a long period of training for health and fun you may be considering becoming a professional
If only every health related occupation didn’t have such a bad reputation..
You are likely a genuine expert with your amount of knowledge. It is just mostly limited to your own experience.
By hierarchical definition, you have not mastered any secondary niche yet but maybe growing in familiarity with many
ADEPT
QUALIFICATIONS
If the shoe fits...
