--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started messing around in my teen years…" description: "\"I started messing around in my teen years but didn't really begin training properly until the age of 21. I did a lot of reading prior to that - Mike Me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/435/dorian-yates-7593_age_i-started-messing-around-in-my-teen-year_2877350.jpg" --- # I started messing around in my teen years but didn't… ![“I started messing around in my teen years but didn't really begin training properly until the age of 21. I did a lot of reading prior to that - Mike Mentzer, Arthur Jones and all other notable bodybuilding authors - and just came up with a routine that worked for me.” quote by Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/435/dorian-yates-7593_age_i-started-messing-around-in-my-teen-year_2877350.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/435/dorian-yates-7593_age_i-started-messing-around-in-my-teen-year_2877350.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/435/dorian-yates-7593_age_i-started-messing-around-in-my-teen-year_2877350.jpg) > “I started messing around in my teen years but didn't really begin training properly until the age of 21. I did a lot of reading prior to that - Mike Mentzer, Arthur Jones and all other notable bodybuilding authors - and just came up with a routine that worked for me.” [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He began proper training at 21 after extensive reading, creating a personal effective routine. **In simple terms:** Self‑education leads to tailored success. Key Takeaway Combine knowledge with personal testing. Themes fitness self‑directed learning discipline Mood motivated curious Type educational practical When to use this quote - gym routines - personal development - learning from literature Key Concepts muscle hypertrophy training methodology Questions to Reflect On - What sources inform your training? - How do you adapt theory to your body? A Different Perspective Results may vary without professional guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Bodybuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding/) [Bodybuilding Authors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding-authors-3968213/) [Mike Mentzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mike-mentzer-217763/) [Notable Bodybuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notable-bodybuilding-3968212/) [Properly Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/properly-age-3968214/) [Teen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teen/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [Training Properly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training-properly-1351646/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [If you are training properly, you should progress steadily. This doesn't necessarily mean a personal best every time you race ... Each training session…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/if-you-are-training-properly-you-should-progress-steadily-this-doesn/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [As a martial artist you have to be truthful about yourself so you can approach your training properly and get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mir/as-a-martial-artist-you-have-to-be-truthful-about-yourself-so-you-can/) [Frank Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mir/) > [Ever since I retired from competitive bodybuilding, one of my dreams has been to offer an affordable way for independent gym owners to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/ever-since-i-retired-from-competitive-bodybuilding-one-of-my-dreams/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I wanted to set a new standard for competitive bodybuilding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-wanted-to-set-a-new-standard-for-competitive-bodybuilding/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [Each workout is like a brick in a building, and every time you go in there and do a half-ass workout, you're not laying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/each-workout-is-like-a-brick-in-a-building-and-every-time-you-go-in/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I started training bodybuilding in 1983.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-started-training-bodybuilding-in-1983/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [Shoulder width is an absolute requirement for displaying the V taper that will make or break your physique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/shoulder-width-is-an-absolute-requirement-for-displaying-the-v-taper/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I remember when I was a kid rugby players were some big guys that drunk a lot of beer but now they have proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-rugby-players-were-some-big-guys-that/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I never started bodybuilding because I thought I'm not big enough, I'm not strong enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-never-started-bodybuilding-because-i-thought-i-m-not-big-enough-i-m/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [Lots of people who do bodybuilding want to walk around in tank top and shorts, because they want to show people what they've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/lots-of-people-who-do-bodybuilding-want-to-walk-around-in-tank-top/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [All else being equal, the guy with the best genetics will have the best physique. But rarely are all things equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/all-else-being-equal-the-guy-with-the-best-genetics-will-have-the/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I've no wish to run into a contest and make a fool of myself, leaving my career in a cul-de-sac. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-ve-no-wish-to-run-into-a-contest-and-make-a-fool-of-myself-leaving/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I never see bodybuilding on the sports page and it is not considered to be a sport because of the drug question, because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-never-see-bodybuilding-on-the-sports-page-and-it-is-not-considered/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [One set at extreme intensity does the muscle-building job. It must be stressed that the one final, all-out set I do takes me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/one-set-at-extreme-intensity-does-the-muscle-building-job-it-must-be/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [The path to added muscle is consuming more calories than the amount needed to keep your current bodyweight unchanged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/the-path-to-added-muscle-is-consuming-more-calories-than-the-amount/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) ## More by Dorian Yates > [If I were to organize somebody's diet I would first of all ensure they were getting enough protein, make sure it is the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/if-i-were-to-organize-somebody-s-diet-i-would-first-of-all-ensure/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I kind of stumbled into this. I used to do karate and then I started reading muscle magazines. Eventually, I began training and competing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-kind-of-stumbled-into-this-i-used-to-do-karate-and-then-i-started/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I mean, does anyone seriously think there are no drugs in Olympic sports just because they do some kind of testing? They are highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-mean-does-anyone-seriously-think-there-are-no-drugs-in-olympic/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [My sole goal when getting ready for a contest was not building a lot of size, although when I was coming up pure muscle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/my-sole-goal-when-getting-ready-for-a-contest-was-not-building-a-lot/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [Try to eat more fat but choose polyunsaturated fatty acids as they help the body to burn fat so that's salmon, halibut, sardines, albacore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/try-to-eat-more-fat-but-choose-polyunsaturated-fatty-acids-as-they/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [One set at extreme intensity does the muscle-building job. It must be stressed that the one final, all-out set I do takes me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/one-set-at-extreme-intensity-does-the-muscle-building-job-it-must-be/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I would like to get some points across about my sport and hopefully people can understand it a bit more and appreciate what goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-would-like-to-get-some-points-across-about-my-sport-and-hopefully/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I never see bodybuilding on the sports page and it is not considered to be a sport because of the drug question, because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-never-see-bodybuilding-on-the-sports-page-and-it-is-not-considered/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I didn't start out planning to be Mr. Olympia I just wanted to be the best that I could be, but my goals changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-didn-t-start-out-planning-to-be-mr-olympia-i-just-wanted-to-be-the/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [You are hungry all the time for the last two months before a competition. Every survival thing on your body is telling you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/you-are-hungry-all-the-time-for-the-last-two-months-before-a/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [Every single workout counted when I trained, I didn't miss any meals and made sure I got my sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/every-single-workout-counted-when-i-trained-i-didn-t-miss-any-meals/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [It took me nine years to get to the level of being Mr. Olympia, and it's pretty much a 24-hour-a-day job every day of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/it-took-me-nine-years-to-get-to-the-level-of-being-mr-olympia-and-it/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I purposely kept covered up because I didn't like people looking at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-purposely-kept-covered-up-because-i-didn-t-like-people-looking-at-me/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I had only been training for a year and half when I did the World Games. Then the next year I did the British…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-had-only-been-training-for-a-year-and-half-when-i-did-the-world/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [Back in the 80s we were very cautious about steroids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/back-in-the-80s-we-were-very-cautious-about-steroids/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) [Explore all 89 Dorian Yates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started messing around in my teen years but didn't really begin training properly until the age of 21. 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