--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mostly, I was into powerlifting when I…" description: "\"Mostly, I was into powerlifting when I was in high school. And I just continued to train the same way I was taught - to powerlift. Once I started doing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/ronnie-coleman-7783_bodybuilding_mostly-i-was-into-powerlifting-when-i-wa_1080890.png" --- # Mostly, I was into powerlifting when I was in high school… ![“Mostly, I was into powerlifting when I was in high school. And I just continued to train the same way I was taught - to powerlift. Once I started doing bodybuilding, there were no real differences, just different exercises. A different way of training with more repetitions, but it was still the…” quote by Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/ronnie-coleman-7783_bodybuilding_mostly-i-was-into-powerlifting-when-i-wa_1080890.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/ronnie-coleman-7783_bodybuilding_mostly-i-was-into-powerlifting-when-i-wa_1080890.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/ronnie-coleman-7783_bodybuilding_mostly-i-was-into-powerlifting-when-i-wa_1080890.png) > “Mostly, I was into powerlifting when I was in high school. And I just continued to train the same way I was taught - to powerlift. Once I started doing bodybuilding, there were no real differences, just different exercises. A different way of training with more repetitions, but it was still the same lifting of very heavy weights to get stronger.” [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sees powerlifting and bodybuilding as fundamentally similar, differing mainly in rep schemes and exercise selection while sharing the goal of building strength through heavy loads. **In simple terms:** Both sports use heavy weights; reps differ. Key Takeaway Focus on progressive overload regardless of style. Themes strength training muscle discipline Mood motivated reflective Type advice personal experience When to use this quote - high school powerlifting - college bodybuilding - personal fitness - coach education Key Concepts muscle hypertrophy neural adaptation training volume Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance strength and size goals? - What rep range suits your current objectives? A Different Perspective Different rep ranges affect muscle endurance and injury risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bodybuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding/) [Bodybuilding Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding-real-2743662/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Doing Bodybuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-bodybuilding-2743661/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Heavy weights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavy-weights/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Powerlift Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerlift-started-2743664/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Taught Powerlift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-powerlift-2743663/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but don't nobody wanna lift no heavy ass weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/everybody-wants-to-be-a-bodybuilder-but-don-t-nobody-wanna-lift-no/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I'm always positive when it comes to professional bodybuilding, hell I'm Mr. Olympia for God's sake. If I'm number one in our sport and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-m-always-positive-when-it-comes-to-professional-bodybuilding-hell-i/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [The treatment from the Arnold Classic to the Olympia is, of course, a little bit different, but overall the quality of the shows and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/the-treatment-from-the-arnold-classic-to-the-olympia-is-of-course-a/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I always say to myself right before a tough set in the gym, Ain't nothin' to it, but to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-always-say-to-myself-right-before-a-tough-set-in-the-gym-ain-t/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I've been training so long, its second nature to push myself to the limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-ve-been-training-so-long-its-second-nature-to-push-myself-to-the/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [ I have had quite a few injuries during my time and if you are not injured in this sport \[bodybuilding\], you are not doing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-have-had-quite-a-few-injuries-during-my-time-and-if-you-are-not/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Hard work and training. There's no secret formula. I lift heavy, work hard and aim to be the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/hard-work-and-training-there-s-no-secret-formula-i-lift-heavy-work/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Bodybuilding is about building your body. Whether you do it to maintain your fitness levels, climb Everest, run the marathon, or be a competitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/bodybuilding-is-about-building-your-body-whether-you-do-it-to/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Bodybuilding is a hobby. At least for me it is. I've trained since i was 12 or 13 years old. It's a hobby I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/bodybuilding-is-a-hobby-at-least-for-me-it-is-i-ve-trained-since-i/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Nutrition is 150 per cent of the bodybuilding formula. It's that important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/nutrition-is-150-per-cent-of-the-bodybuilding-formula-it-s-that/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Competitive bodybuilding is a niche sport, but bodybuilding is for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/competitive-bodybuilding-is-a-niche-sport-but-bodybuilding-is-for/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [When you love something as much as I love bodybuilding you don't have to do much extra to push yourself, it just happens. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/when-you-love-something-as-much-as-i-love-bodybuilding-you-don-t-have/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Just because your triceps have fallen behind your biceps, doesn't mean you should back off your triceps workouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/just-because-your-triceps-have-fallen-behind-your-biceps-doesn-t-mean/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Australia is my favorite place to visit. The fans are great, and the sport of bodybuilding is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/australia-is-my-favorite-place-to-visit-the-fans-are-great-and-the/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Women really do pay attention to a man's glutes. A tight, compact ass is often voted even more desirable than muscular arms and chest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/women-really-do-pay-attention-to-a-man-s-glutes-a-tight-compact-ass/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) ## More by Ronnie Coleman > [I quit working in the police force full time only after I won my third Mr. Olympia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-quit-working-in-the-police-force-full-time-only-after-i-won-my/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I'm always positive when it comes to professional bodybuilding, hell I'm Mr. Olympia for God's sake. If I'm number one in our sport and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-m-always-positive-when-it-comes-to-professional-bodybuilding-hell-i/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [It's hard to be at your best and to know exactly what is your best at all times because even when you do see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/it-s-hard-to-be-at-your-best-and-to-know-exactly-what-is-your-best-at/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Father Time and injuries are tough adversaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/father-time-and-injuries-are-tough-adversaries/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Australia is my favorite place to visit. The fans are great, and the sport of bodybuilding is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/australia-is-my-favorite-place-to-visit-the-fans-are-great-and-the/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [There are times I have to diet 16 weeks at a go, and I had to miss out on stuff I love, like burgers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/there-are-times-i-have-to-diet-16-weeks-at-a-go-and-i-had-to-miss-out/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Even at the age of 12, I knew I had to become a bodybuilder. I don't know why or how, but I just knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/even-at-the-age-of-12-i-knew-i-had-to-become-a-bodybuilder-i-don-t/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Where I'm from, Bastrop, Louisiana, you played football, basketball, and baseball; you ran track - and that was about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/where-i-m-from-bastrop-louisiana-you-played-football-basketball-and/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I've been in pain for so long now I'm just used to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-ve-been-in-pain-for-so-long-now-i-m-just-used-to-it/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [You have to train the best way that is suited to you, a way that will allow you to progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/you-have-to-train-the-best-way-that-is-suited-to-you-a-way-that-will/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Just because your triceps have fallen behind your biceps, doesn't mean you should back off your triceps workouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/just-because-your-triceps-have-fallen-behind-your-biceps-doesn-t-mean/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Because the Arnold Classic is such a big show, a guy who hasn't been getting a lot of recognition all of a sudden does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/because-the-arnold-classic-is-such-a-big-show-a-guy-who-hasn-t-been/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I've always been a big guy - I was much larger and stronger than my peers when I was 13 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-ve-always-been-a-big-guy-i-was-much-larger-and-stronger-than-my/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [No dessert. I don't do dessert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/no-dessert-i-don-t-do-dessert/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [It seems that, every day, a new brand is popping up, and everyone has become an expert on supplements and training. Hey, there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/it-seems-that-every-day-a-new-brand-is-popping-up-and-everyone-has/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) [Explore all 87 Ronnie Coleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) ## More Bodybuilding quotes > [Learn to see the big picture. Often times we get tunnel vision and lose sight of the big picture and what we're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/learn-to-see-the-big-picture-often-times-we-get-tunnel-vision-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [I don't believe in bodybuilders using steroids. If a man doesn't have enough male hormones in his system to create, a nice hard, muscular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-reeves/i-don-t-believe-in-bodybuilders-using-steroids-if-a-man-doesn-t-have/) [Steve Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-reeves/) > [“The barbells and dumbbells you hold in your hands and the way you use them have stories to tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-cecil/the-barbells-and-dumbbells-you-hold-in-your-hands-and-the-way-you-use/) [Craig Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-cecil/) > [My first bodybuilding competition was the 2003 NPC Northern Colorado, where I was a light-heavyweight weighing in at 192 lbs. I was very nervous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-heath/my-first-bodybuilding-competition-was-the-2003-npc-northern-colorado/) [Phil Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-heath/) > [After school I would go to the gym where I actually did Olympic weightlifting. And usually that night I would do bodybuilding stuff, core,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/after-school-i-would-go-to-the-gym-where-i-actually-did-olympic/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [There is no reason to be alive if you can't do the deadlift!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-pall-sigmarsson/there-is-no-reason-to-be-alive-if-you-can-t-do-the-deadlift/) [Jon Pall Sigmarsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-pall-sigmarsson/) > [When working out, play your favorite music loudly for an extra boost of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/when-working-out-play-your-favorite-music-loudly-for-an-extra-boost/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [A lot of guys have better genes but if you work hard and consistently, you can outperform them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zane/a-lot-of-guys-have-better-genes-but-if-you-work-hard-and-consistently/) [Frank Zane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zane/) > [The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-going-through-these-forced-reps/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I got into bodybuilding very young - I was 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-pasternak/i-got-into-bodybuilding-very-young-i-was-13/) [Harley Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-pasternak/) > [What is the point of being on this Earth if you are going to be like everyone else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/what-is-the-point-of-being-on-this-earth-if-you-are-going-to-be-like/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [People ask me why I work so hard and why I have this compassion to reach the top and be great. I respond by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/people-ask-me-why-i-work-so-hard-and-why-i-have-this-compassion-to/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [Gold's was the first bodybuilding gym made for bodybuilders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gold/gold-s-was-the-first-bodybuilding-gym-made-for-bodybuilders/) [Joe Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gold/) > [Bodybuilding isn’t 90 minutes in the gym..it’s a lifestyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-priest/bodybuilding-isn-t-90-minutes-in-the-gym-it-s-a-lifestyle/) [Lee Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-priest/) > [Most people use excuses to cover up mistakes, but it takes less time to do something right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/most-people-use-excuses-to-cover-up-mistakes-but-it-takes-less-time/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) [Browse all 322 Bodybuilding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mostly, I was into powerlifting when I was in high school. 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A different way of training with more repetitions, but it was still the same lifting of very heavy weights to get stronger.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronnie Coleman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/mostly-i-was-into-powerlifting-when-i-was-in-high-school-and-i-just/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bodybuilding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/mostly-i-was-into-powerlifting-when-i-was-in-high-school-and-i-just/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/ronnie-coleman-7783_bodybuilding_mostly-i-was-into-powerlifting-when-i-wa_1080890.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/ronnie-coleman-7783_bodybuilding_mostly-i-was-into-powerlifting-when-i-wa_1080890.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/ronnie-coleman-7783_bodybuilding_mostly-i-was-into-powerlifting-when-i-wa_1080890.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mostly, I was into powerlifting when I was in high school. 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