Three Years MINIMUM!

[SuperD]

Though honestly, I would prefer five years of serious lifting experience prior to even thinking about training using these methods. And I am not talking about a few years of half assing it at the gym while you're in college, training sporadically whenever you felt like it. That does not count one bit.
No. I mean five years of consistent, progressive, balls to the wall workouts. During this time I would expect even the average trainee to have put on at least 20-25lbs of muscle over and above their starting bodyweight.
This puts you at the intermediate level (barely) and like I said in my honest opinion that is the minimum requirement for training using the DC protocol.

[dropshot001]

hooray, finally a rule book for who can do it and who cannot. now people don't have to do it on a case by case basis

[LiquidMercury]

I'd agree with this even though I haven't done DC, but just reading on it that seems like a good protocol. Now to decide if I'm truly ready for DC....

[bigloz]

yeah see when i started i have 3 years of hard training and 2 years in college when i didnt really know that much so i only counted the three years dont count the bullshit years when you didnt even know how to eat.

[SuperD]

It wasn't meant as a putdown at all. We just want to set everyone up for success. This is an intense form of training and without the years of experience to learn correct form I don't believe that it's the best choice.

[sdotcarter]

Well said. I started with DC training at just over 3 years of serious lifting. I also gained around 40lbs before I started DC. I remember trying the program when I was at a younger training age and it was way too much for me to handle.

[betito]

There is not a magic number, but you have to develop Bruno intensity and kroxic commitment to diet and how many people do that in less than 3-5 years?

[Tight Five]

I can see all those kids who put on 20-25lbs because of puberty who 'lifted' for 3 years in high school licking their lips at this

Lets hope people read it the way it is intended. Well put SuperD

[IronReload 04]

there is a mental maturity that can be reached early with some of us too.

[dropshot001]

there is a mental maturity that can be reached early with some of us too.

i agree. don't think super could list this in his post because then everyone would claim that they are mentally ready

[MoGeaYuglay]

lurking newbies: dc is a not a magical program that will suddenly turn you into a IFBB pro, but it's a good program to follow after you have exhausted all others and decide to DC it BECAUSE the other programs aren't working for you anymore, not because "oh everyone is talking about it, i want to dc, i want to dc!"

and just because your arms did not grow 3inches in 3 months does not mean a program "isn't working"

[emazur24]

lurking newbies: dc is a not a magical program that will suddenly turn you into a IFBB pro, but it's a good program to follow after you have exhausted all others and decide to DC it BECAUSE the other programs aren't working for you anymore, not because "oh everyone is talking about it, i want to dc, i want to dc!"

and just because your arms did not grow 3inches in 3 months does not mean a program "isn't working"

Jeeze.......every single point you made in that post is right on the money. No training routine is magical, but some will yield great results if all the pieces of the puzzle are in place. The keys to success for bodybuilding are still eating correctly + getting enough rest + lifting progressively (reps or weight increases each workout).

[Shawn "Future" Bellon]

I think we should define "serious lifting" though. Because alot of guys thing trolling the gym in their Tapout shirts and wearing a skullcap means they are HARDCORE MOTHERFUCKERS. Personally they only thing I tend to think they have is a bad sense of fashion.

[Shelby Starnes]

For most under the age of 23, "3 years" is synonymous with "eternity".

[force245]

There is not a magic number, but you have to develop Bruno intensity and kroxic commitment to diet and how many people do that in less than 3-5 years?

true not a magic number, but a general guideline. Guys like Bruno and Kroxic are rare... as are the people who make it pro. Not saying either of them will but they have that magic to be ahead of most. I think the three to five year guideline is great...except for really rare cases.

I think it takes that time to learn your body, learn to eat and stay lean and learn proper form and feeling. That mind muscle connection. Learning to flex the proper muscle with all others tense at the same time.