How strong is strong? What would be a good defination of strong person based on bodyweight? For example, how do you know if you “up to par” with others at the same body weight? I’m looking for comments on what others consider strong ie. bodyweight vs. weight lifted. Thanks
Depend on who you compare your self to. If you can bench your body weight and approximately double your body weight in the squat and deadlift than your stronger than 95% of the general population. But you compare yourself to a powerlifter and your a goddam weekling.
Nate’s right, it depends on a lot…I’d consider myself pretty strong - for a ‘girl’ laugh, but compared to most of you I’m a little tiny weakling. grin
Will some of you share your percentages? (I mean sure, benching 250 may be impressive no matter what, but if you weigh 175 it’s a lot more impressive than if you weight 250…)
Well, I conisder myself somewhat above average strength. I am 5’10" and weigh 190 lbs. 10% body fat. And my one rep max for bench is 265 lbs. I am not sure what my max squat is, but I do about 300lbs 8 times for 3 sets currently. Hope this helps.
If a girl can do a chinup/pullup… she’s strong
Woo Hoo!! I’m strong!!! (I can do 2 of each … but not right in a row … I’m working on that!)
actually while we’re on this topic, I was looking at my workout book, and my sb curl is dismal and has only increased 5 pounds in about 8 weeks…any advice on overcoming the plateau? (or am I just being impatient?)
I am always impressed with the strength of women vs men. My wife can bench, row and squat a greater % of her weight than I can.
Oh, and she can do 2 sets fo 5 chins.
Strength is relative. My personal consistent goal is to have a bench and a squat that is double or more than double my body weight. When competing, I look at Percentage of body weight-i.e., weight 165, bench 230 = 200% of BW
Consider that the leg muscles are or make up a greater proportion than the chest/tris/shoulders, perhaps the lower body strength should be higher than 2x BW.
I always considered myself to be very strong (at least in the upper body) for my weight. I am 5’7" weigh 168 at 13% body fat. I bench 295, and can do 1 or 2 one armed chins with either arm. However, my squat max is also right around 295. I can deadlift much more (365) but I think its because I have very short legs and this gives me a mechanical advantage. I guess what I’m saying is everyone has personal strength challenges so its more important that you out perform your own personal bests than compare yourself to others. Besides, I know plenty of people who are incredibly strong but this doesn’t necessarily reflect in the poundages they use at the gym.
Michelle, are using the negative method to increase your chin strength, i.e. go to failure then 3 reps of negative only at 10 second eccentrics, if so post again in a couple of weeks and let me know what kind of progress you have made. my chin streghth is abissmal compared to my other lifts, and my current program is working well to correct this but I will need a new micro cycle in 2-3 weeks.
Oh by the way I’m 22, 5’10, 175lbs, bench 240, squat 350, deadlift 335, can to 10 full chins in a row, I’m hoping to total 1000 legitimate with no help except knee wraps by my birth day in late May, and be able to do 20 full chins.
p.s. thank god for androsol
Why are some people very strong at certain outside of the gym activities and when they enter a gym they can’t perform to the extent that you would think they could? I have a buddy that just started training with me who is very strong and looks like a friggen tree but when he lifts with me he can only lift about half of what I can and weighs 60 pounds more than me. This frustrates him to the point of not going. Should I ditch my training and start lifting powerlift style with him sticking to the major exercises? I need some change anyway and just dont want him to quit on me.
Just to get in the game, you need to bench at least 1.5 x BW and SQ&DL at least 2.25 x BW. To be considered world class strong, bench at least 2.25 x BW and SQ/DL at least 3 x BW. Good training!!
All things are relative in strength comparision. For example, my bench sucks at 265 for a single but I can hang 85 lbs off my waist and do perfect form dips for 8 - 10 reps. Not many guys can do that. Like was said earlier, if comparing yourself to the population in general, bodyweight benches and chins are way above normal for the standard couch potato. Our problem is we compare ourselves to the population we see in the gym and may not always feel average. FYI, I’m about 5’7", 188 lbs, about 12% BF my bench is 265, squat 405, deads 425.
I am 22, 220lbs (6’), I bench 445(2.02Xbw), squat 720 (parallel, not ass to grass) (3.27Xbw), and deadlift 680 (3.09Xbw). I was a powerlifter, but I am now trying to become a body builder. I am happy with those weights, but I would really like then to go up, and I don’t think I will ever be satisfied with any weight, that is how you keep getting stronger, and pushing yourself.
J, if your friend is new to the gym and doing isolation movements, that is probably a mistake. I think most beginners make better progress with the big basics (as would most intermediate trainers). If you switch to that method with him, you’ll probably still do a lot more than him for a month or so, but then I’m guessing he’ll be whoopin’ your ass after he gets used to the movements.
t.
Thanks for the tips. I was thinking the basics headed towards maximal strength rep range. Sticking to close grip b-presses and b-curls for arms. Fast tempos for strength and power
speed and strength, 2000 edition (dale harder). This book is available from iron mind and a few other places. it gives states for the top performers in all kinds of strength and speed events and feats. Cool stuff.
The previous thread from “Midnight” is a good guideline.
Do you want to look like a bodybuilder or is strength your main concern? I am around a buck 80 at 5’5" and have temporarily lost any signs of “abs”. So, does it matter that my bench is 340, squat 335x6, chin w/75 lbsx1? Sure, it sounds good but I’d rather have the abs! Also, you can’t compare yourself to others i.e. drug free vs. roids or short, squaty arms like myself. Friends say after 19 years I should be stronger! Yeah, maybe if I had a little substance to help me. Bottom line, work out hard & look good. Weight does not necessarily mean anything.