Comments on: How much can you lift?

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:49:58 +0000

Thanks, Gube and yes – I’ll make 200kg my next deadlifting target

By: gubernatrix

gubernatrix — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:25:46 +0000

Cheers mate, love that you are inspired by women lifting! My mate Tania can deadlift 200kg – your next target? http://youtu.be/z_gL5n25_pU

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:39:15 +0000

Here’s something I use for my own motivation and it works great for me. Whenever I see a woman lifting heavier than I can, it becomes my goal to reach that level and surpass it. For example I heard of a lady wrestler who can bench press 185 pounds. So my goal is to be able to bench 85kg, which is slightly heavier. That’s my initial goal anyway, I’ll move on to another one after that – 90kg and then 100kg. It’s somehow very motivating for me to chase a lady’s target and surpass it. Works for me anyway

Thanks for all your tips, gube, you rock!

Mark

By: chris

chris — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 20:39:38 +0000

I have not studied weightlifting other than reading things for my own interest, so I am not in a position to give advice. I love weightlifting and began with the least weight for three sets of eight reps, gradually increasing as my ability improved over the years. Thirty six years later, I am still passionate about the gym, it is endlessly interesting and makes me feel healthy and toned. The more ladies who are willing to make the gym and the free weights their own space, the better. When an activity makes you feel so good, we should not leave it to the boys and the sizes of weights lifted don’t really matter. Like everything in life, it need not be competitive, just enjoy!

By: Alice

Alice — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:24:07 +0000

Sigh, i think the standard is very much location dependant. In my extremely commercial gym i regularly see PT’s getting fit looking women to do box squats at 25kg 3×10. My back squat is at 95% bodyweight 3×10 and I don’t consider myself even near the standard i require in myself! But this is my standard gleaned from reading your excellent website, among others. If i listened to 80% of the people that talk to me about fitness id barely make it into the weights area lol! In my experience there seems to be a general notion of the inability and weakness of women, even from experienced professionals.

By: Tuesday 100105 « CrossFit Breakaway

Tuesday 100105 « CrossFit Breakaway — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:53:06 +0000

[...] a recent discussion here on strength standards for women, I have come up with some standards using the collective [...]

By: Chantelle

Chantelle — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:38:06 +0000

Thanks for that, i’ll try and use that as a guide. If anyone else has any other resources that may be useful, especially weight standards specifically related to machine weights that would also be a great help.

By: gubernatrix

gubernatrix — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:23:19 +0000

Hi Chantelle,

I followed this article up with a post dealing with that very topic – strength standards for women. I am using free weights exercises rather than machines but I am sure you can extrapolate.

Have a read at http://gubernatrix.co.uk/2008/12/strength-standards-for-women/

I’ll also add this as a link to this article.

By: Chantelle

Chantelle — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:17:28 +0000

Hi,

I recently went to the gym and collected my 1RM’s on some of the gym machines including the seated leg press, lat pull down, seated row, hip abbductors and abductors etc. However, im trying to find baseline averages of what is considered a reasonable standard of weight for women to be able to lift so that i know what i need to work on. Of course it varies according to age, ability etc etc, but need something as a rough guide. Im only 20 and 5’1 so of course standards will vary slightly but if anyone knows where i can find these sort of things it would be greatly appreciated

By: Strength standards for women - weight training, strength, fitness, weights, losing fat, women's weight training, bodyweight, free weights, powerlifting, dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, bodybuilding, olympic weightlifting

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:14:18 +0000

[...] a recent discussion here on strength standards for women, I have come up with some standards using the collective [...]