Are there any benchmarks I can use to gauge my strength?
Everyone has a different physiology and fitness goal, and, therefore, his own “ideal” level of strength. But there are a few standards you can strive for: lifting one and a half times your body weight on the bench press, your body weight in a military press, and twice your body weight in a deadlift. More specific strength standards, however, are difficult to establish, especially if you use a sport like power lifting as a benchmark. Powerlifters, after all, often use drugs and support gear to add tens or even hundreds of pounds to what they’re able to shoulder. A top powerlifter who squats 900 pounds in full competition gear (weight belt, joint wraps) might manage only 700 “raw” pounds. The most important thing to remember is that if you can look in the mirror and feel strong, you probably are.
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