Relatively Speaking : Strength of Gym Regulars

[TonyTheTiger]

Hi, we were discussing raw strength of people of all ages and weight who workout atleast 4 times a week. One theory A friend suggested from his general observation in about a few dozen gyms across different countries - less than 2% of regular gym goers can lift a total of 1000 lbs in DL, Squat, Bench ... This does not include competing powerlifters and professional bodybuilders. Would this assessment be correct.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Depends on the gym and its culture.

[David Lee]

At most globos I've been to, I don't think even 5% squat or deadlift at all.

[Michael Wolf]

The numbers can be changed around between lifts, of course, but let's say this represents a 365 squat, 225 bench, and 405 DL (995 total). If you include any gym that has the equipment to squat, bench press, and deadlift, then I'd guess the less than 2% is right, though I don't really know. A very small %, certainly. I'm at a gym where these lifts are performed regularly (if not always trained), by people who are more motivated than average to achieve them, and I'd still estimate that less than 50% of the males have a 1000 PL total. I think less than 10% of the men at the gym could do a 1,000 CF Total/Strength Meet.

The numbers change significantly when discussing the population of people who specifically train these lifts over a longer term, and also when doing so in an environment where many others are doing the same. Some of this is self-selecting, as people who are naturally good at it are more likely to continue doing it, so it may not represent "average," in the same way. But even holding genetic potential constant, dedicated training, the continued consistency over time of that dedicated training, and a good training environment will all contribute.

[Barry Charles]

I would add to the deep math and hard science being done in this post, that very, very few people would pass meet standards for their lifts. Especially bench pause and squat depth.

[wangbbustin]

Toasts all around gentlemen. We are the 1%!

[Lawrie Abbott]

After training for two years at a large commercial gym with plenty of racks and platforms...there were four people that could deadlift over 180kg....not including staff. Three of those four could squat that or more to depth ....and few more could bench more than 100kg. I'm included in those numbers. All but one of those that could DL and Squat were training for powerlifting. Everyone else was there largely to look better, not to get stronger.

[zinedine kilbane]

the subset gets significantly smaller again if you're lookin at the people in a globo gym who could do it natty.
But yeah nobody really trains to lift in a globo gym. I'm sure there is a thread on livestrong or something laughin at how if you went to a black iron gym less than 2% of the members could run a 4.5 hr marathon

[Giri Kotte]

There's this guy at the office gym. Weighs 90kg, randomly loads as many bumper plates (the only sort we have) as the bar can hold (around 220kg), barely any warm up, no sense of technique or set up and does 10 ~12 reps just like that.
Same story with the squat. Squats 150+ kg multiple reps, across several sets, ATG, no technique or any meaningful programming. Is ashamed that his press is only 100kg whereas bench is 130kg. And all that at a body fat of around 6% (aspires to be a body-builder).

I tried to convince him to eat more and try out linear progression, to no avail. In fact, Karthik had to trick him into squatting more often. Nowadays, he wants to be a model. So, dropped weight and is working out twice a day to get that aspirational lean and mean look.

With so much natural ability (his brother was a jr. national level bodybuilding champ of sorts), he doesn't even care to hone it.

[Bigbrother24]

I would have to agree with others in that it depends on I've lifted in 7 gyms in my last 17 months of training and I have 1040 total (although my deadlift form is shit so working that up with coaching and safe form) with paused bench. Most people in commercial gyms don't even squat. uni gym is decent however only 2-5 percent have that total and almost none presses in fact had a strong guy tell me off for doing my Thursday TM ID of heavy pr bench and press. Went to black gym once on a trip guys were squatting big boy numbers probably 1500 total however only been once so could be very skewed.