This is one of those questions that is extremely hard to classify.
Here's a few of MY viewpoints that can certainly blur the lines:
1) Someone working 60 hours a week (me!) compared to someone working 40 hours = Waay more time for active recovery -> lower stress, more sleep, better opportunities to hit the gym.
2) Weight / Height.. You're looking at individual leverages here. Someone shorter deadlifting compared to someone 6'2" lol.
3) IMHO the biggest factor - Current GOALS! Many people nowadays seem to all want to bodybuild vs. strength training. Eventually, I believe that if the "bodybuilder" trains RIGHT, he/she will still be way up there in weight without a doubt.
Taking everything else into account along with those 3 examples, I think there certainly could be a very happy medium. I definatlely could not post a solid number, but rather a range that can account for a lot of outside factors.
Here's something IA and I talked about a long time ago that I definately agreed with:
Quote:
First things first, until you have a solid strength base that is all you should be worried about. At this stage strength = size. What is a fair strength base? Well, powerlifters will laugh at the numbers, but for a typical bodybuilder you should be at least at these figures before you even need to start thinking about pure hypertrophy work:
A bench of at LEAST 250-315 lbs for at least a few reps
Dipping with at LEAST 50-75+ strapped to your waist for 6-8 reps
Rows and/or pull-downs with at LEAST 200-275 for 6-8 reps
Military or dumbbell shoulder press with at LEAST 150-175 for 6-8 reps
Squatting/deadlifting at LEAST 350-450 for 6-8 reps
These figures have spreads in them because we are not all the same size. A 5’6 guy will not USUALLY have the same strength potential and therefore doesn’t need a 450 lb squat to be considered advanced. The lower numbers work well for shorter lighter guys, the higher ones for taller heavier lifters. And they are ranges only, I know some guys that squat and deadlift in the 500’s that can barely do 225 for 5 bent rows. That doesn’t mean they are not advanced, just that their bent rows need work—lol.
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I highlighted the bottom part as it relates to my point(s) above. I've talked to many "advanced" guys over at RP who can deadlift well over 550 lbs, but struggle squatting 400. 9/10 they aren't focusing on bringing their squats up becuase it has nothing to do with their goals IME. They won't box sqauat and work on hammies because they're looking for overall mass on their quads.
* Now, that's for a STRENGTH BASE! So if you're at the lower end of those very attainable numbers, then you're in a good place IMHO. If you're in the upper half of each "range", then you're strong as it pertains to almost ALL MEMBERS. This is zero steriods, the best diet you can manage, having a regular job/family, ect.
If you want what I personally consider "Strong", I'd revise that to this:
A bench of at LEAST 315 lbs for 5+ reps
Squatting of at LEAST 450 lbs for 3 reps
Deadlifting of at LEAST 500 lbs for 1 rep
One more point. DO NOT be the one(s) to mark down their 1 RM's for squat, bench, and deadlift that are OVER 6 months old lol. One of my phone calls to IA to shoot the shit left me laughing my ass off with some of his trainees who thought the questionare he sent asking for 1-5 RM's was a "glorified resume" to impress him with PR's they got 3 years ago lol.