2917: How Strong Should You Actually Be? The Numbers Finally Explained

2917: How Strong Should You Actually Be? The Numbers Finally Explained

Author: Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, Doug Egge August 6, 2026 Duration: 31:15

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In this episode the guys break down exactly how strong you should actually be — covering the real strength benchmarks for men and women across bench press, squat, and deadlift from decent to good to great to advanced, why strength is one of the single best predictors of longevity and all-cause mortality, why we are in a muscle weakness epidemic, why mainstream workouts designed around sweat and soreness are terrible for building strength, why training to failure hurts more than it helps, and why focusing on 4-5 compound lifts for the first few years of training beats everything else. Sal shares the summer he met powerlifters at 15 and gained 17 pounds of lean mass, and the story of his ER doctor friend Justin who went up 40 pounds on bench in 4 weeks wondering why it felt so easy.

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0:00 - Intro

1:47 - How strong should you actually be — and why strength is the best longevity metric

2:51 - The muscle weakness epidemic — a college male today has the grip strength of a 60-year-old in 1984

3:48 - The good news — everyone can get significantly stronger with the right training

5:39 - The risk of weakness vs the risk of heavy lifting — and who this actually applies to

9:49 - Why mainstream workouts built around sweat and soreness are terrible for building strength

11:10 - The conversation Sal had with every new client for the first 30-60 days

16:36 - What the Soviets figured out that the US hadn't — scientific strength programming

17:38 - Strength programs have fewer exercises and more practice of each lift — here's why

21:07 - Why training to failure hurts your strength gains more than it helps

22:38 - Schedule your deloads — the study that showed a week completely off matched constant training

25:17 - The actual strength benchmarks — decent, good, great and advanced for men and women

26:55 - Bench press, squat and deadlift numbers for men broken down

27:22 - Bench press, squat and deadlift numbers for women broken down

28:05 - Why good is the right goal and why advanced post-40 is high risk with diminishing returns

28:46 - MAPS Anabolic to MAPS Powerlift — the best 6-month strength combo


Tired of fitness fads and conflicting advice that leaves you more confused than when you started? Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth cuts through the noise with a no-nonsense approach you can actually trust. Hosts Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, and Doug Egge bring their combined expertise to every conversation, dismantling popular myths and calling out the pervasive snake oil in the wellness world. Instead of hype, they focus on practical, science-backed strategies for building muscle, enhancing performance, and-most importantly-sustaining long-term health. Their discussions are grounded in reality, often challenging even the most sacred institutions in the industry with a blend of sharp insight and relatable humor. Each episode of this podcast feels like an honest talk with knowledgeable friends who aren’t afraid to question everything. You’ll find clarity on nutrition, training paradigms, and lifestyle choices, all delivered without an agenda other than giving you the unfiltered facts. For anyone exhausted by the constant churn of gimmicks and seeking a sustainable path to feeling and looking better, this is an essential listen. The raw truth isn’t always pretty, but with this team guiding you, it’s undeniably effective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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