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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mind-pump-raw-fitness-truth-320363/2917-how-strong-should-you-actually-be-the-numbers-finally-explained
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mind-pump-raw-fitness-truth-320363/2917-how-strong-should-you-actually-be-the-numbers-finally-explained.md
Podcast: [Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth](https://stenobird.com/podcast/mind-pump-raw-fitness-truth-320363)
Published: 2026-08-06T00:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://mindpump.libsyn.com/2917-how-strong-should-you-actually-be-the-numbers-finally-explained
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/mindpump/2917_FINAL_V3.mp3?dest-id=248504
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mind-pump-raw-fitness-truth-320363/episodes/2917-how-strong-should-you-actually-be-the-numbers-finally-explained
Duration seconds: 1875

## Resource

MAPS BOGO: https://mapsbogo.com Buy one get one free — mix and match any of the top 10 most popular programs (Anabolic, Aesthetic, Performance, 15 Minutes, Anywhere, Symmetry, Starter, Muscle Mommy, Powerlift, 40+) for $157. 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. SPONSORS Crisp Power (protein pretzels): https://www.crisppower.com/mindpump Code: MINDPUMP for 10% off. Everything flavor — 25-28g protein, 10g fiber, 6g net carbs per 1.75oz bag. LINKS Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com Instagram: @mindpumpmedia 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 buil…

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## Transcript

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