What do you tell people you can lift?

tomcornhole

When someone tells me they can deadlift 400 lbs, are they referring to a 1RM or what they actually lift during their sets.

I deadlifted 315 lbs today 5 times. That is a 1RM of 370 lbs. according to this site: http://www.strstd.com

I don't think I would even think of trying 370 lbs even once. I'm 60% certain I would injure something. Ok, 90%. 99%.

So, do I say I can deadlift 370 lbs or 315 lbs? Just curious.

thesupremeforce

In my experience, people refer to their one rep max.

Timshel_

I always go right for peeing for distance, personally.

Then I mention my Dad would kick their Dad's butt too, just for good measure.

cwolfman13

I think people are referring to their 1RM. I know if I'm not, I say I "rep X Lbs" otherwise I'm referring to my 1 RM.

GetSoda

I only quote weight I've actually lifted.
Bragging about theoretical one rep maxes is like bragging about having a theoretical threesome simply because you know more than one woman.

In your case, if you don't want to test your 1rm, you could say something like "I do 315 for reps."

tomcornhole

I always go right for peeing for distance, personally.

That made me giggle. When I was in the Navy, I knew a fighter pilot with the callsign "Whizzer". He could pee over a bus behind him. It was both amazing and horrific to watch.

Timshel_

That made me giggle. When I was in the Navy, I knew a fighter pilot with the callsign "Whizzer". He could pee over a bus behind him. It was both amazing and horrific to watch.

Wowza! That dude had way too much time to keegle.

froeschli

won't mention lifting until i get past 100lbs :-)

jwdieter

Make up a formula that involves mass, arm length, reps, and weight lifted. Then apply something random and unrelated like cosign to that formula. Compare numbers and see whose is bigger.

supermodelchic

use to be a powerlifter in my younger years, 1 rep ,is what I would go by , not the reps, that said example 175lb for bench, 250lb for deadlift , 200lb for squats,then they would be added together for a total combined weight.. BTW those were my best lifts at age 21-23.

ironanimal

Tested max usually.

aelunyu

My training usually requires 1 day of "singles" where I work my way up to a 1RM for month or two months...I wouldnt tell anyone I could deadlift 400+ without actually hitting that on a PR schedule.

But then the tricky thing is...if you tell someone you can deadlift 365 for 3 sets of 5-6, they immediately think your 1RM is over 400. you don't have to correct them, you deserve the ego boost . After all you just did three sets of 365, and that's pretty awesome.

Vonwarr

It depends on whether they are asking about my max or my workouts. If they didn't specify, I tell them my tested 1RM.

I wouldn't trust exactly what the strstd.com calculator says is your 1RM based on workout sets. It's not a true 1RM until you have actually lifted it yourself.

Edit: in your case, if you are afraid of testing your 1RM, you could specify "315 lbs 5RM".

ajlandon

I report my 1 rep max that I actually lifted. strstd.com is more of a way to guage where you are and help you create goals for yourself than a way to actually figure out your 1RM if you haven't lifted it, yet.

HMVOL7409

I only quote weight I've actually lifted.
Bragging about theoretical one rep maxes is like bragging about having a theoretical threesome simply because you know more than one woman.

In your case, if you don't want to test your 1rm, you could say something like "I do 315 for reps."

I like you.

Yes, I only state what I've actually lifted for reps.

Laces_0ut

as others have said you state what you actually have lifted. in theory ill be deadlifting a lot more next year....i wouldnt use that number either.

i usually answer ive maxed xxxx amount and i rep xxxxx/xxxx. if its a non lifter asking i just state my max.

treagal

wow, who new it was so complicated. I just was that I can "bench 120lbs" (that mean I can bench 120 at least 5-8 times)

tomcornhole

Thanks everyone. 315 it is.

gmallan

I would only say what I've actually lifted but then I haven't tested my 1RM. If you have tested your 1RM and you know you can physically back up your claim then go ahead and use that number. To the OP I wouldn't go around telling people your theoretical 1RM based on what you've done for 5 reps because like you siad you don't know that you could back it up.