Send us a textIn Episode 2 of the Stronger Is Better podcast, Nick Delgadillo breaks down strength standards into three categories: competitive goals, evaluative benchmarks, and personal targets. He explains why most people have skewed expectations about what’s possible—and how to set realistic goals without having to become a powerlifter.Nick introduces the widely respected 2/3/4/5 baseline strength goals (200 lb press / 300 lb bench / 400 lb squat / 500 lb deadlift for men) and a proportional set for women. These aren’t elite standards—they’re what you should aim for before considering specialization.Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or everyday lifter, this episode provides a grounded, motivating framework for assessing and pursuing your strength potential.⸻🔗 Brought to you by https://www.startingstrengthgyms.com🎧 New episodes every other week on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify📩 Send feedback or questions to:
[email protected]:00 - Intro: “How strong should I be?”01:20 - Why strength goals are often misunderstood04:00 - What “it depends” really means08:08 - 3 categories of strength goals: personal, evaluative, competitive09:48 - Competition: using meet results to guide expectations17:36 - Evaluative standards: don't copy powerlifters29:28 - What is strength specialization?34:49 - Beginner male milestones: 135/225/315/40538:52 - The 2/3/4/5 baseline standard41:55 - Female equivalents to 2/3/4/545:17 - What comes after baseline strength?47:01 - Final message: don’t stop too early