What are your lifting goals for 2025?

[Bookaholic73]

I’m not sure that I have a long term goal, so would love to hear yours!

I have been lifting for 18 months and am just aiming to lift heavier, build my upper body, and also lose a little body fat.

Is it important to have goals such as ‘I want to bench press X kg’ or ‘ I want to deadlift X kg’?

I don't have time limited goals like that as all I can do is work hard, trust the process and it'll happen when it happens. So my goals are always to lift more on the platform but 'more' isn't defined. I suppose I have milestones, like when I first deadlifted bodyweight, then 100kg, then 2 reds, then double bodyweight. So next would be 3 reds but that won't be this year. Bench I suppose is 50kg, 60kg and now bodyweight.

80kg Deadlift
Also do a set of pull ups.

I’d want 100kg in deadlift (67.5 the last time I tried in dec)
and around 40 in push press (can do 23 atm).

I would LOVE to do a set of pull ups. It seems like a pipe dream right now.
i can do 3 very partial pull ups, I want a set of 8 proper ones.

I also have a goal of increasing my number of pull ups, but it's such slow progress that a bit like @RayKray it's more about trusting the process than making it time limited. I add a pull up variation (eg banded or negative) into every workout currently. Trying to slim down a little as well and hoping that will help as a side effect!

I would LOVE to do a set of pull ups. It seems like a pipe dream right now.
i can do 3 very partial pull ups, I want a set of 8 proper ones.
Same! It's currently a dream.

Honestly... I'm not sure! I had 2 goals last year (10 pull ups, 100kg deadlift). I found it really motivating to work on these. Once I got these nice round numbers, I didn't find it as motivating to try and get, say, 12 pull ups or whatever. I'm still working out with intensity, but I don't have any numbers in mind. DH is doing his first Hyrox, and while I love the idea of training with a specific goal in mind, I don't fancy doing that... sometimes I feel I'm slightly drifting, other times, I think it's good to just do it for the enjoyment... 🤷🏻‍♀️

BTW, I have definitely regressed on both the deadlifts and pull-ups as haven't focused on them.

are you doing any specific exercises to help your progress?
I think I’m going to start incorporating deadhangs into my pull workouts, and continue with the partials until I get a proper 8.
Good luck!

Well done on the 100kg deadlift. I am on 85kg for 5 at the moment. Would love to get to a set of 100kg!

I have never tried hyrox style workouts..I’m not sure I have the cardiovascular strength or endurance required!

If you're doing 85kg for 5 you won't be far off 100kg at all!

For me, it's the first full year competing in PL for me. I'd like to increase my SBD total from my first comp in November by 15% which would be 50kg by the end of the year. I've already PB'd on squat and bench this year, so just keeping on pushing and being consistent.

I have a lot of events and weddings on this year, so post next competition I will be looking at being in a deficit to lean up a bit and hopefully maintain strength, so that'll be fun...!!

Oooh I love this thread! 2y ago I was deadlifting the bare bar and now I have 80kg and could totally do more, but increasing cautiously!

My goal is 90kg.

Question: do most of you think about "absolute" numbers or relative to bodyweight?

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff a bit of both . Like getting to the magic hundred or 2 reds (125kg in comp cos the collars add 5kg) are pretty universal. But bodyweight REALLY matters. So I compete in powerlifting where we're in weight classes, so any comparison would be much more in relation to bodyweight. The link is so direct. So double bodyweight deadlift, bodyweight bench etc are then pretty common goals too. Well done on your deadlift progress 💪

Thanks @RayKray ! I weigh 60kg so 90 is 1.5x bodyweight. I am not competing (obviously 😁) so thought I might stop there but we'll see! I can lift 80 pretty easily now so feel like single max of 90 is not that far off.

Newbie to the weights room (20 years + on MN tho) and dealing with breast cancer surgery & radiotherapy at the moment, which is seriously playing havoc with my training and goals.

But anyway. Might as well write them down even if I’m not going to make it.

2025 goals:

1. muscle up (I’ll settle for 1!)
2. bodyweight (59kg) bench press
3. 10 full pull ups in a single set
4. 120kg deadlift
5. L-sit to reverse on parallel bars or rings

oh dead. Not going to happen is it?!

For me;
bodyweight bench so 65kg
deadlift 100kg
5 full neutral grip pull ups

Competing again in Sept 25 after a cut - last competed Oct 24 at 122kg body weight and totalled 307.5kg ABD

For Sept 25 my goal is to total 320kg at a much reduced body weight (currently 105kg) not sure where i will be by September!

There I have publicly stated it now so have to do it!

Happy lifting to all!

Nice goals everyone!
I was chatting to my PT and have come up with some more goals.

Deadlift 100kg
Bench 40kg
Squat 60kg

Im really struggling with squats at the moment, so will be trying to overcome that.

squats are a mind game! Just keep practising and with different variations and it gets better! (slowly lol)

Thank you, they really are!

I normally use the smith machine, or do lever squats. I really want to do back squats but need to work on my core strength a bit more for stability.

I’m pretty confident with my bench goal and deadlift, but the squats are a different story!

Mine for this year were:
100kg back squat
80kg front squat
50kg power snatch
65kg clean and jerk
125kg deadlift

I’ve hit back squat and deadlift, so now I have to work on the rest.

I'm not planning to do many one rep maxes this year but hopefully...
105kg squat x 3 reps
bench press 62.5kg x 1
deadlift 140kg x 2 would be nice
bodyweight: 50 kg.

Pull ups. I’d got to 3 last year then I got diagnosed with breast cancer and the lumpectomy and subsequent treatment stopped it. Am working on dead hangs, negatives and various pulldown machine exercises, and trying to lose a bit of the weight I gained on steroids. I’d really love to get back there before end of this year.

I normally use the smith machine, or do lever squats. I really want to do back squats but need to work on my core strength a bit more for stability.

For barbell back squats: drop the weight - go back to basics. I can back squat my bodyweight (70k) but not to competition depth (top of thigh parallel to floor), so I'm going back to basics. I warm up with just the bar, and get arse to grass, as they say. And work up from there.

IME of 7 years of lifting starting in later middle age at 58, you need to get the form & technique right, then the weight can be built up.

Barbell back squats are fabulous for your abs, because you need to brace & hold.