# If you can't hold 200 lbs for 30 seconds... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 24, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261 "2016-06-24T20:03:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elliott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@elliott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elliott)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/1 "2016-06-24T20:03:41Z")
Please don’t ask me to help you move. If you’re so out of shape at 20 that performing a lift that 90% of the population can do is a challenge, I don’t want to be the first person you call when you’re trying to move something. I doubly don’t want to do it for free. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/2 "2016-06-24T20:06:12Z")
Welcome to the Dope. Sorry your friends are human. You can fix that. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/3 "2016-06-24T20:16:13Z")
I think you mean 20 pounds. 200 pounds is a lot to hold for thirty seconds. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/4 "2016-06-24T20:18:35Z")
> [@elliott](#): > > Please don’t ask me to help you move. If you’re so out of shape at 20 that performing a lift that 90% of the population can do is a challenge, I don’t want to be the first person you call when you’re trying to move something. I doubly don’t want to do it for free. You’re going to have to specify what lift you’re referring to. Otherwise, you’re an idiot. Also, I imagine there aren’t many infants, toddlers and the elderly who can lift 200 lbs. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/5 "2016-06-24T20:19:00Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Welcome to the Dope. Sorry your friends are human. You can fix that. Okay, I’ll bite: How? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/6 "2016-06-24T20:20:18Z")
> [@elliott](#): > > If you’re so out of shape at 20 that performing a lift that 90% of the population can do is a challenge, … Cite? You’re in the big leagues now and can’t throw out bullshit stats like you are at a kegger. We deal in facts here. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/7 "2016-06-24T20:23:19Z")
Fucking toddlers. They move like every two months. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/8 "2016-06-24T20:26:38Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I think you mean 20 pounds. 200 pounds is a lot to hold for thirty seconds. What, you can’t hold 200lbs for a couple of minutes? Do you even have arms? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/9 "2016-06-24T20:29:57Z")
I found [this](https://www.reference.com/health/average-weight-person-can-lift-4d750df2123a3452#) (also [here](http://www.livestrong.com/article/380767-how-much-weight-can-the-average-man-lift/)), with no original source cited that I could see: > [@](#): > > The average man who weighs 160 pounds lifts approximately 135 pounds on the bench press, 125 pounds squatting and 155 pounds dead-lifting. The average woman who weighs 132 pounds lifts approximately 64 pounds on the bench press, 59 pounds squatting and 74 pounds dead-lifting. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/10 "2016-06-24T20:32:35Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > What, you can’t hold 200lbs for a couple of minutes? Do you even have arms? I can hold up 200 lbs. with one finger by pushing the button that starts the hydraulic lift. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/11 "2016-06-24T20:39:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You’re going to have to specify what lift you’re referring to. > > Otherwise, you’re an idiot. > > Also, I imagine there aren’t many infants, toddlers and the elderly who can lift 200 lbs. I’m holding 200 pounds in one hand right now. (It’s worth about six bucks as of this morning.) ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/12 "2016-06-24T20:40:48Z")
I’ve helped dozens of my friends move…and my friends have repaid me by helping me move. It’s a social ritual in the U.S., which is highly physically mobile. The average person moves a few times in their life. It’s a chance to help a friend…and to snoop through all their stuff! It’s a social ritual. And, no, you don’t get paid, though there’s usually pizza. You can say no without being a shit about it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/13 "2016-06-24T20:42:35Z")
I assume that’s a straight progression - so one should be able to hold 400 pounds for 15 seconds, 800 pounds for 7.5 seconds and 1600 pounds for 3.75 seconds? ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/14 "2016-06-24T20:45:33Z")
I’ll join in, based not on any recent experience but one I have had many times: When I show up at your place on moving day, I expect you to have things packed and ready to load. Asking me to help you move is a different thing from asking me to help you pack. When you only have 4 hours to get out. And don’t even get me started on people who ask me to help them hang sheetrock, and when I arrive the first order of business is to go to the store and buy fucking sheetrock. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/15 "2016-06-24T20:47:03Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I assume that’s a straight progression - so one should be able to hold 400 pounds for 15 seconds, 800 pounds for 7.5 seconds and 1600 pounds for 3.75 seconds? Actually, that’s not the way muscles work. (Numbers made up for illustrating example). You could hold 50% for 30 minutes, 75% for 5 minutes and 90% for 30 sec. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/16 "2016-06-24T20:49:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Okay, I’ll bite: How? (Those who have lost all friends no longer have human friends.) As for the science, here’s a .pdf: [http://archives.njit.edu/vol01/etd/2000s/2004/njit-etd2004-111/njit-etd2004-111.pdf](http://archives.njit.edu/vol01/etd/2000s/2004/njit-etd2004-111/njit-etd2004-111.pdf) NIOSH’s revised Work Practices Guide uses the following formula to calculate the Recommended Weight Limit (RWL): RWL= LC x HM x VM x DM x AM x CM x FM Multipliers in the above formula include horizontal distance (H) between the center of mass of the object and the midpoint between the worker’s feet, vertical distance (V) of the center of mass of the object from the floor, etc, etc. Furthermore: [INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]Each multiplier can attain a maximum value of 1, which represents the ideal condition (NIOSH, 1994a; Waters et al., 1998). Hence, RWL obtained under ideal conditions is 51 lbs. This indicates that **under no circumstances should any healthy adult be allowed to lift a load that exceeds 51 lbs.** [in a professional setting -mfm] [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT] Emphasis added. While I have moved heavier objects than that, I think there is a basis for questioning the OP’s lifting judgment. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/17 "2016-06-24T20:53:09Z")
I can lift 16 tons. What do I get? ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/18 "2016-06-24T20:54:46Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > What, you can’t hold 200lbs for a couple of minutes? Do you even have arms? I think you mean, “do you even have arms **bro**?” ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/19 "2016-06-24T21:00:07Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I can lift 16 tons. > > What do I get? Another day older and deeper in debt? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261/20 "2016-06-24T21:02:04Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I assume that’s a straight progression - so one should be able to hold 400 pounds for 15 seconds, 800 pounds for 7.5 seconds and 1600 pounds for 3.75 seconds? Hell, I can hold any amount of weight for a touch less than ten meters per second per second. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-hold-200-lbs-for-30-seconds/758261.md?page=2)