For burdens carried at waist height, the recommended maximum weight for women is 16 kg. (35 lb.). For loads above this size, special equipment should be used. The human body was not designed to carry heavy loads over long periods of time. If you do decide to try and lift more than 10% of your body weight, you should only do so for a few seconds at a time with a break in between. The human body was not designed for such strenuous activity and you could end up doing serious damage to yourself. The most common reason for not being able to lift weights regularly is because of injuries or current health problems. If you have no pain when lifting weights then there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to lift more than you think. It's best to start small and work your way up to higher weights over time. In addition to that, if you are not used to lifting weights you will need time to get fit enough to lift more than you think. It may take several months before you are able to lift your full capacity again after a break from lifting. Finally, never try to lift anything that you cannot handle with safety.