Plans to assist lifting some weight (8)
I believe the answer is:
diagrams
'plans' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'assist lifting some weight' is the wordplay.
'assist' becomes 'aid' (synonyms).
'lifting' says the letters should be written backwards.
'some weight' becomes 'grams'.
'aid' backwards is 'dia'.
'dia'+'grams'='DIAGRAMS'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for diagrams that I've seen before include "Drawings showing how things work" , "Adam's rig (anag.)" , "Drawings, graphs" , "plans" , "Explanatory drawing or plan" .)