Question for lifters

Faery_Dust

So I recently starting lifting and am loving it. Trying hard to keep adding on the weights.

Really pushed it this morning at the gym and really loved it, I am usually pushed for time but have a day off so made the most of it.

A little while back I noticed my hands felt sore and have two kind of hard skin blisters on each hand. (photo below)

Am I gripping the bar wrong or something? Or is it just a side effect of using heavier weights? Is this why people wear gloves?

mrdexter1

I d swear blind that was a young males right hand !!!!


Spend some money and buy some gloves.!!!

tattygun

Yes it's normal to get callouses with heavy weights. You can use gloves to counter this. Personally I want a very strong grip so I don't use gloves. I use one of those feet grating thingy's (!) and grate them off but they're still rough. I should imagine most woman don't want rough hands so the gloves are the best option.

shutupandlift13

They are called calluses and they are a very helpful thing. My suggestion learn to take care of them properly and use chalk for things like pull ups and chin ups.

Smooth them down with a pumice stone in the shower on a pretty regular basis and keep your hands moisturized. Well taken care of calluses aren't rough at all.

_Moose51_

It's certainly common, try using gloves but I don't like them because it is a weird grip for me. Take it as a badge of honor, and use lotion...

sammniamii

Yeap, i get them on both hands (ring finger only), but gloves help. Also, well keep the skin well moisturized to help repair the damage.

Or as me hubs says, he gets "used to them" - and his hands are so callused it's damn scary. :frown:

sandylion

Those are the beginning of callouses. Save your money, don't buy gloves. You don't want anything effecting the stability between you and the bar. Work on grip strength. If you're not white knuckled, you're not squeezing the bar enough. The callouses are from the bar pinching/pulling/shifting against your skin. Squeeze harder and the bar doesn't move. Either way you will get callouses from lifting. If they get big and annoying, soak your hands and file them down with an emery board.

jamielynas

man up

wswilliams67

Blisters are normal and will turn to callouses eventually. It's a result of 1) weight and 2) the knurling on the barbell. You can A) use chalk, tape your hands, C) by good gloves, or D) suck it up and learn to take care of your new lifter hands. LOL

Lotion and callous care are the usual remedies. There's tons of articles on hand care for lifters. Google it.

Mother_Superior

ETA: Went back and read the responses...it was already covered. Oops.

holothuroidea

Aw, look at those baby callouses!! I have them too, and they develop more and more the heavier my weights get. Take care of them, they'll help your grip. Use a pumice stone and keep your skin moisturized, and take care not to tear them (chalk comes in handy).

If you really hate them you can use gloves but as a pp said it will affect your grip negatively.

As far as women not wanting rough hands, that's not really true so don't worry about it. I like the callouses and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Faery_Dust

Thanks everyone I don't really mind having rough hands, it's not a problem. Just wanted to make sure it was the norm and not caused by me gripping the bar wrong. I'll try the suggestion of gripping tighter to stop the bar moving as much, but otherwise I'll wear my new lifter badge with pride lol.

Faery_Dust

LOL, guess this thread shows just how new to lifting I really am

StaticEntropy

You'll always get calluses from lifting, but to prevent calluses from becoming problematic (hurting/bleeding) you should grip the bar correctly:

The wrong way:


The right way:


In essence, putting the bar/handle on the middle of the palm (jamming it between your index and thumb) during pulling exercises is what causes the area to get pinched. The grip is perfectly fine for pushing exercises like the bench press or overhead presses, but for pulling exercises you want the bar further down on the palm as shown in the second image.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

Give them time and they'll get tougher. I have three areas of my hand with callouses: one row where my fingers meet my hand, one row about .5" lower where I rest the bar for OHP and bench, and one on my second knuckle on my index finger from dead lift.

Oh, and oly lifts can cause even more because the bar shifts around in your hands more.

mperrott2205

Wear gloves.

LoraF83

It's certainly common, try using gloves but I don't like them because it is a weird grip for me. Take it as a badge of honor, and use lotion...

^This. I don't use gloves either because it messes with my grip. I have some liquid chalk though, which helps.

Calluses are awesome. I love mine, lol! I lotion my hands quite a bit, so you can't see them, but you can definitely feel them. They are proof of my awesomeness.

Capt_Apollo

You'll always get calluses from lifting, but to prevent calluses from becoming problematic (hurting/bleeding) you should grip the bar correctly:

The wrong way:


The right way:


In essence, putting the bar/handle on the middle of the palm (jamming it between your index and thumb) during pulling exercises is what causes the area to get pinched. The grip is perfectly fine for pushing exercises like the bench press or overhead presses, but for pulling exercises you want the bar further down on the palm as shown in the second image.

this

cwolfman13

You'll always get calluses from lifting, but to prevent calluses from becoming problematic (hurting/bleeding) you should grip the bar correctly:

The wrong way:


The right way:


In essence, putting the bar/handle on the middle of the palm (jamming it between your index and thumb) during pulling exercises is what causes the area to get pinched. The grip is perfectly fine for pushing exercises like the bench press or overhead presses, but for pulling exercises you want the bar further down on the palm as shown in the second image.

This^^^ Learn a proper grip...when you do, gloves are not really necessary.

xMonroeMisfit

You'll always get calluses from lifting, but to prevent calluses from becoming problematic (hurting/bleeding) you should grip the bar correctly:

The wrong way:


The right way:


In essence, putting the bar/handle on the middle of the palm (jamming it between your index and thumb) during pulling exercises is what causes the area to get pinched. The grip is perfectly fine for pushing exercises like the bench press or overhead presses, but for pulling exercises you want the bar further down on the palm as shown in the second image.

sweet post.

squirrelythegreat

Alas, if you use gloves you'll lose strength. Grip the bar as hard as you can, always. If you'd like to reduce calluses / blisters try clapping your hands together hard here and there. It stimulates blood flow and may help.


*edited for my inability to spell*

ZoeLifts

You'll always get calluses from lifting, but to prevent calluses from becoming problematic (hurting/bleeding) you should grip the bar correctly:

The wrong way:


The right way:


In essence, putting the bar/handle on the middle of the palm (jamming it between your index and thumb) during pulling exercises is what causes the area to get pinched. The grip is perfectly fine for pushing exercises like the bench press or overhead presses, but for pulling exercises you want the bar further down on the palm as shown in the second image.

^This! I can only add Rip's video to support this position as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTqNSgCmM2s

KatLifter

I d swear blind that was a young males right hand !!!!


Spend some money and buy some gloves.!!!

:laugh: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway:
Holy sexism. My hands are calloused too, and nobody has ever said I look like a man.

Capt_Apollo

I d swear blind that was a young males right hand !!!!


Spend some money and buy some gloves.!!!

:laugh: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway:
Holy sexism. My hands are calloused too, and nobody has ever said I look like a man.

i think you're the sexist. that is a masterbation joke. way to jump to conclusions and assume the worst.

KatLifter

I d swear blind that was a young males right hand !!!!


Spend some money and buy some gloves.!!!

:laugh: :noway: :noway: :noway: :noway:
Holy sexism. My hands are calloused too, and nobody has ever said I look like a man.

i think you're the sexist. that is a masterbation joke. way to jump to conclusions and assume the worst.

Oh, my bad not jumping to *kitten*?
Telling a woman the pic looks like a man's isn't really jumping to conclusions - but that is a sweet mat.

jimmmer

You'll always get calluses from lifting, but to prevent calluses from becoming problematic (hurting/bleeding) you should grip the bar correctly:

The wrong way:


The right way:


In essence, putting the bar/handle on the middle of the palm (jamming it between your index and thumb) during pulling exercises is what causes the area to get pinched. The grip is perfectly fine for pushing exercises like the bench press or overhead presses, but for pulling exercises you want the bar further down on the palm as shown in the second image.

^This goes for Chin/Pull Ups, too....

Took me a long time to realise that I didn't have to shred my hands to pieces to crank out a set of chin ups!

lauren3382

You'll always get calluses from lifting, but to prevent calluses from becoming problematic (hurting/bleeding) you should grip the bar correctly:

The wrong way:


The right way:


In essence, putting the bar/handle on the middle of the palm (jamming it between your index and thumb) during pulling exercises is what causes the area to get pinched. The grip is perfectly fine for pushing exercises like the bench press or overhead presses, but for pulling exercises you want the bar further down on the palm as shown in the second image.

TRUTH! When I learned the correct way to grip it made a world of difference.

Songbirdcw

You'll always get calluses from lifting, but to prevent calluses from becoming problematic (hurting/bleeding) you should grip the bar correctly:

The wrong way:


The right way:


In essence, putting the bar/handle on the middle of the palm (jamming it between your index and thumb) during pulling exercises is what causes the area to get pinched. The grip is perfectly fine for pushing exercises like the bench press or overhead presses, but for pulling exercises you want the bar further down on the palm as shown in the second image.

He must have known that someone was going to post this question. Lol. At first, I couldn't lift without my gloves, now I love lifting without them. I feel like a warrior! HAHA.

Faery_Dust

You'll always get calluses from lifting, but to prevent calluses from becoming problematic (hurting/bleeding) you should grip the bar correctly:

The wrong way:


The right way:


In essence, putting the bar/handle on the middle of the palm (jamming it between your index and thumb) during pulling exercises is what causes the area to get pinched. The grip is perfectly fine for pushing exercises like the bench press or overhead presses, but for pulling exercises you want the bar further down on the palm as shown in the second image.

Thank you! I think I am definitely holding the bar too far down in my hand then. Am sure it will be better when I grip right. Thanks for taking the time to reply

davideickelmann

This is indeed why people wear gloves. As mentioned above, callouses can be made less rough with skincare. Honestly, it's not a big deal.

rainbow198

I lift heavy and gloves work great for me. I'm a girly, girl so no callouses for me. lol