Lifting belts? Need or not?
GoTimeBaby
Posts: 27
Since my weights are starting to get heavier, I was wondering if I should be buying/wearing a lifting belt? Is it necessary? Do you wear one? Will I end up injured otherwise?
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Replies
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Since my weights are starting to get heavier, I was wondering if I should be buying/wearing a lifting belt? Is it necessary? Do you wear one? Will I end up injured otherwise?
You never "need" one per se, but at some point you will find that your back strength lags too far behind your leg strength adn you'll probably want one. I don't wear one now - I would not purchase one jsut because you *might* need one in the future. Keep pushing your way through without the belt - when you get enough experience with squatting/deadlifting, you'll know when its time.
You will not get injured without one - you are actually more likely to get injured by using a belt too early -- the belt helps you stabilize your core, but you don't want to rely on it so soon that you never work it up.
People often only do their heaviest sets with the belt because, like I said, at some point your legs are just way out powering your core. But you never *need* one - you can keep working on getting stronger with out it. Its slowerand you'll never top out at the big power lifting numbers but its still fine.
I don't use one and I'm approaching a 200lb squat.0 -
Yep, Tameko is spot on.
I haven't considered using a belt yet and I won't until I think my core is the limiting factor in the lift. I see a guy at the gym who always wears a belt. As in, he walks into the room with his lifting belt on. I have never seen him lift heavy enough that I would consider the need for a belt. I refer to him as "Belt Guy" and other people understand who I am talking about.0 -
I do 'need' one as I have had a lower back injury and I just can't lift without one now that I'm getting to 100+ lbs on my squats and deadlift, but you don't need one per se, especially not for weights you're comfortable with or warming up.0
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Thanks for asking this question. I have often wondered about that too. What about wrist straps? Does anyone here use them and when should you start?0
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I bought a weight belt and use it on my heaviest squat sets. That is it. I have trouble with my squats due to my 2 pregnancies ripping up my abs. Darn kids. I don't rely on the belt, it just reminds me to keep my core tight.0
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Thanks for asking this question. I have often wondered about that too. What about wrist straps? Does anyone here use them and when should you start?
Once you get to the point with deadlifts where chalk doesn't help, switch to mixed grip. Once mixed grip + chalk isn't helping, look into straps.
Its gonna be a while.0 -
Thanks for asking this question. I have often wondered about that too. What about wrist straps? Does anyone here use them and when should you start?
Once you get to the point with deadlifts where chalk doesn't help, switch to mixed grip. Once mixed grip + chalk isn't helping, look into straps.
Its gonna be a while.
I'm really a newbie here. I don't use chalk either. Should I? Yesterday I did one deadlift @125 pounds. It was a struggle so the other four I did at 120 pounds.
ETA: But I always use a mixed grip.0 -
Thanks for asking this question. I have often wondered about that too. What about wrist straps? Does anyone here use them and when should you start?
Once you get to the point with deadlifts where chalk doesn't help, switch to mixed grip. Once mixed grip + chalk isn't helping, look into straps.
Its gonna be a while.
I'm really a newbie here. I don't use chalk either. Should I? Yesterday I did one deadlift @125 pounds. It was a struggle so the other four I did at 120 pounds.
ETA: But I always use a mixed grip.
Slightly unrelated tip:
Try using an overhand grip for your warmups, to strengthen your grip.
Chalk is good for grip - if youg et to the point where you feel like its your grip strength holding yuo back from deadlifting more, do try adding chalk. But once both chalk and mixed grip aren't enough, you'll want to add straps.
Typically you do it the same way you do with the belt - lighter work, you go without the gear so you work on your strength in the weak areas, heavy sets you do whatever it takes to get it done (straps, belt, etc)0 -
Chalk really helps, and it is much better than gloves if you have smaller hands (which most women do--even some men have hands too small for an effective grip over an Olympic bar).
About mixed grips... I am totally with Tameko on this one. The overhand grip is perfectly fine, and things like this don't happen with the overhand grip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCxy7hpqSnQ 0 -
thanks for the replies. I'll continue on without a belt, for now.0
