pondering about lifting belts
Katy8967
Posts: 41 Member
Just curious, but IF you wear one for lifting at what point do you decide that you need to wear a lifting belt? I wear my wrist wraps as soon as I feel the faint strain (if that makes sense) so is it the same for belts? At our box its mostly the heavy heavy lifters that wear them when going for their 1 RM PBs but I've noticed a couple of the others wearing them too. Can you tell I'm still a bit of a CF newbie 
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I've also thought about this.
But I wear my wrist wraps for any Oly lifting, I've hurt something in my wrist too many times now and it always means a few weeks off cleans/snatches/front squats so I just go for the wraps straight away.0 -
This may be overkill, but they have us wear weight belts once the lift exceeds 110 pounds. When my snatch was at 93 pounds, my coach spoke to me about a weight belt. I think it makes a difference! The people who lift super heavy weights seem to always have their weight belts on!0
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Do the research,there are $20 belts that are just fine, and there are $100 ones that are amazing. Think about if you would be using it alone (velcro or lever may be better) or a buckle, taper or no taper. Basic black or a rainbow (
) My wish lish includes an Inzer lever tapered belt. I currently have a $20 Valero buckle which is fine, and has been considering i am on my second one due to weight loss.
In my experience, they should only be used for the heavier 1, 2, 3 RM type stuff. If you are using it to compensate for an injury its potentially causing more troubles.
Some gyms do it above a certain weight as a safety thing, as they cant spot every single person lifting.
It will help you with your heaviest lifts, but dont "rely" on it to get you through a work out.0 -
I can squat about 350 lbs. I have never used a lifting belt, but at some point I likely will.0
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I just had this conversation at the gym last night. I have not used a belt yet, and I've been wondering the same thing. My dead lift was 275 last night, but a friend said she went up 20 lbs in her DL when she started using a belt. Interested in other feedback.0
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I think it is important to learn how to brace properly but I do use a belt on my heaviest squats and DLs--generally anything around 85-90%+ of my 1RM. I've never tried a belt for Oly but I"m not sure the heavy leather buckle belt I have will be helpful or if it'll just get in the way.0
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I just had this conversation at the gym last night. I have not used a belt yet, and I've been wondering the same thing. My dead lift was 275 last night, but a friend said she went up 20 lbs in her DL when she started using a belt. Interested in other feedback.
There is no question it will help, but if you still have good form why not continue building your muscles instead of letting the belt do some of the work for you?0 -
I found my back squat PB greatly improved after chucking a belt on when my coach suggested it. I bought one and I use it when the lifts get really heavy and I am struggling. Helps me keep my form.0
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I'll share my weightlifting coach's (USA-W certified) take on belts. He and his wife were also national level USAPL powerlifters in the past. If you are going for a 1 rm in a competitive situation and you want to lift the most weight, wear a belt. If you want to practice what that feels like wear a belt when you are close to your 1 rep max. Otherwise, skip the belt and work on exercises to strengthen your core.
Wearing a belt can help you feel your intra-abdominal pressure. However, the purpose of lifting in practice is to get stronger, not generally to hit one rep maxes. To get stronger, not only do you need to build your lower body strength up, you also need to build up your core strength. Going beltless will make you rely on your core rather than the belt. Also, learning to breathe properly to create the intra-abdominal pressure you need will greatly increase your lifts with or without the belt. Going beltless helps you practice the breathing necessary to get that function of weightlifting down without any kind of training wheels. Then, when you are going for a 1 rep max in a comp or in practice for a comp, you will probably get a boost in what you can lift if you are wearing the belt. Wearing the belt without developing your core is not actually making your core much stronger. I only wear a belt for squats greater than 85%, personally.0 -
So for someone who isn't competing, and who's aim is increasing strength for general fitness, they are not really the best idea? Is that what you are saying, Kellyemontana? Focus on developing your core strength in your heavy lifts in stead, use a belt when you really need to PB is what I got across from that message. Hope I've understood right.
Do you wear the belt for ALL lifts over 85% or do you wear it only when you are ramping up for competition?0 -
Yes, to the first paragraph in general. If you are not going for a PR, work on building up your core strength is what my coach tells me.
All of my PR's to date are beltless, period. I haven't been using a belt at all except when I feel like I'm having problems with my breathing and need to put the belt on to sort of test my abdominal pressure. But now, since I have a comp coming up, I'm going to start using a belt a bit more just to get my leg strength extra built up by pushing my weights up a little more than what I can do with my own core by itself. I am simultaneously including more core work like hollow holds, planks, kb twists on a BOSU, and L-sits for stability and core control in my training program. Then, when I start going for new PR's, I'll use the belt because right now I'm at a point where psychologically I need to feel what more weight feels like and get comfortable with getting in and out of the bottom with it.0 -
I have never been one to wear a belt simply because I am worried it would become a crutch for me.0
