weightlifting belt??

[blazin98]

I know a lot of you dont believe in weightlifting belts and some do. I dont wear them, but up until now i have never been able to squat that much or deadlift that much. now i have started a powerlifting program to try to get stronger and I wanted to start wearing one when i maxed out or did 85-90%range.
my question is what is the proper way to wear one???

does it go around the hips like the belt holding your pants up or does it go around your stomach right above the hips?

 

[Perdido]

Above the hips.

 

[Merkaba]

like any other belt. I dont like belts.

 

[Ben dur]

i dont use em


people use straps
a belt
lifting suit
and lifting shoes

by the time you pick up the weight you might as well just use a machine

i dont use these assitance devices

chalk is all i need (and i think it is minimally helpful)

 

[DiGiTaL]

No use of belts here either.

I only use gloves to get a grip of the weight..but negative results. lol.

so you wouldn't recommend me trying out chalk?

 

[Ben dur]

chalk certainly helps

but
you wont gain much


but it makes me feel like an absolute badass when i chalk up my hands and clap them together, sending chalk puffing through the air

and then i do lifts that nobody else in my gym has the balls to do like
deadlifts
or weighted chins


at 6 bucks for a supply that will basically last you untill you lose it how can you go wrong?

negative

get chalk on your shit (who cares it washes off/ doesnt effect anything)
leaves your ands dry (temporary. i wash my hands after my workout, never use lotion, and have never been criticized for having dry hands)

 

[Yanick]

You have to where the belt around your stomach (between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your pelvis).

It has to be pretty tight, uncomfortably so. You should not be able to wear it throughout the whole workout or in between sets.

To make it work, you have to learn to tense up and push your abs out against the belt. This will help to increase intra-abdominal pressure and stabilize your lumbar spine.

Of course you can also learn how to valsalva and increase intra abdominal pressure without the belt, the belt just makes it easier and more optimal (i guess thats the correct word for it). It really all depends on preference and how much weight you are moving.

Chalk just dries out your hands and increases friction by decreasing the slippage (is that a word?) from the sweat.

 

[Merkaba]

I wear a belt for heavy calf raises. thats about it. I use straps for heavy deads and pulls. I prefer big back grips but I must've laid them down somewhere cause I haven't seen them lately. Chalk is a no-no in my gym. probably because people like to clap their hands together and look like a badass.

 

[Ben dur]

i think its a banned substance actually

 

[Yanick]

Lol, you're not supposed to do bumps of it in the bathroom between sets.

 

[Triple Threat]

chalk certainly helps

but
you wont gain much


but it makes me feel like an absolute badass when i chalk up my hands and clap them together, sending chalk puffing through the air

And of course you clean up all the chalk dust when you're done, right? Or are you one of those assholes who expects other people to clean up after you?

 

[bigback51]

When in doubt wear the belt. Wear it low above the hips, it should be so tight that you need to take it off between sets. I`m curious how many of you guys use wrist straps?
Big Back 51

 

[Ben dur]

actually i chalk my hand over a garbage can

i dont make a mess

and i do almost all the cleanup and maintanance at my gym

im all but on payroll...

 

[Merkaba]

When in doubt wear the belt. Wear it low above the hips, it should be so tight that you need to take it off between sets. I`m curious how many of you guys use wrist straps?
Big Back 51

did you read my post?

 

[Ngordyn]

i use wrist wraps whenever my wrist starts getting to sore before the end of my bench or whatever press im doing ( had a problem with my wrists a couple years back they are getting alot better now and i need them very rarely now)

 

[Elson]

just above your hips yea.

 

[highpockets]

Don't use belt here, but I do use wrist wraps on some lifts as well as big back grips when pulling heavy.

 

[Ben dur]

i was told that wearing a belt can increase the likelyhood of causing yoursaelf a hernia

 

[Perdido]

i was told that wearing a belt can increase the likelyhood of causing yoursaelf a hernia

That is actually true. Buy wearing a belt you can lift more weight using bad form then using bad form without a belt increasing the likelihood of herniation.
Source: Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance by Stuart McGill

I only use a belt for Deads and Squats over body weight due to prior work related back injuries.

It amazes me how many I see using a belt for everything in the gym...even warm-ups.

 

[trener]

i don't wear a belt, don't need it, never had problems with my back

 

[Ngordyn]

That is actually true. Buy wearing a belt you can lift more weight using bad form then using bad form without a belt increasing the likelihood of herniation.
Source: Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance by Stuart McGill

I only use a belt for Deads and Squats over body weight due to prior work related back injuries.

It amazes me how many I see using a belt for everything in the gym...even warm-ups.

i agree completely but long as you use proper form you should be ok

 

[ItsAParadox]

It amazes me how many I see using a belt for everything in the gym...even warm-ups.

Shit I gotta stop doing that *hides in the bathroom of the gym*

 

[lucifuge]

I don't generally use a belt, or straps... but I will if I feel it's needed at the time.
That being said, the only time I use a belt is for heavy overhead presses... and straps when my grip doesn't want to cooperate.