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The use of weight belts

tomsammce

By tomsammce
in Bodybuilding & aesthetics

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steak Veteran member

steak

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I dont think I get anything from a belt deadlifting a little bit from squats, I wear it loose to remind me to push my stomach out when doing squats and deads. and only on heaviest sets

I think you might be missing out here then bro. There are some trains of thought that wearing a tight powerlifting belt instills a "fight or flight" response from the body and kicks starts the adrenaline into overdrive. When in fight or flight of course almost superhuman feats have been accomplished.

Second to that the support in a "heavy" squat from having the belt tight and pushing the addominals out against it improves (IMO) the stability in the lift and this in turn adds to the power output. I for one wear the belt "tight" for the squat (over about 160-170kg) and back it off one hole for deadlifts again at higher percentages (over about 180-200kg).

Nate had a good piece on this very subject some time ago on here somewhere.....

i never use belt. they good for holding yr gut in thats bout all.

I would have thought you might have had a changed of "policy" after the SM event you just competed in. looking at some of the footage I think you might have benefitted from a correctly used belt eg deadlift etc?

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tomsammce Veteran member

tomsammce

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I would have thought you might have had a changed of "policy" after the SM event you just competed in. looking at some of the footage I think you might have benefitted from a correctly used belt eg deadlift etc?

what does the belt do bro? benefits?

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tinytraps Veteran member

tinytraps

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I would have thought you might have had a changed of "policy" after the SM event you just competed in. looking at some of the footage I think you might have benefitted from a correctly used belt eg deadlift etc?

what does the belt do bro? benefits?

IMO it adss stability and teaches you to use your abdominals properly. Making your stomach as big as possible while pushing against your belt is way better than pulling your stomach in.

Steak- Yea I know where you coming from bro, Its actually lifting near max loads that initiates the fight or flight response. You should wear your belt 1 notch tighter because your waist seems to shring somehow. When I forst use the belt say its on notch 3 by the time im on my top set its on notch 4 or 5 but its the same tightness.

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startinfromscratch Veteran member

startinfromscratch

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the biggest problem with belts is when people who dont know how to use them, use them. then blame the belt when they blow a disc. putting a belt on then tencing/contracting your abs, your not actually getting the benefit from it, you just look hardcore :grin:

it takes time to be able to get the most out of your belt - which imo is stability, and safety for your lower back, the confidence in knowing you have the protection.

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bob26 Senior member

bob26

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the biggest problem with belts is when people who dont know how to use them, use them. then blame the belt when they blow a disc. putting a belt on then tencing/contracting your abs, your not actually getting the benefit from it, you just look hardcore :grin:

it takes time to be able to get the most out of your belt - which imo is stability, and safety for your lower back, the confidence in knowing you have the protection.

geez man, if i had of known that about the protection side of things i would have bought it about a year ago :pfft:

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Pseudonym Veteran member

Pseudonym

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pushing the addominals out against it

Really? I'd always been told that blowing the stomach out was just asking for a hernia. I keep my abs tensed and my belt tight, and I make sure I don't push into it. The belt just helps support the lower back and stop it from flexing and buckling.

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Phedder Veteran member

Phedder

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I've never used a belt before, but I'm not exactly lifting huge weights either, yet :) Not sure I'd want to use a belt though, if my abs and lower back can't handle the weight I should work on strengthening them, not strapping on a belt and masking the problem.

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tinytraps Veteran member

tinytraps

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pushing the addominals out against it

Really? I'd always been told that blowing the stomach out was just asking for a hernia. I keep my abs tensed and my belt tight, and I make sure I don't push into it. The belt just helps support the lower back and stop it from flexing and buckling.

Push your stomach out and then squeeze like your trying to take a dump. More stable and keeps the spine safe. Imagine a pyramid, its much stronger with the wide base on the bottom than standing on its tip. Same rule with squating stances.

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startinfromscratch Veteran member

startinfromscratch

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whats a good belt for me to buy bro? and where from?

or is a belt a belt?

i read to get a belt thats the same thickness all the way round, not thin in the front

depends on your goals man. a pure bber would get one of the tapered belts, as they dont really do any/much reps<5. tapered, thinner belts more suited to benching/pressing support, but most ppl benefit from a non-tapered, powerlifting belt. more support, stiffer, more to push out against!

the outback belts are pretty highly recommended, unless you gunna import an inzer one or summin.

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Monarchking Veteran member

Monarchking

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whats a good belt for me to buy bro? and where from?

or is a belt a belt?

i read to get a belt thats the same thickness all the way round, not thin in the front

depends on your goals man. a pure bber would get one of the tapered belts, as they dont really do any/much reps<5. tapered, thinner belts more suited to benching/pressing support, but most ppl benefit from a non-tapered, powerlifting belt. more support, stiffer, more to push out against!

the outback belts are pretty highly recommended, unless you gunna import an inzer one or summin.

cool thanks

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Optimass Veteran member

Optimass

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Always used a thinner belt: Lately only use it on squat sets over 160kg+, dead lifts 160+, leg press over 250ish, bent over row 100kg+. Just how I feel on the day.

Only set the belt right on when I am ready to do the set. Set normally in volves pinching the end of the strap against a piece of equipment and then leaning back so the belt is tight around my waist. Then push it as low as I can get it on my hips (so it feels like I have it set around the lower half of my abs.

Once I set my foot position I set my abs against the belt - outward pressure/ but firm (imagine a plank of wood). Then begin movement.

Remove pressure from belt immeadiately after set so I can recover.

have had a few training partners over the years that have had some nasty hernia injuries that they got prior to lefting seriously - weight training helps in some ways to prevent as long as you are careful but always keep in mind that lifting excess weights is not really what your body was designed to do so it pays to have some insurance.

types.gif

INGUINAL or 'groin' hernias are by far the most common site for hernias to develop in adults, and are second only to Umbilical Hernias in infants and children. While a bit more common in men, they do occur in women as well. These hernias will develop as the result of a weakness, tear, gap or opening in the muscle wall of the lower abdomen or groin, in a region called the Myopectineal Orifice. As a result, the contents of the abdomen, such as intestine, may protrude through the opening creating a pain and a bulge. The pain and bulge may be constant, or intermittent in duration. Inguinal Hernias are located in the lower abdomen (right side, left side or both), just above the leg crease, near or adjacent to the pubic area. Inguinal Hernias can occur on both sides ('Bilateral') in about 8-10% of patients.

INGUINAL HERNIAS may be CONGENITAL (present since birth) yet may become evident with pain or as a bulge at any time during life. They can also be ACQUIRED, the result of repetitive pressure, strain or injury to the muscles of the abdominal wall. This can be acute and occur abruptly, or develop over a long period of time. Congenital Hernias are usually called"INDIRECT" hernias, whereas Acquired hernias are referred to as "DIRECT" hernias, and are so called because of their anatomic direction of travel into the area known as the Inguinal Canal. These hernias frequently show up as a lump, swelling or "bulge" which gradually increases in size and become progressively more uncomfortable. Sometimes only a mild pain, ache or burning in the groin area may occur prior to the development of an obvious bulge. This pain, again often described as an ache or burning sensation, may not only be present in the inguinal area, but may also radiate into the hip region, back, leg or even down towards the genitalia region. Called "REFERRED PAIN", this discomfort can be quite bothersome and at times severe. In addition, in the absence of a bulge, the diagnosis of the cause of this pain may be delayed or mistakenly and incorrectly ascribed to other causes such as muscular groin strains, epididymitis, prostatitis or orchitis etc. These diagnoses may be maintained erroneously until the bulge develops, thereby heralding the real cause of the pain...a hernia. The discomfort with hernias usually is initiated by or increases in severity with activity, then becomes relieved, although not always completely, with rest.

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