Advice Please: Belts

[samuelNZ]

Wondering if we can have a pros vs cons discussion about weightlifting belts?

Have talked to a few old PLers at my gym and a few of the more knowledgeable trainers there and both have very convincing arguments as to why you should/shouldn't use them.

Thoughts?

Anyone got access to any studies regarding the use of them? Levels of core stimulation with/without belts?

[PeterDolan]

Don't have the study but I do remember reading one a year or so ago saying that activity of the spinal erectors, transverse abdominus and obliques increased by about 10-15%. Good for PLing, I'd say not so much for BBing

[samuelNZ]

Don't have the study but I do remember reading one a year or so ago saying that activity of the spinal erectors, transverse abdominus and obliques increased by about 10-15%. Good for PLing, I'd say not so much for BBing

Due to not wanting to thicken up your waist?

[PeterDolan]

Don't have the study but I do remember reading one a year or so ago saying that activity of the spinal erectors, transverse abdominus and obliques increased by about 10-15%. Good for PLing, I'd say not so much for BBing

Due to not wanting to thicken up your waist?

Yeah basically. Correct me if I'm wrong here but greater fibre recruitment will result in greater hypertrophy which, as you pointed out, will "thicken" up your waist

[samuelNZ]

Thats the general sort of gist of got from it. Thanks PD for your input, lets see if we get someone like Phed posting with some studies. Would love to hear some PLers side of the story too,

[Phedder]

Haha I don't have a study for everything :pfft: far from it actually. However I can just link this; http://scholar.google.co.nz/scholar?hl= ... ting+belts :wink:

Quite a few results there, haven't read any of them myself but I'll dig into a few after work, something I'm curious about at the moment as well.

[HarryB]

I find the idea that training without a belt will thicken up your waist still seems to be a concern. In effect lifting without a belt tightens and strenthens your transverse abdominus and all of the other muscles around your core allowing you to stay tighter with better posture. The belt creates a relaxed abdomen and most lifters actually push out against it when lifting heavy. I tend to think the thick waist is more a product of overeating, drug regimens, genetics and increased overall bodyweight. I mean Ronnie Coleman had a tiny waist when he got his pro card and a much thicker one when he retired. He always wore his belt!!!

[jimjim83]

so what if you have a thick waist? If your waist is thick build your legs and upperbody to make your waist look smaller. Its a win win really.

[samuelNZ]

so what if you have a thick waist? If your waist is thick build your legs and upperbody to make your waist look smaller. Its a win win really.

Im not worried at all if I thicken up my waist. Theres quite a high chance of you being dependent on a belt if you use it all the time am I right?

[PeterDolan]

so what if you have a thick waist? If your waist is thick build your legs and upperbody to make your waist look smaller. Its a win win really.

Im not worried at all if I thicken up my waist. Theres quite a high chance of you being dependent on a belt if you use it all the time am I right?

I think that as long as you do exercises to engage your "core", then you should be alright. People say that belts weaken your "core" but how can it if it's increasing muscle fibre recruitment?

[samuelNZ]

so what if you have a thick waist? If your waist is thick build your legs and upperbody to make your waist look smaller. Its a win win really.

Im not worried at all if I thicken up my waist. Theres quite a high chance of you being dependent on a belt if you use it all the time am I right?

I think that as long as you do exercises to engage your "core", then you should be alright. People say that belts weaken your "core" but how can it if it's increasing muscle fibre recruitment?

Thats exactly what Ive always wondered.

The only lifts I'm considering starting to use it on are anything below 5 reps in squats and dls.

[jimjim83]

Im not worried at all if I thicken up my waist. Theres quite a high chance of you being dependent on a belt if you use it all the time am I right?

I think that as long as you do exercises to engage your "core", then you should be alright. People say that belts weaken your "core" but how can it if it's increasing muscle fibre recruitment?

Thats exactly what Ive always wondered.

The only lifts I'm considering starting to use it on are anything below 5 reps in squats and dls.

Dont end up being the guy that just wears it because you own it. I only wear mine for heavy legs and back movements. I dont see the need for wearing it for arms.

[Dr Squat]

I only wear my belt for my top sets on movements like squats, good mornings and deadlifts. It gives you some confidence and some support. I like the idea of adding it when I am about to do a PB.

I don't wear it for other movements.

[tinytraps]

I like the belt for stability more than anything. Also teaches me to push my abs out on things like squats,deads gms.

[HarryB]

Teaches you to push your guts out? And that's a good thing? Interesting.

[tinytraps]

Teaches you to push your guts out? And that's a good thing? Interesting.

Yup more stable than sucking in and increases IAP. Just imagine the pyramids being built with the skinny part athe bottom, not a very stable platform.

[ThePman]

so what if you have a thick waist? If your waist is thick build your legs and upperbody to make your waist look smaller. Its a win win really.

Im not worried at all if I thicken up my waist. Theres quite a high chance of you being dependent on a belt if you use it all the time am I right?

I think that as long as you do exercises to engage your "core", then you should be alright. People say that belts weaken your "core" but how can it if it's increasing muscle fibre recruitment?

Think past the muscle. Neural recruitment is as much practice and voluntary activation as anything. If you get reliant on a belt to "remind" you and don't learn to generate that tension automatically during the movement, then I can see how that would be the case.

Not that I buy it entirely, mind you. I think there's a case to be made for using a belt on heavy attempts, and I don't think you'll be missing out on anything by training in a belt. If you have a weak core, then you should be training those muscles anyway.

[PeterDolan]

Im not worried at all if I thicken up my waist. Theres quite a high chance of you being dependent on a belt if you use it all the time am I right?

I think that as long as you do exercises to engage your "core", then you should be alright. People say that belts weaken your "core" but how can it if it's increasing muscle fibre recruitment?

Think past the muscle. Neural recruitment is as much practice and voluntary activation as anything. If you get reliant on a belt to "remind" you and don't learn to generate that tension automatically during the movement, then I can see how that would be the case.

Not that I buy it entirely, mind you. I think there's a case to be made for using a belt on heavy attempts, and I don't think you'll be missing out on anything by training in a belt. If you have a weak core, then you should be training those muscles anyway.

You have a much better way with words than I do haha

[funkyfly]

Read in FLEX recently that you get a 10-15% gain with using a belt, it was referring to squats. They didnt go into all the science of why.