Weightlifting Belt??

Killme00

If we do get that thread about dumb questions then i would ask this type of question there. My recent lifts are 110kg bench, 200kg deadlift, 160kg squat, Hybrid lift 80kg and someone suggested i should get a belt and i have some questions (dumb questions :pac:) about belts. My reason for lifting weights is overall strength and fitness and i like lifting heavy stuff.

-Whats the difference in all the types of belts (powerlifting belt/bodybuilding belt/weightlifting belt) and which would suit a general lifter?
-What are belts for/why use them?
-How and when in your sets should you use the belt?
-Does wearing a belt effect your form and can it lead to bad technique?

Thanks in advance
Tom

kumate_champ07

you should use a belt when you lift over 85% of your 1RM
thats what they say anyway, its a safety thing.

you can wear a belt loose if you want, it joins your torso to your legs; makes your body more aware of the muscles, cant really explain properly right now, its the feeling of the belt against the skin makes you more aware of form.

if you have it tight all the time its giving you full support which means your core muscles dont have to work, this is not good.

you can use the same belt for weightlifting/powerlifting/bodybuilding.

kevpants

The thing about belts is there isn't a "rule" for them. Use them when you think you need one, not when some guys tell you to. Personally I didn't buy one until I got to a point in my squat and deadlift where I felt it was required. I think it was 220 deadlift and 180 squat but that was just me. Others use them from the day they squat 60kg and it does them no harm.

Using one won't make your core weaker, in fact to get the belt to work you need to squeeze your core hard.

Powerlifting belts IMO are the best for what I see you doing in your log. They are thick and the same width the whole way around which gives more support. The bodybuilder belts that are thick at the back and thin at the front I just don't get. Pushing against the front with your stomach is what keeps the back pressed hard against your lower back. Surely a smaller surface area at the front will negate this?

I'm sure the weightlifting belt is designed with the Oly lifts in mind so unless that's what you're doing they mightn't be the best option.

If you want a good belt reasonably cheap I'd recommend liftinglarge.com. I have the Toro and absolutely love it.

Killme00

kevpants wrote: »

Personally I didn't buy one until I got to a point in my squat and deadlift where I felt it was required.

What do you mean, you felt you needed it? Did you feel you couldnt go any higher with the belt?

Thanks for the reply.

kevpants

Killme00 wrote: »

What do you mean, you felt you needed it? Did you feel you couldnt go any higher with the belt?

Thanks for the reply.

No I just felt that if something went wrong I could injure something, up to that point I felt as though the weight wasn't pulling me out of shape enough to warrant using it. I also had a seriously weak lower back when I started my training so I decided to intentionally expose it to as much stress as I could up to the point where I started to feel it was injury threatening.

Killme00

kevpants wrote: »

No I just felt that if something went wrong I could injure something, up to that point I felt as though the weight wasn't pulling me out of shape enough to warrant using it. I also had a seriously weak lower back when I started my training so I decided to intentionally expose it to as much stress as I could up to the point where I started to feel it was injury threatening.

Thanks for that, im gonna order one tonight.

At what point in your workout do you use the belt?

kevpants

Traditionally just on my heaviest work set. Though lately the %'s I'm using in the second workset are taking that bit more out of me so I have used it more frequently of late.

I find it to be a good "impact sub" if you like. I bring it in when I need it most and get a nice boost.