Hey all.
I’m curious as to when to use a lifting belt. I haven’t ever felt like I ‘needed one’, but I don’t want to end finding out that I should have been wearing a belt while screwing up my back. I’m not a newb, but I don’t have a clue about belts and when they should be worn. I can understand why you’d want one for deadlifting and back squatting, but I see people wearing them for benching too. And what about front squatting? Any more experianced lifters out there who think they can help me out?
Right now I’ve got a BW bench, BW squat and I deadlift about 1.5 BW, if that’s relevant to the question.
NSCA says that weight belts should be used on any set taken to failure whether that be a 1 RM or a 50 RM. I think this is pretty solid advice except I dont think spinal stability is an issue when doing very high rep sets.
I honestly do not feel that much of a benefit of using a belt while deadlifting, when my form is solid. When I go so heavy that my form starts to suffer it helps quite a bit. What I would do is make sure you do at least a heavy set or two or whatever exercise you are doing, then use a belt for a final heavier set. This way you still expose your body to some strength increasing weight, while not putting yourself in jeopardy. Even the heavier set done with the belt exposes your “core” to pretty heavy stress so its not entirely worthless.
Something of big importance in my mind is that you master deadlifting and squatting before you put a belt on, not after. You have other issues to work on if your technique is not up to par and fixing this technique first is more important for safety, strength and future muscle gain than wearing a belt to lift heavy weight. Make certain your form is excellent before you go to the belt.
Oh and I would steer clear of using the belt for front squatting as wearing the belt will just mask your weakness and there is no way you will ever really get into the exercise. You should need to be up at pretty high weights to need a belt front squatting.
Which is fine, just push your body until you reach this point. And as for bench pressing, do not wear the belt. And you should not be walking around with it on either.
I was training at this gym once where I guy walked around with it on and one day I asked him why he was wearing it and he said to protect his back, and he said he had no back injuries. His fat stomach was hanging over the belt while he was walking around doing cybex stacked preacher curls. Dipshit.
There are people who say that belts should be used for heavy bent over rows, deadlifts, and back squats.
Then there are people who say you should never wear a belt unless it’s a 1RM.
Both camps have pretty legitimate reasons but I’d say that ones who use belts on heavy rows, heavy deadlfits, and heavy back squats tend to be bigger and stronger. As long as you don’t allow the belt to become a crutch for you, I think it’s the way to go.
[quote]kroby wrote:
It all depends on what you’re doing. Power lifters use a belt for bench, squat and dead lift. Primarily, the belt is used to stabilize the core.
I use it when I go over 315 on my squats and when I do heavy push presses.
And for goodness sakes, get a real belt, like the one in the picture.[/quote]
Yeah that is a killer shot of a damn good belt Kroby…
Thanks for the help guys. I don’t have any existing back injuries, and like I said, I don’t ‘feel’ like i need a belt. My back used to hurt like mad after I first started deadlifting, but ever since I concentrated more on setup and form I’ve felt solid.
Basically I was balancing between my desire to make sure I wasn’t taking stupid risks and my desire to avoid looking like one of those idiots strutting around wearing a belt on the lat pulldown machine.
I’m guessing I’m probably doing alright without a belt right now, but get one (a real one, I promise) around the time I’m squatting three wheels a side and DLing four.
Again, thanks for the input. much appreciated,
d
I used to use a belt many years ago, and then for the longest time I wouldn’t touch one. I was afraid it would make my back weak.
I just started using a belt again whenever I go over 90% of my 1RM on squats. I use it as a tool to keep my abs pressed out against it.
I don’t like the feel of it on deadlifts, so I don’t use it for that. And since my DL is about 150lbs heavier then my squat, I think my back is getting plenty of work.
Belts are useful when they are used as a tool, not as a crutch. And I agree, get a real one if you going to get one.
And for goodness sakes, get a real belt, like the one in the picture.[/quote]
Can’t believe I forgot that. I don’t think you can get a good belt from Dicks Sporting goods or most places. EliteFTS.com only has good belts. Make sure you don’t buy the one that’s specifically made for benching.
And the belt should fit very tightly around your stomach. You shouldn’t be able to get 2 fingers in and it should be difficult to take off…especially after a heavy set.
