[quote]pvoosen wrote:
I use a belt on all sets over 135. My thoughts are that adding a belt will change your technique, so why not use a belt on all sets so you are constantly practicing your technique. If i want more work for my core I’ll do more accessory work.[/quote]
Awesome way to think about it.
I wear a belt once I get over 3 plates.
Old thread, I know that this time 
Anyways, doing a little research into my deadlift training a bit, I found something interesting about Konstantinovs’ training.
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f13/konstantin-konstantinovs-info-888012/
“He explains that intra-abdominal pressure is very important and a belt should be used sparingly. He only uses it lifting maximum weights. He doesn’t feel a belt adds anything to his deadlift. He feels sumo lifters benefit more from a belt and that for conventional deadlifters it’s only necessary for stability and a little assistance at the start of the lift.”
After my last competition, I tried to squat/deadlift for a while without a belt. I managed to get up to a 565 deadlift before belting up again, and am now finding the belt to be extremely uncomfortable when deadlifting, and my poundages are not going up (still sitting at 565x1 and 495x4). Squatting with my belt is MUCH better though.
Is there anyone out there that doesn’t wear a belt during competition? I am contemplating nixing the belt for pulls and just using it for squats.
i use my belt after the warm up sets (during the 3 work sets that i have) i wear it 2 sets before the last set to push against it.
i only wear it on my heaviest sets. today i deadlift. i’ll show you what i do. I’m doing Wendler 5/3/1.
warmup
2x5@135
2x3@225
1x1@315
work sets
1x5@315-(no belt)
1x3@355-(no belt)
1x8-10@395 (belt)
i like that feeling the belt gives me when i ramp up to my heavy weights. i like to feel the weight without it. then i put it on and everything feels tight and solid.
just my opinion.
hmm, i use a belt also for mental preparation, when a belt is added i fell that now its time to bring everything i have for the pull, anyone else do this?
[quote]hatesmiles wrote:
hmm, i use a belt also for mental preparation, when a belt is added i fell that now its time to bring everything i have for the pull, anyone else do this?[/quote]
i do.
amn.
I hate it when people state that they never use belts and make it sound like a fucking accomplishment. Unless you set some form of beltless record it doesn’t matter, no cookie for you.
Now that that’s out of my system I’ll throw in my opinion on this. Use it when you feel that you need it, I don’t think that it needs to be more complicated than that. If you’re depending on it an awful lot then sure, I guess that might not be a good thing. It should be a tool, not a crutch, but other than that it’s really nothing to get worked up over.
Personally I rarely used a belt for deadlifting in the past simply because I didn’t feel a need for it. Lately however, I’m trying to squat more often and I find that sometimes my lower back doesn’t recover as quickly as my legs. Because of this I’ve began using the belt more often.
Me, I waited until I could deadlift 585 with no belt before I started using one.
And lose the gloves. You want girly hands or somethin?
listen to H4M, his lower back is thicker than Chuck Norris’ beard.
i heard his lower back was a designated fallout shelter before the end of the Cold War.
[quote]HoldFast wrote:
I wear a belt once I get over 3 plates.[/quote]
same
[quote]WormwoodTheory wrote:
listen to H4M, his lower back is thicker than Chuck Norris’ beard.
i heard his lower back was a designated fallout shelter before the end of the Cold War.[/quote]
Lol. Well, considering the only consistent “lower back” work I do is heavy DLs and BB Rows, I definitely attribute the thickness (and lack of injuries) to getting it really strong without a belt first.
Even though I use a belt quite often now on my working sets of lower body exercises, I make sure to do some without it so I don’t lose that core strength/stability.
[quote]WormwoodTheory wrote:
listen to H4M, his lower back is thicker than Chuck Norris’ beard.
[/quote]
Now that’s a complement!
I know a guy who pulled an IPF world record without a belt. He got a double hernia and now wears a belt.
Wear a belt on your heavy lifts and save yourself a world of pain.
BB
It’s all up to you Try it on your heavy sets a couple times if it feels good use it.
holy thread resurrection batman