I am honored to be mentioned here.
Well a strong core helps tons. If a bigger belly helps, I am not sure. Although a lot of big strict pressers that come to mind have one, so maybe there is something to be said for it.
I agree with @Cyrrex, that was a really good press with solid technique.
No you are making me blush. Not sure about the technique but Coach did say ‘Fk that press looked super comfortable. We will adjust that as we go’
Looks like he will be working me harder !!
I think an easy metric to tell if a bigger belly contributes to a better lift is if a belt helps it. I forget where I read it (somewhere on Elitefts), but a belt is effectively a stomach size enhancer. When you wear one, it’s like making your entire midsection bigger, which gives you a bigger base in the middle, which tends to give you a more stable base as well.
It’s why a belt is almost always an advantage on squats, but some people actually deadlift better without one. A big gut will almost always help squats, but can get in the way on deads.
So with that said, the belt pretty much always helps the press, so it’d stand to reason a bigger stomach will help there too. It can get in the way on cleans, but can also be an asset on it if you learn how to power belly the implement.
But, in either capacity, great work, and happy birthday.
So I think the conclusion we can reach here is either get fat, or use 3 belts. Or both.
Thanks Pwn for the well wishes and the well thought out response. I have never worn a belt for overhead so maybe that’s something to play with as the weights go up.
Definitely. It CAN encourage a healthy bit of cheating, as now you can engage in some very serious leanback while feeling your core being well supported, but that can also be a good thing with the right application.
@Cyrrex I use 2 belts, haha. A soft belt and then a power belt on top of that. Never enough belts.
OMG, that just made my whole day.
And I also have one of each, won’t the plebs at my commercial gym be jealous.
That’s actually pretty standard in strongman (you basically want to create an armor of neoprene and leather to hold your body together). Although I personally only go with 1 belt for presses, deads and squats.
Yeah, the only reason I use the soft belt for pressing is it means my midsection gets pinched less on axle and log.
Yep, I do the same for implements. It also makes the log clean easier for me because of the increased surface.
I should have specified ‘presses’ as anything that doesn’t involve a clean beforehand, haha.
Happy birthday! Yeah I concur on the belt while pressing, helps me quite a bit
Is that a Neversate shirt I spy?
Edit: nevermind, I read the caption underneath.
I cannot deadlift without a belt. I lose positioning and my power output is zilch. I can squat and press true to my belted max without a belt, however.
I am an exception I guess.
@Cyrrex @simo74 I think a large belly could be an indirect contributor to overhead strength when you consider the fact that a really big belly might increase inclination to be in an anterior pelvic tilt which enables you to use more upper chest and bypass tight shoulders. Part of why I think my strict press has gone up so much but my split jerk/push jerk hasn’t is just due to mobility. I REALLY need to work on it lol. I do also have long arms. 6’1 3/4 reach and I’m only 5’9" LOL.
Yer it is a Neversate shirt. Brian responded to my IG post wishing me a happy birthday too. That’s gotta be worth a 5kg strength increase surely ?
Happy birthday mate. A few days before mine. Leos 
Thanks mate. There are a few around the same time on here. And yes Leos for the win.
Happy birthday my friend. Wishing you well!
Thanks Vinny. It wasn’t the best way to celebrate a birthday but still had a good day with the kids and misses and got to eat cake.
Some decent doms today mostly in my butt and my lats. I am guessing the lats are sore from the overheads given I didn’t do any back work yesterday . Two days rest and then back to it. I have been walking the puppy every day for about 30-40 mins. All the walking is helping with stiffness in the legs and back.
That rainbow fizzy laces round that cake? If so I approve! Eat more of it to reduce today’s doms - rainbow laces are highly anabolic.
