I was just doing deadlifts earlier, and for my top set I put on my belt and was about to rep out. During the set with the belt, it felt like there was a bunch of pressure in my stomach, to the point where it felt really weird at the bottom of my esophagus (like it’s being blocked). I had to stop, it wasn’t painful but definitely didn’t feel right. I took off my belt and did 4 more reps, and didn’t feel this pressure feeling at all, so obviously it has to do with the belt. I am drinking about 1600ml during training, so maybe this is a water issue? Anyone know what’s up or felt this before?
Hiatal hernia? Obviously not permanent, but maybe a temporary herniating.
[quote]honest_lifter wrote:
Hiatal hernia? Obviously not permanent, but maybe a temporary herniating.[/quote]
WEll God I hope not.
Do you put your belt high up?
[quote]MrDan500 wrote:
Do you put your belt high up?[/quote]
I wouldn’t call it high but I usually put it above the love handles and it’s a 4" belt.
could be that your belt is tight enough to cause some of your internal organs to be pushed up a just a little bit, and you are not used to that sensation, its kinda like being pregnant when a womans uterus gets big enough it pushes the other organs (bladder, stomach, intestines) out of the way a little bit, but i really doubt its a herina, if it was i would think that the belt help help alleviate the pain because it would provide support to the blugde, and not wearing any support would cause pain
[quote]young n wrote:
could be that your belt is tight enough to cause some of your internal organs to be pushed up a just a little bit, and you are not used to that sensation, its kinda like being pregnant when a womans uterus gets big enough it pushes the other organs (bladder, stomach, intestines) out of the way a little bit, but i really doubt its a herina, if it was i would think that the belt help help alleviate the pain because it would provide support to the blugde, and not wearing any support would cause pain[/quote]
Thanks for your input, I agree it’s probably not a hernia because I’m not getting acid reflex or any of that… anyways, I think for now I am going to start wearing the belt one notch looser and see how that feels.
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
I was just doing deadlifts earlier, and for my top set I put on my belt and was about to rep out. During the set with the belt, it felt like there was a bunch of pressure in my stomach, to the point where it felt really weird at the bottom of my esophagus (like it’s being blocked). I had to stop, it wasn’t painful but definitely didn’t feel right. I took off my belt and did 4 more reps, and didn’t feel this pressure feeling at all, so obviously it has to do with the belt. I am drinking about 1600ml during training, so maybe this is a water issue? Anyone know what’s up or felt this before?[/quote]
At what point in the lift did you feel this pressure?
How do you breathe during your top set of DLs?
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
I was just doing deadlifts earlier, and for my top set I put on my belt and was about to rep out. During the set with the belt, it felt like there was a bunch of pressure in my stomach, to the point where it felt really weird at the bottom of my esophagus (like it’s being blocked). I had to stop, it wasn’t painful but definitely didn’t feel right. I took off my belt and did 4 more reps, and didn’t feel this pressure feeling at all, so obviously it has to do with the belt. I am drinking about 1600ml during training, so maybe this is a water issue? Anyone know what’s up or felt this before?[/quote]
I’ve gotten something like this deadlifting. It usually happens when I lift on an empty stomach, I feel like everything is flexing in the esophageal area, I dunno if it is neck muscles or what though.
how tight is your belt? cause it should be loose enough to slide your hand between it and your stomach. the rest of the difference is made by filling your belly w/ air.
rico and mats pretty much summed up what i was trying to say = your belt might be too tight,
but now you might ask if it aint tight then how is it suppose to support, brace, or help me?
any body care to answer that?
[quote]Rico Suave wrote:
[quote]PB Andy wrote:
I was just doing deadlifts earlier, and for my top set I put on my belt and was about to rep out. During the set with the belt, it felt like there was a bunch of pressure in my stomach, to the point where it felt really weird at the bottom of my esophagus (like it’s being blocked). I had to stop, it wasn’t painful but definitely didn’t feel right. I took off my belt and did 4 more reps, and didn’t feel this pressure feeling at all, so obviously it has to do with the belt. I am drinking about 1600ml during training, so maybe this is a water issue? Anyone know what’s up or felt this before?[/quote]
At what point in the lift did you feel this pressure?
How do you breathe during your top set of DLs?[/quote]
Throughout the whole deadlift.
I inhale so I fill my stomach with air, then lift while holding.
I think I’m going to simply just loosen up the belt and put it a teeny bit lower, I’ll let you guys know next week how it feels.
Anytime you hold your breath and build up pressure in the abdominal area, you are risking the chance of getting a hernia. I realize it’s tough not to hold your breath during the concentric phase during Deads, but it may save you in the long run. I developed a small umbilical hernia while holding my breath during deads. Just be careful and learn to breathe on the way up while still keeping your back nice and tense. Like young said, your belt was causing your intestines to be pushed in an upward and outward direction which gave you that pressure feeling. If your abs are not strong enough to hold that pressure, you are welcoming a hernia into the equation. Just my 2cents. Be careful and good luck!
Thanks for the advice AzCats. I might also try one of the softer Olympic-style lifting belts, maybe something like Valeo. We’ll see.