Jim,
Is there a time that you usually have athletes and/or clients start using belts, and do you usually use belts on volume work or drop sets?
From what I’ve read, he says you can wear your belt for the three work sets but not to wear it on the drop/volume sets.
You just have to use your best judgement with the belt. Put it on when you are getting ready to hit a weight or rep PR that you know your form may break down without it…providing that you are being honest with yourself and not just using the belt as an excuse to not put your ‘all’ into the set.
If you have a back injury, put it on a little bit sooner than if you are 100% healthy.
As Jim says, “there are no trophies for not using a belt”. I am paraphrasing, but the main point is to not be a Beltless Martyr…but don’t be a puss either.
[quote]JoeyWaters wrote:
You just have to use your best judgement with the belt. Put it on when you are getting ready to hit a weight or rep PR that you know your form may break down without it…providing that you are being honest with yourself and not just using the belt as an excuse to not put your ‘all’ into the set.
If you have a back injury, put it on a little bit sooner than if you are 100% healthy.
As Jim says, “there are no trophies for not using a belt”. I am paraphrasing, but the main point is to not be a Beltless Martyr…but don’t be a puss either. [/quote]
^ This ^
I’ve got a bad back and I’ve used a belt from anything starting at 60% TM through the rest of my workout on some days, to not wearing it until the final working set and then removing it. I haven’t had a workout related back issue since I followed the above advice.
[quote]bartmann wrote:
[quote]JoeyWaters wrote:
You just have to use your best judgement with the belt. Put it on when you are getting ready to hit a weight or rep PR that you know your form may break down without it…providing that you are being honest with yourself and not just using the belt as an excuse to not put your ‘all’ into the set.
If you have a back injury, put it on a little bit sooner than if you are 100% healthy.
As Jim says, “there are no trophies for not using a belt”. I am paraphrasing, but the main point is to not be a Beltless Martyr…but don’t be a puss either. [/quote]
^ This ^
I’ve got a bad back and I’ve used a belt from anything starting at 60% TM through the rest of my workout on some days, to not wearing it until the final working set and then removing it. I haven’t had a workout related back issue since I followed the above advice.[/quote]
yup… dumbest thing I did 2 years ago was decide I wanted to go beltless for a year (with an already semi-jacked up lower back and injury-related issues with form on squats and deads). I will likely be paying for that til I die. also: yes I know that a lot of people train beltless and do great… I learned I am not one of those people
[quote]karlrichii wrote:
[quote]bartmann wrote:
[quote]JoeyWaters wrote:
You just have to use your best judgement with the belt. Put it on when you are getting ready to hit a weight or rep PR that you know your form may break down without it…providing that you are being honest with yourself and not just using the belt as an excuse to not put your ‘all’ into the set.
If you have a back injury, put it on a little bit sooner than if you are 100% healthy.
As Jim says, “there are no trophies for not using a belt”. I am paraphrasing, but the main point is to not be a Beltless Martyr…but don’t be a puss either. [/quote]
^ This ^
I’ve got a bad back and I’ve used a belt from anything starting at 60% TM through the rest of my workout on some days, to not wearing it until the final working set and then removing it. I haven’t had a workout related back issue since I followed the above advice.[/quote]
yup… dumbest thing I did 2 years ago was decide I wanted to go beltless for a year (with an already semi-jacked up lower back and injury-related issues with form on squats and deads). I will likely be paying for that til I die. also: yes I know that a lot of people train beltless and do great… I learned I am not one of those people[/quote]
^ absolutely.
Self regulate brother, there aren’t any ‘rules’ to a belt, I just go by feel.
Some days I’ll go beltless, sometimes I don’t. I like to keep record of my Belted and Beltless PR’s, just to know where I’m at. I plan on lifting for a long time, so I try for the most part to leave ego out of it. Good luck, lift heavy and often.
Joey is correct - the Beltless Warriors are a bunch of eunuchs. All bark, no balls.
Thanks for the reply everyone, I’ve been using one for my work sets so I’ll keep that up and go by feel for the others.
I’m looking forward to your new book as well Jim, thank you for all of the programs and knowledge.