There was a thread on here about six years ago about using a lifting belt, but I didn't see anything else when I searched. I'm just curious about everyone's opinions of people using lifting belts. Do you use a belt? And at what point?
I think the general consensus is they're bad because you promote lack of core strength, (you're always using belt for support, so your core don't bother) etc. However, can be ok for small stints of max effort. Hence: don't train with them, but use them at a comp if you want.
If your going to use them at a comp, you would be crazy not to train with it imo..
If you have no intentions of competing, I don't really see a point of a belt. Although in some cases (deadlifts for example) the extra weight a belt allows you to use could create more hypertrophy for upperback as you would be handling heavier weights.
Tried it, got in my way. Helps if youre performing a lift with form deviation (which can happen at a 1RM).
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Well, most of the time. But, I'm still fairly new. So, my 1RM's aren't all that high. But, I'm usually in the 6-3 rep range for everything that I do. That puts me at or above 80% on almost all of my lifts.
Today I did some bodyweight chin ups, and pull ups, and some sets of 8 rep Overhead Presses. But, this was a rare lighter, but higher rep workout.
I think when Bolton said 80% of your max, he means your true max. The max that after doing weeks working up to a true 1RM, such as you would do for a competition. Dan John wrote about it in his book about the difference between a max, a max max and a max max max. I don't remember exactly how it goes but it basically says everyone has a max but few know what there max max is and only the elite know their max max max is. I believe in that context Bolton is referring to the max max.
Being new to lifting, you prob don't have to worry about a belt until you start working towards that max max. You prob are working at or near 80% of your max but not your max max. Your core and supporting muscles benefit more from not using one, anyhow.
__________________ 'This version of myself is not permanent. Tomorrow I will be different.'
If you want to train at that level, don't let the lack of core stability stop you from getting that training response.
You simply will never build that level of stability into your core. You can get good and strong but nothing will ever top the stability you get from taking a deep belly of air and bracing out against the belt.
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i have read that unless you have a pre existing back injury or lift all the time, like furniture movers and what not, then it could be harmful since it is not promoting core strength and could cause a lower back injury. That is just from one study done.
For the reasons above, I don't use one. But, I'm also not moving serious weight. I nearly lifted 405 this last weekend (three inches....and a thud) I'd also read about using one for weights above 400. So, thats why I wondered if its something that I'll need to consider in the future. But, I doubt that I'd ever use one if I didn't intend to compete at some level. Otherwise, the numbers just aren't that important. Who knows. But, unless I decide at somepoint to get more serious I doubt I'll get one.
400 seems kind of an arbitrary number, it's heavy for some people while being light for others. Chad, about a year or so ago I pulled around 425 for the first time (no belt), then 6-7 months later I pulled 530 (also without a belt). I'm not trying to say im super strong or anything, but keep lifting without a belt and you'll strengthen your core enough where you can bust well past that 400 mark and still not need a belt.
400 seems kind of an arbitrary number, it's heavy for some people while being light for others.
It is funny you put it that way. Bolton said 'I always wear a weightlifting belt when I train around 400 pounds or heavier. Bear in mind, this is only about 40% of my max lift.'
Is it law, no.
Is it personal choice, yes.
Can you safely go beyond 400 without a belt, yes, but to what point is debatable. Some things are not easily quantifiable in percentage of max lift. Some things are really dependent upon bio mechanical physics and individual structure.
I think the point really is, is at some point if you wish to progress safely into a powerlifting class load, you should strap a belt on.
__________________ 'This version of myself is not permanent. Tomorrow I will be different.'
I recently went from squatting beltless to squatting with a belt. I would suggest that you at least try using a belt and have someone show you the proper way to use it. The belt made me realize that I was not properly using abdominal pressure to brace my torso. Using it over the past few weeks has really helped my squatting (I recently did 5x5@320 when 5@315 used to be somewhat of a struggle). I'm not sure yet whether it will help my completely raw squat, but I'm pretty sure it will.
To Belt or Not to Belt?
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