I've never used a weight belt (except for adding weight to dips and chins) but I've seen recommendations that a belt be used for heavy push-presses. I'm starting to do reps with loads approaching my bodyweight; when should I start using a belt?
Do you feel unstable at the weights your pushing now?
By the way, where in Madison do you train?
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
oops, I should phrase that "do you feel instability in your lower back and abs?"
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I train at the Nat--one of the university gyms. Do you know Madison?
I don't feel any core instability; as for what I would gain by using a belt--It's a safety concern. I vaguely recall some guru (probably at t-mag) recommending a belt for heavy push presses, but I disgregarded it at the time because I wasn't moving much weight. Now I'm curious; I don't want to throw out my back or anything....
I don't use a belt while doing them at all. Why use it? You won't be able to squat what you can push/press, so it won't any harder on your back than your max squat, which might be the only place that you use a belt (although even still I wouldn't use on for that either).
Will a belt prevent injury? No really. In fact, it could have an inhibitory effect if you don't know how to use it.
Will it increase performance? It sure can.
The belt + proper intrinsic stabilization (using your muscles and stabilization mechanisms like breath holding) will increase proximal stabilization. This provides a more stable base from which you press. The more stable the exercise the greater the activiation of the prime movers.
Compare a standing BB press, a seated press, and a seated smith machine press. Which one allows the most weight? The seated smith press. It's more stable.
Do you think the chance of a hernia increases with a belt since it really is compressing an already "strong" part of the body? By not letting any expansion here I would think would stress the weaker parts of the abdomen. e.g the groin area
It will promote an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. If you are predisposed toward a potential inguinal hernia then, yes, it could.
Empirically speaking, if belt use was the "cause" of hernias, all powerlifters and most "gym rats" would be paying a visit to the surgeon.
I think you'll find that most folks that suffer hernias are not regular exercisers and don't have a well-conditioned abdominal region. Couple that will a predisposition toward hernias, and I would guess that most folks that get 'em are not weight trainers or weight belt wearers.
Jake - yes I used to go to the Nat to run and for the Budo Club (martial arts).
Are there any decent machines there now? That place was a dungeon.
I trained at Heroes, which was Gold's at the time.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Small world! I was in the Tae Kwon Do club last year, and a lot of the guys were also in Budo. The Nat still has an ancient universal gym thing in the free-weight room, and there's a seperate "circuit training" room with fairly new machines. The SERF now has big-screen plasma TV's in their cardio room... fancy.
Everybody-
Thanks for the advice. So, if I'm not trying to set any records, and everything feels OK, no belt is fine?
Jake, I would say you should be fine with no belt.
Wow, the SERF IS getting hi-tech! Some revenues from the football are finally being kicked down to the poor average students.
Try out the Budo club - its a great time. Like moving meditation, only with a high degree of probability you'll get choked out .
Seriously, Mark, Paulo, and the crew are alot of fun to work out with.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
If Mark is a big biker-looking guy, he was also in TKD. I'd love to get back into martial arts, but with running, lifting, school etc. time is too much of an issue.
Yeah, Mark is the 240Lb guy with a shaved head and various ink on his arms. As you can imagine he's more than a handful to grapple with. Mostly what we did there is Jiu-Jitsu/wrestling/judo. Mark has wrestled for 20 some years & is great to learn from.
Hes a super nice guy though and works in the UW Tech Dept.
Don't worry, he never beats anyone up too bad unless they come in cocky. Then its fun to sit back and watch him squash the guy
I understand about the time issue. Many people come once a week, which is fine, its all for fun.
By the way Jake- check your PMs under "my profile" I sent you a message there.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
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