belts?

[Freak Show]

i do alot of core stability exercise and never feel my lower back buckle. its my strongest point in the kinetic chain....as it should be.

Paul Chek is that you? Just messin with you nate. Great advice.

 

[tripleV]

yes. my belt helps me loads. i also use straps and knee wraps on squats

 

[big4life]

Nope, never found a belt that
I was comfortable wearing.

 

[Jguns]

Nope I never use belts at all.. I never thought they had any use in my opinion. Or gloves, or wraps, or anything else.

Exactly. It is so hilarious to see all of the pencilnecks walking around with them on all the time. So they look like big, tough, weightlifters!

 

[b fold the truth]

I prefer to squat ONLY in a belt.

B True

 

[gymtime]

I'll use a belt only on the last heavy set of squats. I've been lucky never having had any real back problems, but I don't want to tempt fate either.

 

[Bikini Mod]

No belt - no straps.

Carefull w/belts unless you like hernias. I have had two. Since I gave up the belt, I have no trouble w/these any longer......and yes, for a girl, I do go heavy as often as my joints allow (squat and deadlift).

 

[Daeo]

As far as I'm concerned using a belt isn't wimping out. I believe that if you want a strong back than you train that area specifically. For example if I wish to strengthen my lower back I'll do good mornings or extentions. Using squats to strengthen your lower back is similar to using pullups to strengthen your biceps. Doesn't make much sense to me.

I've never had an injury in my 7 years of training and I'd like to keep it that way. Belts allow me to focus on the muscle group I was trying to target and not worry about injury. Your quads are much stronger than your lower back and I'd hate to end a set because of this.

Also straps are almost a necessity when using heavier weight. If you can succesfully hold 400-500lbs in your grip long enough to do 8 reps without worrying about your grip slipping I envy you. Ever watch the Worlds strongest men competitions. Almost everyone uses belts, straps, and knee wraps. I'd love to see anyone dispute their power and size...

 

[needleboy]

no belts, no straps!!! Every muscle you can work helps you grow!!!

 

[Imnotdutch]

I dont think anybody is implying that it is wimping out.....just that belts etc are overused. At the end of the day nobody does squats for lower back. But if you do them without a belt your core gets strong enough to do them without the extra assistance. BM makes a good point about some of the risks involved....in alot of cases this makes the belt like a security blanket (maybe not for you but for a lot of people)......it makes you feel safe but in fact it isnt.

A similar situation exists with straps. If you insist on using straps the minute the weight gets heavy how can you ever hope to hold a heavy bar without straps? Alot of people develop wrist problems from straps cutting in.....I can live without that. With chalk I can hold 700 without problems and I'm only a skinny runt. This isnt unusual....many people can do this. Many very small powerlifters go above this without straps.

The point of WSM competitors using equipment is this.....when you are lifting such extreme weights, day in and day out, your joints take a battering. It is likely the bones/tendons that will give up before the muscle, unless you help them out a little. Also it lets the audience see bigger weights being lifted which is always good publicity.
You might want to ask Bfold whether he uses straps in training.....

As far as I'm concerned using a belt isn't wimping out. I believe that if you want a strong back than you train that area specifically. For example if I wish to strengthen my lower back I'll do good mornings or extentions. Using squats to strengthen your lower back is similar to using pullups to strengthen your biceps. Doesn't make much sense to me.

I've never had an injury in my 7 years of training and I'd like to keep it that way. Belts allow me to focus on the muscle group I was trying to target and not worry about injury. Your quads are much stronger than your lower back and I'd hate to end a set because of this.

Also straps are almost a necessity when using heavier weight. If you can succesfully hold 400-500lbs in your grip long enough to do 8 reps without worrying about your grip slipping I envy you. Ever watch the Worlds strongest men competitions. Almost everyone uses belts, straps, and knee wraps. I'd love to see anyone dispute their power and size...