intro and question

[tasteslikechicken]

hey all, educated newbie here. just wanted to say this site looks great and i'm sure that i can learn a lot and hopefully be of some help to a few others along the way. here's my very first question: i see guys all the time bench with a belt, i never have and am chasing a double bodyweight bench. do any of you use one and why? much thanks.

 

[PowFit]

I remember back when I first started getting into powerlifting I was in the gym with all the other dorks and a couple powerlifters would come in. I seen that they only wore a belt when they went heavy in the squats and deads, but wore the belt regularly in the bench. I talked to them and they said when using competition form the bench press can be tougher on your lower back than squat and deads. Did not make much sense at the time, but it made sense later. Good competition form on the deads and squat are "good form" for your body. The typical competition bench presser utilizes an arched back. Some people more than others. I guess this can put a little pressure on your lower back. Although I have never heard of an injury to the lower back from arching.

I personally do not feel more support in my back using one and I am the arch master BUT, I do find that it helps keep my bench shirt from sliding up my stomach when I go into a gnarly arch. I have benched 2.74 my bodyweigt weighing 155 and would like to hit the 300 percent mark in the 181 class.

 

[The mann]

damn powfit.....that's some big freakin' lifting!!

 

[PowFit]

I have not hit the 300% mark yet. That is a crazy huge percent. When I do it I will party for a week straight though!

 

[tasteslikechicken]

thanks for the reply PowFit. i've plateaued and am looking for anything and everything that can give me a little edge. and congrats on your lifting. that's pretty impressive. keep at it and the 300% will happen.

 

[PowFit]

Hey Bro. You know the best thing I have found for avoiding plateaus is training in good peaking routine. Most completive powerlifters train in peaking cycles that last from 4 weeks to half a 4 months depending on how their body works. Some people peak quicker than others. During my "off season" my bench is about 100 lower than my competition bench, but it is no big deal because I know that I have trained my body to have strength peaks. And since I don't stress about what happens each day in the gym and I am confident that when it is time to perform my body will do what it is supposed to I skip the mental blocks and that is one of the big problems causing plateaus. It you can find a good training cycle and get a kick butt crew (tough part) your lifts will shoot up. Good luck to you and let me know how your lifting goes. Wesley