weightlifting belts good or bad

[gwilacuz]

i've heard that not wearing a belt during weightlifting exercises that stress your lower back will make your lower back stronger. however i get alot of lower back pain, and i always use good form. should i use a belt?

[HateYourFace]

i've heard that not wearing a belt during weightlifting exercises that stress your lower back will make your lower back stronger. however i get alot of lower back pain, and i always use good form. should i use a belt?

For your heaviest sets I would, other than that keep it off.

[Salad_Dodger]

don't really use them that much, but if i'm maxing on squats or deads then i'll use them.

[cheguevarac]

For your heaviest sets I would, other than that keep it off.

don't really use them that much, but if i'm maxing on squats or deads then i'll use them.

i usually use it on my heaviest sets, just like it was mentioned. it helps me lift heavier weights and also i feel much more stable and solid.

[DJAuto]

For your heaviest sets I would, other than that keep it off.

^^^

Over-use of lower back support isn't recommended.

[SL1D3R]

F**k, yes! I didn't have a belt when I was deadlifting 275lbs and it fooked me up. I think I'll buy one this week.

[Ironlife]

For your heaviest sets I would, other than that keep it off.

Thats actually my view these days too^^ well said, simple but to the point.

[BadWog]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I figure it's better than starting a whole new one...

I am having a LOT of trouble getting my Squat up to where it used to be 4 years ago. I can only Squat 80kgs for 8 reps, when I was 17 I was doing over 100. I'm cutting atm so that may have something to do with it, but my Deadlifts and Bench have continued to rise and are up to 130kgs and 80kgs respectively. So I am actually Benching what I Squat, which I am disgusted with.

Would wearing a belt help me get my Squat up quicker? Or should I just wait until I start bulking and see how I do?

I always thought belts and straps weren't needed until you started lifting REALLY heavy (like twice your bodyweight), and 80kg Squats at a bodyweight of 70kgs doesn't seem that heavy to me at all.

Thanks.

[Ironlife]

BadWog,

brother a belt wont help you get your lifts up, some cases have shown lifters increase lifts by 10lbs or so but nothing major..

To get your lifts up eat more and gradually put on the weight, lift regularly and try to increase sets for bench and/ or squats or even better yet weight on the bar even if its only 2.5 kg..
over time it adds up..

I was benching 80 for 10 times not long ago, then put 85kg on the bar for 8 times then some days through on 95kg for 3 times, now im focusing on strength and doing 105-107kg for 2-3 reps which is heavy but its paying off...

Now im doing 92-93kg 10 times.

[GuyJin]

I use them...for bicep curls and chins.

Kiknskreem wrote a very good thread on the hows and whys of using belts; have a look. For me, personally, I don't use a belt until my heaviest set(s)--and even then at times I won't. While it does feel cool to wear one while squatting and deading and pressing, some guys tend to think that using a belt will keep them from injuring themselves. Well, if you use poor form, a belt won't save you. So if you feel you need it, save it for the really heavy (relatively speaking) stuff and don't futz with your form. My two yen...

[-BodySculptor-]

Belts take some strain away from your overall core muscles which is good when going really heavy (so you don't kill your back the next day) but bad if you want to lift for adequate strengthening reps and maintain a strong core.

[boathead]

Belts take some strain away from your overall core muscles .

i disagree with this. the great thing about using a belt is a thing called proprioception...when you put the belt on, your body instinctively pushes its muscles against it....recruiting the very core muscles needed to safely do the lift.

i personally think that use of a belt can be a nice learning tool...you learn how to tighten the necessary core muscles. then, of course, don't overuse the belt...take what you have learned and apply it without it.

[Alex2010]

im not disagreeing with anyone here, best advice is to use it on your heavy sets imo.

but for me, i used to get some small pains in my lower back ever since i hit 315lb, i just kept going though without a belt. overtime it went away, and now im at 335lb 5RM and no pain at all, if it ever comes back though i will use one for sure, dont want to risk injury.

[ironrat42]

I believe there is a sticky already devoted to the topic of belts. The issue is not cut and dried, there is tons of disagreement. IMO you don't ever really need a belt until at least a year into your training. I have never used a belt as I am trying to build up my core strength and stabilizers without assistance. My view though is that its not a big deal if someone chooses to use a belt if they are lifting heavy( fewer than say 6 reps). I guess you are better off safe than sorry, but its really a judgement call, so I would read through the thread that already exists and make your own decision.

Link to Sticky: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=108908741