lifting belts.

[smiffy180]

So I ordered my belt on friday and received this morning - perfect timing for my deadlifting today
This is the first time I've used a belt and looked at all the ins and outs of different belts. In the end I went for a 6" leather belt which I paid pittance for compared to well known brands - £11.49

I read online when to roughly start using it and it recommended 70-80% of your 1RM. I did this and my first lift with the belt was 180kg. Straight up no problems, didn't even feel like I'd even lifted! Went for 190kg and again straight up not even exhausted. I thought I'd be cheeky and tried 200kg - again straight up (bit of a struggle) but the movement was so smooth it looked like I was warming up.
I thought there must be a limit here so went for 210kg; unfortunately all the wkers walked in doing presses 2 inch away from where I was deadlifting which I got put off by so didn't pull the 210. Knocked it down to 205kg and people keep walking infront of me as im about to lift - seriously put off again so I tried anyway; failed and gave up because my gym is full of inconsiderate tts.
That aside I'm amazed how well I did with a belt! My back hasn't suffered and I feel more energetic that usual.
So what belt do you use if you do and how has it affected your training?
ETA: my previous pb being 185kg x2 (just)

Edited by smiffy180 on Tuesday 12th March 18:14

[chris_c201]

Nice one mate, great to hit some pb's

I've personally never used a belt, have recently been thinking about giving it a go though... off to do some research.

[chris_c201]

Nice one mate, great to hit some pb's

I've personally never used a belt, have recently been thinking about giving it a go though... off to do some research.

[smiffy180]

chris_c201 said:

Nice one mate, great to hit some pb's

I've personally never used a belt, have recently been thinking about giving it a go though... off to do some research.

I'll put up link from where I got mine if you do go ahead.
But yeh it is nice to hit a PB. 15kg aswell

[pilchardthecat]

I have tried a couple of belts, but really dont get on with them. It may be because i am generally very lean (scrawny) and i dont have the padding around my midsection to seat the belt properly...... they just get in the way.

[chris_c201]

Main reason I'm thinking about giving it a go is to pass a plateau, think it's a bit of a mental block as well so even a placebo effect may be enough!

Quite like the look / idea of the lever ones for minimal faffing, when going heavy I like to psyche myself up and go straight into it, messing around with a belt would throw my concentration I think.

[TheJimi]

Interesting, I've always viewed belts as a safety device rather than a lifting aid.

For what it's worth, I don't use them but I would if I felt I had to.

For the sake of the discussion - are belts viewed in the same way as lifting straps?

[pilchardthecat]

chris_c201 said:

... when going heavy I like to psyche myself up and go straight into it, messing around with a belt would throw my concentration I think.

Thats part of it more me too, its a distraction

TheJimi said:

...
For the sake of the discussion - are belts viewed in the same way as lifting straps?

I dont think so - although the principle is the same - straps are "cheating" on your grip strength, belts assist with lumbar/core strength in the same way, but there may be a safety component too, although whether just having good core strength is enough i dont know, i haven't had a back injury (yet, touch wood)

[TheJimi]

See, that's what kinda prompted my question, but as you say, there is a safety component to the belts whereas the straps are just a straight out lifting aid.

Would be interesting to hear of other belt user's comments - ie at what lifting weight did you start using the belt?

[chris_c201]

I've always been of the same thoughts re "cheating" but then others imply it isn't,I personally wouldn't put them in the straps category.

Without being rude think it's important you only use it when hitting decent numbers, if you're sitting with a 1rm of 140kg then I'd say it's not 25th thinking about.

[TheJimi]

You can't isolate the numbers without considering the individual though. Hence I don't think you can apply a rule that says "only use a belt if lifting over xxxkg" - that doesn't work because everyone is different.

Edited by TheJimi on Wednesday 13th March 11:00

[chris_c201]

Fair point, my point is if you've been lifting two weeks and only reached 50% of your potential then don't think a belt should be your first concern (unless advised to do so regarding back injury etc).

Form, practice and training consistently for a while should be focus at least to begin with.

[TheJimi]

Aye, agreed

[pilchardthecat]

My thinking is like this - if my core/back isn't strong enough to lift more unaided, then i cant lift more until it is.

[smiffy180]

I understand where you all come from with the cheating/aid because your core isn't strong enough however in strongman comps you're not allowed to compete without one so I have to use one regardless.
As for safety my back felt secure - normally I would feel the weight on my lower back section and sometimes I feel as though it's going to snap but with the belt on didn't even notice the weight.
As for putting you off I didn't have this problem. I made sure the belt was only tight when I was down so it helped during the lift; it was still tight when I stood up but I could breathe no problem. But then again I can't really psyche up

Edited by smiffy180 on Wednesday 13th March 13:44

[didelydoo]

smiffy180 said:

...in strongman comps you're not allowed to compete without one so I have to use one regardless.

You can compete without a belt of you want. No one usually wares one when doing, for example, atlas stones- it's entirely optional, I've competed with and without one.

[TheJimi]

I wonder - does the use of a belt reduce the recruitment (and thus strength progression) of the core?

[pilchardthecat]

didelydoo said:

You can compete without a belt of you want. No one usually wares one when doing, for example, atlas stones- it's entirely optional, I've competed with and without one.

Atlas stones are round-back lifting, so a belt would probably be a hindrance anyway

[didelydoo]

pilchardthecat said:

Atlas stones are round-back lifting, so a belt would probably be a hindrance anyway

Yup, it gets in the way.

[tankplanker]

Lifting belts are one of the most misused bits of lifting gear after wrist straps.

A cheap belt from Argos is to a proper belt from Inzer or Best Belts what cling film is to a Durex condom.

A proper belt should take a few weeks of regular use to bed in as they'll normally come very stiff. I still need help to take my double buckle belt off even though it has softened up significantly. A lever belt can be easier than a buckle to take off but watch for the mechanism as they can let go if they develop a fault.

You need to make sure that the belt fits properly otherwise it isn't doing anything. Horizontally it needs to be just tight enough that you can just get all four fingers of your one hand in, this is so when you inflate your gut for the lift the belt is taught and aids stability during your lift. Vertically it needs to sit just above your hips and not hit your rib cage when bending for a lift, shorter people need a smaller belt for the vertical measurement of the belt.

You should only put the belt on for work around your 1RM, over use will weaken your core. I used my belt recently to carry on pushing with my squat and deadlift totals past the point that I was getting discomfort in my lower back while I separately worked my core.