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lifting belts

esmuva06 Posts: 57 Joined: 2003/11/10	2004/04/20, 10:53 PM whats you guys feelings on lifting belts? only for really heavy exercises....and nylon or leather... also, how tight do you pull it? just wondering what you guys thought about this.
rev8ball Posts: 3,081 Joined: 2001/12/27	2004/04/21, 01:02 AM I only used a belt for a comp, or a few weeks out. Otherwise, don't. They can be detrimental to the development of your lower back, as well as your abs. That being said, I used a leather lever belt - great invention... -------------- Michael Trample the weak; hurdle the dead! Chaos, Panic, Disorder.... Yes, my work here is done! rev8ball@freetrainers.com
mmaibohm Posts: 1,621 Joined: 2003/09/30	2004/04/21, 01:58 AM From the advice of gatormade and mutt, I stoped using my belt unless I am going super heavy on deads and squats. But someday when I go competitive Im going to get a nice inzer belt. -------------- I am that which must be feared, worshipped and adored. The world is mine now and forever.No one holds command over me. No man. No god. I am a beast and that is enough.
bigandrew Posts: 5,146 Joined: 2002/10/21	2004/04/21, 11:31 AM Wear it tight( but not to tight) for the lift, but when your just walking around or doing whatever lossing it or take it off......nylons are nice to me cause when I sweat the back of the felty material stains my shirts, so thats why I wear my built under my shirt.( I wear 2 shirts) But its just a matter of preferance......Just don't wear it just to say " I work out, look at me, I have a weight belt on" -------------- .......adversity causes some to break, but others to break records! ......minds are not vessles to be filled, but fires to be enlightened ......Confucious once said ,DO NOT play leap frog with a unicorn
TRad Posts: 94 Joined: 2004/01/03	2004/04/21, 11:41 PM I am curious about weight belts myself. Similar to straps, I don't like to use them if they only allow me to lift more weight by bypassing a muscle to do so, thus not allowing it to 'catch-up' for the exercise. For ex., I can shrug much more weight than I can grip (moreso than most because I do have a weak grip), so using the straps does not allow my forearms/grip to improve to be able to handle the weight without the straps. Similarly, a weight belt helps you lift more weight without allowing your abs/lowerback/obliques to catchup to handle the weight. Anyways, I recently just bought a belt because I've had problems with my lower back and posture. It has helped greatly. I do not attempt to lift crazy amounts of weight doing squats, but I won't do squats without it either. so there ya go...not sure what my point was. :cool:
esmuva06 Posts: 57 Joined: 2003/11/10	2004/04/22, 10:24 AM i disagree with the straps. its not only that you can't grip it, but you can't grip it for as long. i use them (but only for heavy sets where they are necessary) on weighted pullups, lat pulldowns, and most definitely shrugs. they are a great help, and my traps didnt develop nearly as well without them.
TRad Posts: 94 Joined: 2004/01/03	2004/04/22, 11:30 PM Ok, I am probably contradicting myself here...or just plain not making any sense, but I do agree with you esmuva06 regarding the straps. But because I am constantly conscious of having weak grip strength I am aware that by using the straps I'm not strenghening my grip as much as I would be with no straps and lesser weight. HOWEVER, that would mean there would be two different focuses for the exact same exercise. So...yes! Using straps for heavy sets for traps, lat pulldowns, t-bar rows, etc.. is great! Thinking similarly, my concern about wearing a weight belt is that you will be neglecting the supporting muscle groups needed to do the exercise properly. But again, two different purposes for one exercise. I hope that makes some sense. *my weight belt was absolutely amazing when doing bent-over t-bar rows the other day. Targeted the back awesome.
pimple Posts: 490 Joined: 2003/07/08	2004/04/24, 04:34 PM i don't wear them because they pinch my croch and that's not cool... -------------- :: http://www.mvhsbreakers.com ::