weight belt

to use or not, i have always use one, for all my workouts, exept when i do abs, who of u also rely on a weight belt, i would juz like to know is it really that neccecery for bbding,coz sometimes i did train without one, and i did heavy sets, the only dif was that my lower back muscles work more.
i would juz like to see what u guys think about the belt when to use it or not to use?
o and how tight sould it really be?

I have trianed without one before. I had the problem that my lower back got so stiff, that I then had difficulty with other excerizes like biceps & shoulders. I now use mine with all my training, except abs.

Ive never used one, i didn't want to for that very reason, your body gets used to it and becomes dependant on it.
Obviously for exercises which put strain on your lower back, deadlifts + squats etc then ya use one but i train by the theory that if you can't do the weight without support then rather go slightly lighter.
It will force your entire body to grow with itself..(if that makes sense)

I only use a belt when squatting heavy. Not at all otherwise, lower spinal erectors become weak using a belt. Obviously a belt has its uses, ie back probs etc but but if you have no back probs, only use it as support on heavy sets putting strain on your lower back. I do not even use it for deadlifts.

What Novice is saying is making sence. I train my lower as hard as i can, because from previous experience I have had injuries due to a week back. Just after my bike accident I do not want to take any chances.

>> Kobus,

What you are saying also underlines what I stated. In your case, a bike accident, a condition exists where a belt would def help and be desirable. I am fortunate in that i have no persisting injuries so i only use it as "preventative maintenance" on lifts that could possibly injure you if something goes wrong.

Jip, but what about wrist straps, & those kind of protection. I don't use that, because I feel that you will make your fore-arms weak. I don't know, most probably I am wrong??

maybe its juz a personal choice, coz this is what i see on all other forums, and there the guys say that even some pros use a belt for all exersises and some juz use the belt for heavy sets, i juz wanted to clear the belt use up, but looks like 50% saya this and 50% says that, o well il juz use mine the way i always did for the last 6 years.

Interesting thread, personally i dont use one even when do squats or deadlifts i just go a little lighter if i feel there is too much strain. I used to use wrist straps when i was doing heavy shrugs as my hands would slip from the bar. It is a personal choice i suppose.

With regards to using wrist straps, I have never used, in my opinion ones grip needs as much work as possible. But I also have not reached a point where my working weight on deads have been too much to hold on to. Wrist wraps have however been quite usefull when i am doing heavy DB presses.

Know its a almost cold thread but here goes. I've slipped 2 disks in my lower back about 5-6 weeks ago. Pinched the nerve that goes to my left leg to the point where I had no more reflexes in my leg.

Spoke to everyone reputable I could find on the whole belt/lower back training issue. Advice I got and that makes the most sense (to me anyway) is to start every exercise without a belt. When you however get to a weight (set 2,3.. whatever) where you start straining yourself put on the belt.

This allows the muscles in your lower back to develop but you protect them when lifting heavy.

Just a piece of info, since a law in the USA was passed that forced all employers of workmen who did lifting like furniture removals to provide them with support belts lower back injuries rocketed with 60% in the the first 6 months.

In this sport you can avoid getting hurt at some stage. So then to use something that might prevent injury will get my vote: belts, straps, wraps and all things in between.

Never used one,, most likely never will,, it's just one more thing for me to lose in the gym..

Batman wrote:

Never used one,, most likely never will,, it's just one more thing for me to lose in the gym..

Everyone knows Batman uses a utility belt - not a weight belt!!! :lol: