Weight lifting belt

[skully]

Can someone tell me the importance of weight lifiting belts, its use and for which exercises it's usually used?

Can I use it for bench press as well? or only squats?

[Boss Man]

Weight lifting Belts have no importantance except for the following reasons.

1. You are doing a 1 rep max.

2. You have a slight niggle in the Lumbar region.

If 1 or 2 occur, then you'd only need it for things like Squats, Deadlifts, Olympic lifts, Cleans and possibly Military Presses. Maybe one or two others, but I can't think of any offhand.

Using them for normal 8 rep maxes or something like that, can cause weakening of Core muscles, because you might create an artificial support mechanism, making some muscles potentially use it for stabilising them during movements, instead of others muscles that would normally be used.

Depending on what your physical conditioning is, this could cause either atrophy of certain muscles or hinderance of hypertrophy.

So realistically, avoid them, because 99% of the time you won't need one.

[skully]

i actually bought one before i posted...mainly for being told by a trainer...but then again i dont lsn to them, but it makes sense for me cuz

a) I am not always doing sqauts/deadlifts in proper form when I lift heavy

b) sometimes I shake a lot because of the weight.

I'll just be using them for deadlitfs and squats and perhaps military press if standing

[Boss Man]

They could be used for form correction, incase you risk injury from iffy technique, but generally they shouldn't need to be used except in the instances I said and if your form is good, then you shouldn't need tham at all for normal rep max circumstances.

I'd sugggest using one on select exercises until your technique is good, then stop using it. Relience may have it's negative sides as I eluded to earlier.

[lens_d]

I use a weight belt for max on squats, deads and military press have also use one for cleans. They have their place for sure but I agree you should not rely on one all the time.

sure is nice to have when you want to use one though

[Kevsworld]

I mainly use a belt for squats and deadlifts--if I'm going to be lifting at around 70 or 80% of one-rep max or higher.

The main thing is not to wear it all the time--some guys put them on as soon as they walk in the gym and wear it for everything. This will give you a weak back and core. Just wear it for heavy squats and deadlift (maybe military press).

Kevin
http://strongandfit.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[skully]

Thanks for the tips. I do intend to wear it only when I do the heavy lifts, just wanted to make sure what other exercises they're okay to use for.

[JimJam87]

I remember in junior year of high school i was squatting 3 sets of 10 at 210 without a belt...I got a good talkin to about "proper safety" while lifting from the coach. i knew i was right tho