Rather, you want a torso that’s hard and rigid like a telephone pole. When you’ve got 350 pounds on your shoulders for a squat, you don’t want a torso that’s sponge-like - it would just collapse. This flexibility is what allows you to bend side to side or forwards and backwards and twist with ease.īut this sponge-like pliability comes at a cost to strength. In everyday conditions, your torso, or “core,” is sponge-like: soft and flexible. Consequently, many guys see weightlifting belts as a crutch - “cheating” or “wussy” or “insert your favorite insult here.”Īnother assumption is that a weightlifting belt acts as a brace on your lower back, protecting it and preventing the rupturing of a disc.Īs to the first idea: no, weightlifting belts will not magically allow you to lift more weight.Īs to the second: weightlifting belts do help so that you don’t injure yourself while lifting heavy weight, but it’s not the belt itself that provides the bracing.īefore we get to that answer, we need to take a step back and understand proper body mechanics when you’re squatting, deadlifting, or pressing heavy weight. What do weightlifting belts actually do?Ī common assumption about weightlifting belts is that they act as an external support to help you lift heavier weight than you could through your natural strength alone.
#WEIGHT LIFING BELTS HOW TO#
The short answer is this: yes, at a certain point in your barbell training you should start wearing a belt.įor the longer answer, I talked to Matt Reynolds, my barbell coach and head of the Barbell Logic Online Coaching, to give us the ins and outs of when, why, and how to wear a weightlifting belt. If you’ve begun the righteous path of seeking gainz via barbell training, you may be wondering: “Do I need to wear a belt when I lift?”
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