What Benefits, Risks, And Side Effects In Using Lifting Belts For Strength Training?

Thoughts On Lifting Belts? ARE THEY GOOD or BAD?

So, you want to know if lifting belts will be beneficiary for you? If they are really good or bad....

Well, belts are the single greatest piece of equipment you can buy as a powerlifter. I love to wear mine as I run errands around town so that everyone know I lift, Lol. I know the looks l'm getting are from a place of envy from the men, and adoration from the women. I bought one and wear it always, especially when doing lateral raises whilst soon in the squat rack. It helps increase test levels naturally without having to resort to steroids, creatine or whey protein. Most whey and creatine can be a slippery slope.

Excellent tool if it's used correctly, absolutely useless if the person doesn't know how to brace in the first place. Of course, proper belt usage also requires some skill work. Belts are great to help start you off. I love them. I think beginners should probably train their first year without them to teach core stability and bracing. But then, I think it is a good idea to bring them in when core stability is what starts to become your limiter.

A belt is a tool, so use them. Belt tend not to be very heavy, you can use it often. Why would supporting your back ever be bad?

Even competitive powerlifters uses belt. Beginners especially can benefit from the proprioceptive feedback that a belt gives. It allows them to receive tactile feedback when it comes to 360° inflation. Particularly in the floating ribs on the back. That's where most people fail to properly brace heir diaphragm. The belt gives that feedback they need. If someone tells you that beginners should not use belts or that they should only be used at or above a certain percentage, ignore those people. They don't know what they are talking about.

However, there are pro's and con's to it. For a beginner, what I've done in the past is have them put the belt on a bit loose so they could feel the feedback of bracing during a lift. As a more advance lifter (more advanced than a beginner...not saying I'm advanced at all beyond that), I train belt-less sometimes and with a belt sometimes for different variations. Probably 60/40 in favor of belts. If I'm going to program a cycle without a belt, I work off a PR without a belt. I believe this has been helpful, but I can never really prove it, Lol.

Recently however, I do not use them but I did try once during a squat. It's really made the squat feel easier and the lift stable. But so far, I am happy without it. I try lifting weights instead for more gains. So, go get yourself a good, bright, blingy belt. ASAP

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