Lifting supports

WOW!!

We have actually had some great posts!

Here is the Question:  When to use belts, straps, or anything else?  This past off-season, I have used no support equipment.  Now things are getting much heavier...so do you just use nothing until your deads/squats start at 500lbs?  The issue here is I am looking to start using my belt again, but wonder about the gain or loss in doing so.  With a belt everything goes up.....but do I now neglect my core strength??  With no support = gains will be slower based on the ability for my core to catch up. What to do......

I see the coverstaion as this,"Hey Dad, can you pick up my wagon and lift it over the fence?"

"One second, let me get on my knee wraps, weight belt, straps....oh, and get Dad the ammonia capsules and chalk from the house."

Luv Skinny.

 

train the core

I would say that the core is important during your throwing, I took some time off of deads and squats to mend the lower back, during that time all I did was Push Press, Bench, farmers walk (175 imps) and tons of core work... after about a month of that I started squatting again and my squat has increased dramatically.....no belts, a friend of mine that competes in strongman told me not to use a belt unless you are going for a max.........will this pay off in the highland games we shall see in MAY

Kevin - great meeting you in Chicago - all my previous athletic life, I was taught to use a belt - we had our own custom jobs that we carried around like a badge of honor "Look at ME-I"M a REAL lifter"....then I retired from the Iron life for 5 years...when I discovered this goofy sport , I forgot to put on a belt and have never looked back -do you toss w/ a belt? My vote is to drop it and get stronger in the core- "core" - what a funny new hip word - we used to call it "gut work"...but, I don't dead 640 like some guys so do what makes YOU comfortable.