Wearing a belt during workout....

[kawikaratekid]

I seen an interview with Ronnie talking about tightening up his waist. He said one of the recommendations that Weider made was wearing a weight belt during the entire workout and not just for exercises that stress the lower back. I just got this months MD and noticed that a majority of the guys are wearing a weight belt for all their exercises. Do any of you wear a weight belt the entire time?

[tiramisu]

That doesn't make sense in so many ways I'm not sure how to begin to reply.

Give these posts a read.
http://70sbig.com/?m=20091203
http://70sbig.com/?m=20091204

[kawikaratekid]

It doesn't but it worked. Ronnie's stomach looked the best it had in years...It just makes me wonder though because a lot of the other guys stomachs have been tightening up also.

[kawikaratekid]

Check this out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4ml9ogFO-g

[tiramisu]

Reducing GH & Insulin precontest, posing practice to suck the gut in. It isn't the belt.

I have the great displeasure of having to listen to a young fellow in the gym wandering around telling people they shouldn't do deadlifts because it will give them a thick waist.

This same fellow is all front and no back yet thinks he's a competitive bodybuilder. A very significant part of waist thickness is genetic. In the last few years ninja turtle belly has been a real problem and this is caused by a combination of massive use of gh, insulin, aas and food.

[kawikaratekid]

The drugs and the food will definitely be part of the issue. If Ronnie is going on the record without promoting any weight belt company or anything you would have to think that it worked for him though. Along with the other modifications that he made.

[tiramisu]

What you won't hear ronnie say is that he modified his drug regime to help control his gut. That doesn't mean that that isn't exactly what he did.

[519Muscle]

The way i see it is if u wear a belt every workout u will get use to sticking out ur gut because u relay on the belt to hold in ur belly there for u have a better chance on getting a extended gut. I only use my belt on necessary sets such as heavy squats and dl's.

[tex]

after several lower back injuries i am a HUGE fan of wearing belts for heavy lifting (we're not talking about accessory work here....compound moves only)

[monkey]

My former teacher ( 56 year old dude) lifting weights since 40 years, powerlifter most of his life ( natural) and sitll at his age 5% bF at 190 ( hes short) .Deadlifted 540 at the age of 53 ( Ive seen it) He is a massive guy bla bla bla .. lets just say, he does have the credentials for me to listen.

Bottom line: He stated that wearing a belt strengthens core if used right. Pushing against it is the key. He even refered to reasearch stating that powerlifters using belts had a higher average core muscularity then the other group.

Take out it what you want. I dont wear a belt and the theory does not really make sense.. but i am no powerlifter either

[ubcpower]

on back/leg days i never take my belt off, its a hastle to put it on and off every set and tuck your shirt in ...etc.
on the rest of the days i dont wear one. i wonder at times though if its cutting off my breath and not allowing me to get full air intake in between my sets

[Gemini]

Bottom line: He stated that wearing a belt strengthens core if used right. Pushing against it is the key. He even refered to reasearch stating that powerlifters using belts had a higher average core muscularity then the other group.


Sounds like a bunch of bs to me. How can you prove that powerlifters using belts have a higher average core muscularity. I would tend to think it's the opposite, I mean the belt supports your back without really soliciting muscle power from it. I mean sure if you use a belt during extremely heavy lifting like squats you'll be probably able to do use more weight hence improving your quad muscles. On the downside, since you won't be soliciting the muscle groups from you back since the belt is meant to support it, you might even have a lower core muscularity than the guy who doesn't use a belt. That is of course if you always use the belt. Using the belt once in a while to improve your performance in squats would be useful on the other hand.
Just my two cents, I had a tendonitis in my left wrist. Pretty sure it was caused by my excessive use of wrist wrap gloves for a year or so. Never used gloves since and the pain in my wrist was never felt again, also I can say that my forearms/wrists are stronger than ever.

[Gemini]

Here found an article that pretty much says what I said, just with more scientific terms:


"Constantly wearing a belt can also cause decreased strength development in abdominal muscles. Electromyographic research has found that there are lower levels of muscle activity in abdominal muscles when a belt is worn while lifting. The muscles that would normally keep the abdomen stabilized are inhibited when a belt is used, which could result in weaker abdominal muscles in the long run.

Strong abdominal muscles are important in maintaining trunk stability in the absence of a support belt. Studies have shown that substantial IAP can be achieved by simply holding oneUs breath while lifting. It is also important not to be too dependent on belts while training as they may not be admissible during competition." - Elizabeth Quinn, Sports Medicine Guide

[tiramisu]

Too many people with an opinion who don't actually use or own a belt.

Once you've used a powerlifting belt for heavy singles and doulbes squats you will understand.

[natenator]

Too many people with an opinion who don't actually use or own a belt.

Once you've used a powerlifting belt for heavy singles and doulbes squats you will understand.
Word. These are not the most comfortable things in the world and can't imagine wearing it for any longer than absolutely necessary!

[Gilmour]

What you won't hear ronnie say is that he modified his drug regime to help control his gut. That doesn't mean that that isn't exactly what he did.
Yup. The old tightens the waist claim is complete bullshit, like the claim that pros make which is that eating often causes distention of the abdomen. Arnold and those guys ate just as much and had 28 inch waists that did protrude. Pros are all bullshit artists.

[natenator]

Yup. The old tightens the waist claim is complete bullshit, like the claim that pros make which is that eating often causes distention of the abdomen. Arnold and those guys ate just as much and had 28 inch waists that did protrude. Pros are all bullshit artists.
they didn't eat the massive quantities that today's pro's do tho...

[Gilmour]

they didn't eat the massive quantities that today's pro's do tho...
Sure they did.

[GYMBRAT]

Too many people with an opinion who don't actually use or own a belt.

Once you've used a powerlifting belt for heavy singles and doulbes squats you will understand.

x2, I wear one for my heaviest sets on compound exercises everytime. Always have used straps etc., to get the full movement/contraction of each rep.

[L3]

i wonder at times though if its cutting off my breath and not allowing me to get full air intake in between my sets

this is why when i squat with a belt i take on and off before every set... but i think it has to do with filling your chest with air instead of your stomach, i remember reading something about posing and breathing practice, or something liek that...