Rite of Passage -- my first belt

[Fluidic Kimbo]

I've been lifting for 13 years but I only bought my first weightlifting belt today. I'm drilling holes in it right now. Almost feels like a right of passage to get one at long last, I've always used the one at the gym.

[The Deadlifting Dog]

Why do you need to drill holes?
Did you buy the right size?

[Fluidic Kimbo]

Why do you need to drill holes?
Did you buy the right size?

^^This is this smallest belt they had, plus it was half price so I snapped it up. It's actually a very good belt, it's thick stiff leather.

My waist size at the moment is somewhere between the 2nd and 4th hole so that's why I drilled a few more holes between them so I can have it as tight as I want it.

[Fluidic Kimbo]

I had a good PL belt 20+ years ago that attached with velcro, so there was none of this in between size business. But, about 15 years ago, I opted to stop using a belt entirely. That said, I actually bought a new one a month ago thinking I would give them a shot again. Tried using it and it felt odd and uncomfortable. I probably just need to remember how to use one properly, but I also find that it isn't particularly useful with my current goals, so probably will not end up using it anyhow.

But if you use a belt, doesn't it greatly reduce the chance of you slipping a disk (or any kind of spinal injury)?

[Gallowmere]

I dont think so, at least not for me. They do provide more bracing (ie give you more to push against). I read a few studies that suggested that over use of a belt could lead to weaker core muscles, not stronger. At that point I decided to focus on form and by and large abandon use of belts.

Its my experience that belts when properly utilized DO enable you to lift a bit more, but that is at near maximum effort. That does depend on the lift, of course. Deadlift, yep. Squat, check. Tricep kickbacks, nope.

This is all of course just one man's opinion and is worth exactly what it cost you.

It’s actually the opposite. When properly utilized, belts result in higher (not lower) activation of erectors and obliques. It makes sense when you think about it. When a joint is interpreted by the brain as being unstable, it drastically lowers power output to that joint and its peripherals in an attempt to prevent injury. This tends to happen exponentially more so for the spine than any individual joints, which again, makes perfect biological sense.
By bracing against the belt, you are creating a stability that isn’t possible without it (you literally cannot create that pressure without something to push against) and allowing for the brain to stop being a little bitch and actually turn everything on (or as much as your particular neurology will allow).

[Gallowmere]

I think the key in the studies I read was the 'over use' of belts, not the proper use. I vaguely recall form being a factor as well - some people had a tendency to let their form slip because they were 'wearing a belt' and thus thought they were super human.

Mind you, the study may have been from the 80s or 90s and I read it many moons ago, so I have slept since then.

I also think this is one of those cyclical topics. Like 'always wear a belt' then months later 'NEVER wear a belt' then 'well, you should wear a belt sometimes' and back to the beginning.

All that said, when you look at strong man competitions, everybody is wearing a belt. Same thing with power lifting. Clearly they bring benefit, though just like any piece of equipment, you have to be familiar with its proper usage.

Absolutely. Anything can be misused. Hell, even the core of almost everything that we do (the barbell) can be hilariously misused, and that damned thing is about as simple and purpose built as one could ask for.
What I always found odd about the whole thing (and the reason that I dug in deeper into the modern literature), is that, as you mentioned, Strongman and Powerlifting utilize belts heavily in both training and competition. I have yet to see a successful one at either who had anything even remotely resembling a “weak core”, so clearly the belt wasn’t a detriment to the development of the central musculature.
Shit, most of those guys are shaped like refrigerators (as am I), even when stupid lean. The old assumptions just never made any real world sense. Fortunately, modern equipment and testing methodologies have gone a long way in debunking said old assumptions.

[Fluidic Kimbo]

I start my workout without a belt. As I increase the weight, I put on a belt when I get to about half of my personal best. Then I do my heavier lifts with the belt on.

[XnavyHMCS]

I start my workout without a belt. As I increase the weight, I put on a belt when I get to about half of my personal best. Then I do my heavier lifts with the belt on.

That sounds about right. From my days as a competitive powerlifter, sounds to me like you are correctly utilizing the belt.

Congrats on "graduating" to the big leagues!!!

Deadlifting Dog, here is a saying you should know:

"May all your lifts be light, and all your lights be white."

[Gallowmere]

Man, ain't that the damn truth? I would be willing to be THAT is the root of 95% of all the weight lifting injuries, not using a belt or not, not chalk vs straps... just simple "dur, I don't know what to do with this barbell thing. do i jerk it around at odd angles?"

I remember seeing a couple of dudes doing deadlifts with a jump at the top. To me, that's basically saying 'I want an injury' but I figured to each his own, let that sort itself out.

Master the barbell. Everything else can come later.

Almost sounds like they were trying to do a halfassed Power Clean, not understanding the explosion mechanics with the hips.
Most of the time when I see people get hurt (especially in CF types of training), it’s less because “it was too heavy” and more because “I have absolutely no fucking clue how to absorb force”. Yes, the barbell is purpose built and friendly, but when loaded and essentially dropped on your body, it’s the equivalent of being hit by a high school linebacker. That ass better know how to take that hit, or something is gonna get fucked up.