1. I've been told three times now by separate meat-heads that I need to be wearing a belt while I'm deadlifting. Is this true or what? I'm keeping good form and I've never hurt my back. 2. What should I be eating before a workout? I'm purely going for strength gains. It must be bollocks, but I swear to god the last few times I've had a bottle of Lucozade before a workout I've genuinely felt as if I've got more energy and been able to do more reps. Probably a placebo. Cheers.
i took weightlifting in high school and from what i understand, with a belt you focus less on your core. i suppose it helps you use your hamstrings, but i was always under the impression that dead lifts were for the back and hamstrings together, and i've never used a belt. on the other hand, i don't do very heavy lifting and it's probably very possible to pull something without a belt if you're doing serious weight.
That's exactly what I'm worried about. I can picture myself using a belt for a year or so and then as soon as I lift something reasonably heavy without one on, I'll hurt myself because I'm normally supported. I'm wondering if it could actually turn out to be detrimental to the exercise. Having said all that, the absolute last thing I want to do is injure my lower back. I've got a reasonably physical job and I'm enjoying the gym at the moment, so a back problem would **** me off.
Unless you fancy your coccyx blowing out of your ******* wear a belt. You should always wear one with deadlift to support your lower back. Obviously theres greater strain with heavier weight. As for Lucozade thats just a placebo although it does contain a small amount of carbs. I find my workouts alot better when i carb load at least an hour or more before a workout.
What sort of carbs would you recommend, mate? How would a belt stop any damage to my spine if I can still get my hand down the back of it? The belt pulls tight around my lower back but doesn't actually touch my spine at all.
Unless your trying to lift huge weights whats the point of wearing a belt, all it is doing is substituting your core muscles. Makes no sense.
Exactly. However, I would like a few opinions on this from other deadlifters. I know Jazzo, El Puma, and virus would have valuable opinions.
If you're going heavy, 1RM for example maybe, otherwise I'd say no you don't have to wear one. I've never worn a belt, never seen the need to. If you're using correct form and trying to lift a weight you are capable of lifting there shouldn't be any problems. Gotta say though belts are the most stupidly used pieces of equipment I see in the gym. People wearing a belt to do bench press, curls and pullups? WTF? atsch
ross enamait says you shouldn't wear a belt if your deadlifting because it is supposed to strengthen your back/core.
You've never even worn a belt for 1rm attempts? Cheers for the advice, it's basically what I thought.
for carbs try oats, you can find grinded oats on myprotein.co.uk or you can just buy the ones from the shop and grind it yourself.
There is no hard and fast rule here. There's a risk your lower back will be the first part of your body to give ,if you go too heavy with improper form in a standard deadlift. May I recommend that you consider training your lower back and core with exercises like Romanian deadlifts, good mornings or back extensions done without a belt. Romanian deadlift This content is protected Good morning This content is protected Back Extension This content is protected To err on the side of safety,maybe you should consider wearing a belt on the heaviest set of your normal deadlifts.
I do squats on one of my three workout sessions, so I don't just hit it with deadlifts. I'd consider adding some Romanian deadlifts in but I'd probably have to do them after my normal set of deadlifts.
At the bottom of the good morning or Romanian deadlift movements,stress is going to be placed respectively on the internal abdominal and spinor erector muscles,which are required for stabilizing your core. In the deadlift,the internal abdominals and spinor erector muscles have to be strong at the top of the movement to stabilize the core and prevent shearing stresses on the spine. So if you're got the energy,I'd cautiously suggest both the good morning and Romanian deadlift exercises . Squats without a belt are okay,BTW.