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Another mistake the weightlifters make is by tightening the belt to the point where you probably are strangling your core. You need to understand that tighter is not better, over or under tightening the belt can have adverse effects on your body while lifting.<br><br>
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Belt-Tightness Mistakes Another mistake the weightlifters make is by tightening the belt to the point where you probably are strangling your core. You need to understand that tighter is not better, over or under tightening the belt can have adverse effects on your body while lifting.
Over-tightening the Belt If you are wearing your belt like the ones you use to hold your pants up, stop! you are doing it all wrong! It usually happens when you tighten the belt on your waist circumference at rest and you are not breathing properly.
No Room to Breathe If you are holding your breath while putting on your belt you are likely to leave no room for yourself to breathe out. If you are not leaving enough room for your stomach to expand when you breathe out, you will not be able to brace and create tension in your core muscles.
Ignoring Bloating Bloating is normal and natural. If you do not accept the simple fact that your waist size can fluctuate in a day, you will be prone to make the mistake of wearing the belt on your usual, fixed spot. There is no constant spot!
What is the ideal belt tightness? Make sure you are wearing the belt in the right position and place it above your hip bone and around your waist. Take a deep breath and clasp the belt while your stomach is relaxed so that you have enough room to breathe properly. The belt should be tight but not too tight! A general rule of thumb is that you should be able to slide in your fingers with little effort. Make sure that your abs have enough belt space to push against during heavy lifts.
Ideal Belt Tightness for Squats When doing weighted squats, usually people prefer to wear the belt tighter. One of the reasons is whilst doing squats most people wear the belt lower on the torso towards the hip bone. If the belt is too tight at the bottom of the squat, you may lose tension and will automatically feel a lack of power.
Ideal Belt Tightness for Deadlifts When it comes to deadlifts, lifters usually prefer a looser fit in comparison to when performing squats. It is preferable to wear the belt a little higher, and closer to your waistline to avoid any unease the belt may cause.
Ideal Belt Tightness for Bench Press The upper body muscles are involved in bench presses like pectorals, arms, and shoulders. Usually, powerlifters do not wear a belt when bench pressing. However, you can still wear the belt and you can wear it pretty tight because the bench press does not involve any folding or bending of the torso.
Are you activating your abs? Let’s clear a misconception! Weightlifting belts are not only designed to support your lower back, they are also designed to help your abdominal wall, and help create intra-abdominal pressure. A lifting belt is used to increase the internal pressure in the abs. As a result, it allows you to lift heavier and for longer periods.
Are you using the right belt? There are different types of belts, designed for specific purposes like powerlifting belts, velcro belts & bodybuilding training belts. The type of material used in belts also varies according to the type of lifting they are used for. The most popular types of weightlifting belts are leather, neoprene and nylon belts.
Make sure that the belt you choose aligns with your fitness goals. If you will be powerlifting, the belt you select should be suitable for power lifting like sturdy belts. Similarly, for an Olympic weightlifter, bodybuilder, or CrossFit the weightlifting belt must serve the purpose it has been designed for.
