FROM BODYBUILDING TO POWERLIFTING: YOUR GUIDE TO WEIGHTLIFTING BELTS

1
FROM BODYBUILDING TO POWERLIFTING YOUR GUIDE TO
WEIGHTLIFTING BELTS
2
(No Transcript)
3
WHAT ARE WEIGHTLIFTING BELTS?

• As the name suggests, a weightlifting belt is
  worn during weight training. The purpose of a
  weight belt is to stabilize your spine during
  heavy load lifting, primarily the squat and the
  deadlift.When the belt is wrapped around your
  waist, youll notice its snug. This is a good
  thing. When you breath in during the eccentric or
  lowering portion of an exercise, youre building
  up abdominal pressure. The belt will tighten as
  your abdomen pushes against it.

4
TYPES OF WEIGHTLIFTING BELTS

• Not all weightlifting belts are created the same.
  There are several types of belts that can be
  beneficial for you depending on your goals and
  workouts.Most of the weightlifting belts we
  discuss below are available with either one or
  two prongs, unless otherwise noted. Some have a
  lever system or Velcro.The prong refers to the
  bar that you put into the hole to lock it into
  place. Prongs are primarily a preferential thing.
  Theres no vast difference between one or two.

5
Standard Weightlifting Belts

• The traditional weightlifting belt is worn with
  the buckles in the front and the padding along
  your back. This standard belt can be used for
  most generic workouts that involve squatting and
  deadlifting.Youre getting an average amount of
  coverage along your back usually three to four
  inches and a padded front for your abdomen to
  push against.

6
Powerlifting Belts

• Unlike the classic weight belt, powerlifting
  belts are specifically designed to handle the
  punishment of a powerlifters training
  schedule.When you upgrade from a traditional
  belt to a powerlifters belt, youll immediately
  notice the substantial difference in thickness.

7
Shred Belts

• A shred belt does not offer any type of support
  during weightlifting workouts, but its worth
  mentioning because it is a valuable piece
  of fitness equipment.The shred in shred
  belt refers to the thermogenic properties of the
  material. When you wear a thermogenic belt, you
  are safely increasing the temperature of the
  covered muscle tissue. This is done with the
  intention to increase blood flow, nutrient
  uptake, and fat burning.

8
Dip Belts

• Another popular type of weightlifting belt,
  the dip belt is designed to hold weight plates
  during dips and pull-ups. Its not going to give
  you any type of support or improve your
  performance.With that said, its definitely a
  belt you should have in your collection. Adding
  weight to your dips and pull-ups is just as
  important as increasing the overall number you
  perform.

9
Back Brace
10

• The back brace is ideal for anyone with lower
  back pain. It provides lumbar support to help
  alleviate any soreness or pain in the lower
  back.It should be noted that the type of
  support you get from a back brace is not relevant
  to a weightlifting workout. You would never want
  to wear this while performing a squat.

11
WEIGHTLIFTING BELTS VS. SHRED BELTS

• As we discussed above, a shred belt doesnt offer
  the same type of support for your workouts. In
  fact, it offers no biomechanical support at all.
  Instead, it helps you achieve your goals of
  getting shredded or achieving a leaner
  physique.A waist trimmer belt should never be
  used during a squat or deadlift, for example.
  Instead, youll want to wear this belt during
  your warm-up to prep the core for the workout
  that follows.

12
WEIGHTLIFTING BELTS VS. DIP BELTS

• Just like shred belts, a dip belt doesnt provide
  any actual biomechanical support. Instead, it
  acts as a way to anchor weight plates to yourself
  for exercises that dont lend themselves to
  holding additional weight.For example, the
  triceps dip. Sure, you can perform the exercise
  on the dip bars but the only thing youll be able
  to increase is the number of repetitions your
  complete. If you want to switch up the challenge,
  you can use a dip belt to focus on strength, not
  numbers.