pintoca said:
Is there a "rule of thumb" for deciding when it might be a good idea to get a lifting belt?
I'm by no means a heavy lifter, currently doing 250lbs (5x5) in both squats (full squats) and deadlifts...However, my back is bothering me a bit... I'm sure form is in check, so i was wondering if there any "wives tales" rule.
Something along the line of ... "if you deadlift your BW you should be getting one of those belts, before you don't really need it"... or is it only common sense and I should simply go and buy it?
Your back is hurting you and you believe that the next logical solution outside of the exercise performance would be a belt. Sounds like it could be, but to be honest, there are many other things that it could also be:
Are you stretching down properly after EVERY workout with developmental stretches?
Have you made good gains on the 5x5 in terms of added strength, poundage and mass - it may be the time for a one or two week break in the cycle? (you'll really grow when you come back!)
Are you using poor form on another exercise that causes your core to be overtrained?
(or a combination of the above)
I trained with a belt after about the first year of training - when I just felt like I was ready. About the same time that I started using supplements, reading M&F and frequenting the local gyms so I could use their 'advanced machines' as well as the rusty free weights at my garage.
I would have to say that the advice in M&F was highly subjective and only 'correct' about half the time. Most of the supplements were overpriced and probably hardly worked (vanadium - advertised by Dave Fisher, anyone?) And of course, I would have been much better off sticking to my basic freeweight moves in my excellent home gym - which I didn't appreciate.
Which leaves the belt, if I had never been told about the use of weight belts, I doubt that I would ever have thought to use one. I wore a belt for 10 years after that, and it made me feel safer when using the heavier weights, which encouraged me to pile the weight on. I used a leather notched Valeo belt, and later replaced it with a Nike, velco belt (like Dorian used!)
About a year ago, I forgot my belt on a leg day and thought the new dude I was training with would have one to lend to me during our squat sets. He didn't! He was a few inches taller than me (6'2") and had never used a belt. That day he and I worked up to 180kg (400lb) full squats and my back never hurt me once. He even noted that my form was better! The whole workout I kept thinking, "my back is gonna burst open", but it never felt bad once!
After that I tried everything without a belt, and I loved it! Deadlifts (which I thought would be a KILLER) overhead presses, everything felt more comfortable and more natural.
My advice would be to; check all of the above alternative solutions, by upping your stretching and taking some recovery time out, and checking form on ALL exercises. Then try using a belt for a few weeks and see how that feels. If it helps you (as it seems most people recomend a belt) then good. Otherwise, come back and we will see what the hell is wrong with your back!