belts

[Not Quite There]

Should i be using a lifting belt now i'm beginning to lift heavy weights? (heavy for me anyhow).

I notice a lot of the older guys in the gym use them, but i'm not really feeling any probelm without one now, but am I a problem waiting to happen?

I gather there is a few school of thoughts on this, the more modern idea being the belt weakens your core muscles which can end up causing problems.

I just want some opinions really.

Cheers

In case there are threads on this already, i searched but couldn't find anything specific.

 

[iLoveCookies]

I dont really know how heavy you go or how much you weigh and how long you have been doing it, but I would suggest staying off the belt unless you are going super heavy and maybe only for squat and deadlift or maybe just maybe military press. If you need a belt to do seated curls you should be slapped with a 10 lb dumbell

 

[MetalFortress]

No belt. They should only be used if you are a powerlifter, and even then use them only on contest day, or when training yourself to lift with the best belted form.