Will a normal belt work as a weightlifting belt?

[CaptainJ]

Curious to know will a normal 1 inch leather belt give similar, if not the same benefits as a weightlifting belt? Only a 3 inch belt would be able to fit my short torso anyway, so should i opt for the cheap option?

 

[kingsam]

seeing that normal belts are designed to keep ur trousers up not to keep you in proper form lifting...probably not...

dude just buy a real wightlifitng belt, dont be cheap, they cant cost that much...

 

[CaptainJ]

No, it won't work. Regular belts are too thin and designed to go lower on your torso. Plus you probably wouldn't be able to get it tight enough.

Are you sure a 4" won't fit? I got this belt: http://www.inzernet.com/detail_econobelt.asp?PRODUCT_ID=ECON_POWER_BELT It works great and it was only $40 + shipping.

4 inches is definitely too big, as I measure 2.8 inches from hip bone to bottom of rib cage and I read in a 70sbig article that if the belt goes onto the bottom of the ribcage, then you could be in for an injury.

I've made extra holes in the belt, so that it fits nice and tight around the torso. Surely it will provide some kind of support? Is it a good cheap alternative solution until I can find the right belt for me?

 

[Colossus]

4" is not too big, you just cant wear it too high. Guys are squatting 800-1000 lbs with 4", 13mm belts and doing just fine. I use the same for all my big pulls and squats.

Remember the purpose of a belt is to give you something to 'push' against instead of the weaker muscles of your abdominal wall. It increases intra-abdominal pressure and prevents herniations and strains.

A clothing belt will not work. Ever. If you are asking that you probably arent even strong enough to need a belt. No offense.

 

[CaptainJ]

4" is not too big, you just cant wear it too high. Guys are squatting 800-1000 lbs with 4", 13mm belts and doing just fine. I use the same for all my big pulls and squats.

Remember the purpose of a belt is to give you something to 'push' against instead of the weaker muscles of your abdominal wall. It increases intra-abdominal pressure and prevents herniations and strains.

A clothing belt will not work. Ever. If you are asking that you probably arent even strong enough to need a belt. No offense.

None taken. You say the a clothing belt would not work? What does this mean? you mean that it will provide no support whatsoever? Because I would have thought that different size belts provide different degrees of support, not just "it works" or "it doesn't work". I'm not trying to defend a clothing belt, I just want clarification as to if it will provide any support whatsoever. Yes I'm not strong enough to NEED a belt, but i've read articles that belts do nothing but good, both for getting stronger and staying injury free.

 

[cffrmw]

I would recommend NOT using a belt until you get close to the point that you will need one. Not using a belt lets you use more stabilizer muscles and will strengthen them as well. A belt is only used to prevent injuries. PLUS, if you start without a belt you should be able to feel it when you aren't using correct form, which will hopefully lead you to doing the exercise right in the first place, so that when you do start using a belt you don't hurt yourself from bad form.

 

[Quagmire911]

http://www.youtube.com/user/konstantinovs?blend=1&ob=4

Just sayin'

 

[mikeyb]

No, a regular belt won't work! Not that you'd be the first to try though.

 

[Jitterbug]

That guy deadlifted raw 350kg + 90kg from the bands with no belt, no wraps, just chalk.

 

[Quagmire911]

http://www.youtube.com/user/konstantinovs?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/10/wh-ikyBAQr8

 

[CaptainJ]

I think they are trying to say that you shouldn't bother with weightlifting belts. Which is ironic because Konstantinov trains with belts, in fact he probably wouldn't be as strong as he is without belt training.

Also a comparison to a professional genetic beast like Konstantinov will always fall on its face.

 

[waynejohn]

I don't understand why the issue of belts is complicated.

1) Belts are not needed to prevent injury
2) Belts increase the pressure in the trunk thus stabilizing the body and helping strengthen the core, abs, and back
3) Wearing belts over time helps improve strength a bit better than wearing no belt during that same period of training
4) Get a real belt when you have access, have the money, and can find the one in the shade of pink that you prefer.

 

[falcon814]

go to Bodybuilding.com they have lifting belts starting at 19.99