Hail to the Dinosaurs!
A quick announcement and then we'll
talk training.
My second interview on Eric Fiorillo's
Motivation and Muscle Podcast Show
is right here -- and it's a good one:
http://www.fiorillobarbellco.com/category/podcast/
Eric is a longtime Dino and is working
very hard to build his podcast show --
so run on over and check it out. And
hit the like buttons, leave comments,
and share the heck out of the thing.
Make it go viral.
And now, on the training front . . .
I've been getting lots of questions about
lifting belts lately.
Do I need one?
When should I wear one?
What kind is best?
What color is best?
(COLOR? Since when did I become a
fashion consultant? This is Dinosaur Training,
not GQ! The best color is the one that lets
you lift the most weight!)
Will my toes fall off and my ears turn green
if I lift heavy without a belt?
If I use a belt, will my core muscles grow so
weak and frail that I'll need to rehab them
with a Crunch-O-Matic machine?
So here are some thoughts.
Beginners don't need lifting belts. Wait
until you're an intermediate before you
even think about them.
Once you are an intermediate, you can use
a belt -- or not -- as you prefer.
If you use a belt, only use it on your heavier
exercises -- and not on the warmup sets.
Do NOT suck in your gut and cinch the belt
as tight as possible. That's not how to use
it. It's a lifting belt, not a corset.
TIGHTEN the stomach muscles -- including
the obliques -- and the back -- and then
pull the belt tight.
The idea is to be pushing against the belt
in all directions. This is what provides the
support.
If you are doing powerlifting or strongman
training, a powerlifting belt is best. These
are thick, double-ply, two-prong monsters.
For Olympic lifting (or for power cleans, power
snatches, high pulls, etc.) you'll need a thinner
belt. Leather belts are fine. So are the Valeo
velcro fastening belts.
Do core training -- a/k/a gut work -- regardless
of whether you use or do not use a lifting
belt.
If you have an injury -- or a ding or dent --
fix it. Do not try to train through an injury
by wearing a belt. It's a training tool, not a
medical device.
Finally, do not ever hang your belt near a
Smith machine. Lifting belts are allergic to
them.
Hope that helps with the questions. Now it's
time to get back to work on the new diet and
nutrition book -- which should be ready to
launch with a pre-publication special in about
the middle of September!
As always, thanks for reading and have a great
day. If you train today, make it a good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. We just got a big shipment of Gray Hair and
Black Iron from our printer -- so if you've been
thinking about grabbing a copy of the little
monster, now would be an excellent time to
do it:
http://www.brookskubik.com/grayhair_blackiron.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are right
here:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Keep it simple, and
if possible, keep it even simpler than that."
Brooks Kubik
