I notice a lot of the guys at the gym pushing serious weight wear belts and knee sleeves when they train. I’m still not one of those guys yet but my lifts are starting to get tougher on my body so I’d like to do whatever I can to help avoid potential injury.
Anyhow here are some relevant stats. I train with the classic 5×5. I’m about 6 feet tall and weigh 180. Even though I’m 180 most people would say I look very lean/ scrawny.
Squat : 285 lbs for 5×5
Deadlift : 335 lbs for 1×5
OHP : 120 lbs for 5×5 (not sure if I should use a belt for this even if I bought one)
I’ve always prioritized great form over heavier weight. When I lift I always feel like the hardest part is making sure my back stays straight. I always make sure to focus on breathing, and maintaining proper tension throughout all my reps. When I squat or deadlift my back always starts to get fatigued before my legs do. Would a belt help? Should I wait until I’m stronger without it before I start using one?
I’m only interested in getting stronger and staying healthy. I’m not interested in actually lifting heavier numbers since I’m not a competetive powerlifter or an ego lifter. So if I am able to lift more I want the reason for it to be that I’m stronger and not that I used special equipment. Dont think I’d ever be interested in squat shoes or knee wraps.