Strength / Weight Training

You said using a belt increases your output by 25%, so the belt has a direct affect.

That's not quite what I wrote, or intended to portray.

"Well I can press 25% more with a belt, compared to the point where the weight makes me mentally think twice"

Having hurt my back countless times since childhood. Usually sneezing or putting on my socks, I'm possibly over protective of it over 40kg.
Having previously done some of the remedial massage therapy work and then starting me into strength training, it was my coach that recommended putting on a belt for heavier presses (which have been up to 52kg). Speaking with him tonight, he couldn't understand why you would rather not wear one.

The muscles that the belt is compensating for won’t be getting stronger.

Its a 3 or 4" belt, hardly a magical exo skeleton that let's your core do cock all. Your whole kinetic chain is still supporting the load and a heavier load requires more overall muscle power to stabilise and lift.

In the earlier Art of manliness video, Ripp has Brett put on a belt for the Press. Make of that what you will.

Tonights session.
Bench 3x5 @66kg pb
Deadlift warmup to 110kg beltless
1@120 then 5@126kg pb

120 - 150 secs usually, depending on how hard it is. Still getting used to spending more time doing nothing than doing something.

@jdp I got quite into stronglifts last year and I gradually pared it back as my legs were constantly ruined from squatting a million times a week. Restarting this year, with my own take on it:
2 sessions per week
session 1: deadlift and benchpress
session 2: squats and barbell row OR overhead press
5x3
I'm being more cautious with the weight increases and am generally expecting to see slower progress but I'm more interested in getting to a good and sustainable level of full body strength then getting massively strong. Hope that makes sense and is helpful. Not an expert.

I’m having a bad week understanding things.
Why not cut the rest period? 90 secs perhaps.
With Stronglifts as the weight gets heavy (for me), I need the 3 min rest between sets.

With Stronglifts as the weight gets heavy (for me), I need the 3 min rest between sets.

You answered your own question!

For what it is worth I'm with the logic of @dbadger but can see the logic of using the belt. putting it in perspective tho I'd say its marginal so not worth worrying about.

on another note, DL 126kg = strong back. what is that? 1.75 your body weight? you should feel confidence in your back (but do what you discuss with your coach obvs).

It’s been a stressful week! 😁

I have found that as the weights get heavy, the warm up takes a while too. When the squat gets to 100 kg, it takes ages. I do it in my garage and I have to mess about with plates a bit too. All the seconds add up.
I do think it is worth it though.
Mike Matthews’ program should take less time as I think it is designed to take 60 mins at most but I haven’t tried it. Hard to judge until you try it.

The belt isn't compensating for muscle strength ffs... It's used to push against and create internal pressure! The muscles are working very hard... You're not resting your gut on it! Sheesh...

Deadlift warmup to 110kg beltless

;)

I'm just playing devils advocate, while I still stand by my initial remark that beginners shouldn't learn an exercise with a belt, there are obvious benefits to using a belt otherwise

Most people just want to be able to lift heavier on particular exercises so it's doesn't concern them if their core or grip strength is not so good

You should be able to create your own internal pressure effectively by engaging your core

Unless of course, your core is not strong enough to support the primary muscle group in use

Thanks, that does help. I'm aiming for the same strength goals as you so I'll give it a go.

@TGR I do have the app and it hasn't dropped the weights automatically as yet over longer periods so that'll help thanks.

on another note, DL 126kg = strong back. what is that? 1.75 your body weight? you should feel confidence in your back (but do what you discuss with your coach obvs).

Thanks. 126 was 1.7x bodyweight. Grip strength is becoming an issue with double overhand, so it's time to try reverse grip... Hopefully that's workable because hook grip is like slamming your thumb in a door 😳

I'm certainly a lot more confident with my back, but Quadratus Lumborum still stays on way too much. Just not painful spasms so much now 😀

I’ve stuck with the app. If it says drop the weight, I drop it. It’s a long term process so I expect hiccups along the way and dropping the weight due to injury or other family/ life reasons is just part of it. Annoying as it is, it makes sense and since it happens once you know to live with it.

Hook grip is your friend. Bite the bullet and get on with it. It works.

Tried hook grip again for Deadlift 😥
Survived the warmups to 90kg but its still bloody awful. Didn't fancy trying 3x5@ 107 with it, but reverse grip may be workable.

As with everything, you need to persist with it. I use it and now have to think twice when not using it as it is my default. Someone else here had success with it too.
Each to their own, whatever works for you works for you!

I know comfort and enjoyment aren't prerequisites for barbel training, but hook grip is going to take a bit of adapting to. The bar knurling is a bit savage, so some tape may help.

Thumbs are still aching.

I got used to it. Thumbs were sore and raw for a while.

Don’t forget to chalk up for hook grip. Without chalk I struggle to hold on to 160kg on commercial bars (I actually find double overhand stronger) but with chalk I think it’s essentially limitless. Your thumbs definitely get used to it after a couple of weeks.

Mixed grip is fine, especially if you find it more comfortable, just be aware that it will build assymetry to one degree or another. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with that, but it might exacerbate into an issue down the line. Maybe.

Still going to easygym? Is it any good? Anywhere to leave a bike? (streetview showed nothing outside to lock to). Presume being in town it's busy as fuck?

I don't like bench pressing. Should I continue to just focus on the DL, squat, OHP, rows and pull ups or do i need to consider doing something else as a substitute?

You’ll be fine. Could always double up on overhead work if you want to maintain pressing frequency/volume. I wouldn’t stress about it too much.

Early morning this morning, rowing to warm me up followed by some difficult overhead press.

Any tips for making that easier? It honestly feels like my back isn't straight at all when I'm doing it...

Sounds like you may need to drop the weight and focus on a more controlled movement

It's only the OHP I struggle on, everything else I'm grand.