How tight should a weightlifting belt be?
A weightlifting belt should be snug against the weight allowing for a complete range of motion (i.e. bending at the waist) while securing the core.
This can take a bit of time to work out, but it’s essential to make sure the weightlifting belt works as required.
A lot of people don’t do this and assume just wrapping it as tightly as possible is the way to go! This is dangerous and will become increasingly uncomfortable too!
This guide will take a look at answering the question, “How tight should a weightlifting belt be?” while also shedding light on how to use a weightlifting belt the right way.
Tips On How to Use a Weightlifting Belt Safely
Tip #1: Wear the Belt Relaxed
A common mistake that’s made involves not wearing your weightlifting belt properly.
This means you clench, hold your breath in, and then put on the belt. This is not the right way to do things because it will become uncomfortable as soon as you let your breath out.
So, what do you do then?
You will want to ask, “How tight should a weightlifting belt be?” while also focusing on your breathing.
In this case, you are going to let your breath out and then tighten the belt. It should be snug without tightening or clenching your core.
Anything other than this is going to lead to inefficient results and are not in line with what you want.
Tip #2: Test By Bending at the Hip
Let’s assume you are putting on a weightlifting belt and want to do things the right way.
It’s best to start by putting on the weightlifting belt safely and bending at the hip. This means touching your toes without bending at the knees. This is going to test how effective the weightlifting belt and whether or not it’s going to be comfortable when it’s time to lift weights.
If it is too tight, you are not going to be able to touch your feet at all! It’s going to hurt too much along your abdomen and hips.
When that happens, it’s time to figure out “How tight should a weightlifting belt be?” by reducing the waist as much as possible.
You want it to be snug, but not to the point you can’t touch your toes!
Tip #3: Start with Light Weights
Just like touching your toes, it’s also important to start with light weights.
In most cases, you should just grab 30% of your target weight and go from there. The goal is to see whether or not your range of motion is impacted by the weightlifting belt.
If you go straight into a heavy lift using your weightlifting belt, it’s possible to pull something and/or drop the weight. This is why testing things is the way to go and will keep you safe throughout the movement, especially as you crank things up a notch later on.
It’s too easy to assume you’ll be fine, but the weightlifting belt is something a person has to adjust to over time.
Don’t rush the process and assume it will be okay!
If you are asking “How tight should a weightlifting belt be?” it’s always important to think about whether or not it works with your required movement.
Tip #4: Learn the Breathe Properly
Are you breathing properly when using a weightlifting belt?
A person that is wearing a weightlifting belt should only clench when they are lifting the weight. This is going to help you lock the core in and create that “secure” core that will reduce load on your back and midsection.
You want the target muscle to be the focus whether you are squatting or deadlifting.
It’s these subtle details that go a long way in making sure the weightlifting belt actually works the way you want it to!
If you are asking “How tight should a weightlifting belt be?” you want to think about your breathing too. It’s a must!
To breathe the right way, just learn to time when you clench your abs with the belt on. This is going to have to be done using light weights at first, so you get a feel for things.
Over time, you are going to do it naturally and it will become second-nature to you whether you’re wearing a weightlifting belt or not!
Final Thoughts
“How tight should a weightlifting belt be?”
It is always going to depend on the person, so suggesting a single setting is not the right way to go with something like this.
Instead, it’s important to go through a set of steps as listed in this guide on wearing a weightlifting belt the right way.
If you follow what has been written here, you are going to be more than okay with the results that come in over time.
Stay patient, adjust the weightlifting belt, and learn more about what works for your needs. This is the only way a person can go when asking questions such as “How tight should a weightlifting belt be?”
Here are more articles on weightlifting – good handwraps for weightlifting, quality bumper plates for weightlifting, how to do weighted dips with weightlifting belt, and top toning belt for fat loss.
