Let’s talk about “gym fashion”.
No, not how most women feel the need to dress like succubi for their workouts (a topic for another day, perhaps).
Rather, we’re going to talk about belts, wraps, straps, and all the other accoutrements you don’t need.
That’s right. You almost certainly don’t need them.
More: By wearing them, chances are you’re actually increasing your risk of injury.
Here is why: Contrary to prevailing opinion, belts, wraps, straps, etc. aren’t designed to keep you safe.
They exist to help you lift more weight.
The fact most use them to cover up for all manner of ailments so they can (just about) perform lifts they have no business doing because of those ailments is neither here nor there.
It’s not what they’re for, and using them to “assist” in this way is putting you on the highway to Snap City.
Listen: If you need to, say, wear a belt to barbell squat beyond a certain weight without pain, that’s your body’s way of telling you shouldn’t be lifting that weight. (And that you probably shouldn’t be barbell squatting, either – at least until you’ve sorted out the underlying issue).
Same goes for using straps for rows and deadlifts to make up for your weak grip instead of doing the grown-up thing and using weights you can handle.
Ignore me if you like, but know you’re storing up a tonne of problems that will almost certainly cause you serious trouble in the not-too-distant future.
I’m talking surgeon tearing your joints out with a hammer and chisel then replacing them with metal serious.
Speaking of doctors, if you are struggling with pain and/or injuries, they and other appropriately qualified medical professionals are the only people qualified to help you in this arena. Not your mates down the gym, some dimfluencer on Instagram, or, indeed, me.
That’s why the only things I’ll ever say on the subject are:
- If it hurts, don’t do it.
- Don’t try to cover up that pain with devices that were designed to help high-performing athletes lift even heavier weights.
- See a doctor and follow their advice.
Alright, time to sell you something.
The Phil Tyreman Letter is my monthly printed 12-page newsletter. It’s printed on Real Paper, and there is no electronic version.
Subscribers get the newsletter, access to me via email, and some other bits and bobs that are worth a look.
It’s £100, which works out at £3.29 per day – a sum basically anyone can afford (and if they can’t, they need to get their financial house in order, pronto).
However, even if you can afford it, you still need to think carefully about subscribing.
It’s not for rank beginners or people who aren’t serious about getting into shape. So if you’re not already training with some degree of regularity, give it a miss.
More info here:
www.philtyreman.co.uk/information
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman
P.S. I meant what I said about pain and injuries. If you’re struggling with these, go and see a doctor or some other appropriately qualified medical professional like a physiotherapist.
Then, follow their advice, even if they say something you don’t want to hear.
Sounds simple enough, but it baffles me just how many people refuse point-blank to follow these two steps. Either they won’t see a doctor about their problem, or they ignore them when they advise scaling back or taking a break from training.
Fools.
Anyway, if you’re interested in The Phil Tyreman Letter and have a spare five minutes to read some information about it, you’ll find the details here: