@myluckymop@HugS86 When lifting heavy weight, it is most technically efficient to do a valsalva maneuver in order to brace. Wearing a belt gives you an external device to brace against allowing for more tension/force/weight lifted.
@HugS86 There’s no barrier of entry for a belt, but if you’re gonna get one, reserve it for your main lifts, and not accessories. Also if you’re gonna get one make sure it’s a good one that’s either 10 or 13 mm thick.
@HugS86 Powerlifters will test all 3 during a competition, so yeah it’s fine to do it that way. I would recommend working up to a heavy single for each lift at about 80-90% of what you think your max is in the days leading up to your test day. Then after 2-3 days of rest go for it.
@HugS86 Depends. deadlifting with a rounded back is a lot less harmful than it looks, but if they are single leg squatting on a bosu ball that’s another story. In most situations you might just be providing a nocebo and making people scared of movement which you shouldn’t.
@em_kertesz I would have been less suspicious had she said “I don’t know how this came back positive” rather than having the burrito defense ready to go
@hansonsrun To play devils advocate here, if the goal is to medal in the finals, does it make sense to go full out in the earlier rounds and set yourself up for failure later? I get that you have NO shot if you don’t advance, but I think both thought camps are valid.