No Belts, No Straps and No Gloves: Why I Lift Raw

I personally like to lift raw! No belt, no straps and none of those sissy little fingerless gloves.

Your belt should be made up of the muscular structure of the stomach, waist and lower back. You don't need an external thick piece of leather wrapped around you like a constricting snake. How do you expect your mid-section to become stronger if you don't allow it to be fully loaded with weight?
If you have a back injury you may need to consider using a belt. That being said you shouldn't be lifting with your back. You lift with your hips and hold a neutral lumbar spine throughout any lift.

I believe that true strength is not assisted mechanically. I also believe that it involves every body part. The flexors in your hands are apart of your physiology and therefore should be apart of your lifting. Now and then straps are fun to use because it is nice to see how much your legs and back have developed but keep most of your sessions strap free. Develop your grip.

I hate the gloves. They often alter the way you grip so they are not practical. Above all else they look idiotic! Seriously if you wear the gloves you're only short of a gimp suit! I understand that the rough texture on your hands from lifting may be unpleasant so I've wrote a little prevention strategy for you.

1. Pin your ugly lifting gloves!!
2. Grab a nail file and a tub of moisturiser.
3. Spread your fingers wide and face your palm towards you.
4. Rub the nail file over the rough patches until they have smoothed out. Don't go too deep. Just make sure that they feel flat and smooth.
5. Place moisturiser over your rough patches. Use a generous amount.
6. Wear disposable latex gloves for an hour after applying the moisturiser. This will prevent the moisturiser from drying out too quickly.

I personally like the rough patches but if you're new to lifting they could get too rough and cut open. It's always good to have a prevention strategy in place.

Did you enjoy this post? Please feel free to look through our other articles.

Dead Lifts and Back Hyper Extensions

http://icankeepup.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/dead-lifts-and-back-hyper-extensions.html

The Laws of Leg Day

 http://icankeepup.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/laws-of-leg-day.html