What kind of weight lifting gear do you need to build muscle? Weight lifting gear can help you to lift heavier weights and make things just that bit easier in the gym. So let’s look at the weight lifting gear that’s absolutely necessary first, and then we can look at the gear that serious bodybuilders need.
Gym Clothes That Are Comfortable
It’s amazing that some people turn up at the gym wearing jeans with a belt and steel capped boots. It’s important to wear loose fitting clothes that are comfortable and that you can move freely in.
A Gym Bag
If you’re going to work out at the gym during your lunch break, then a gym bag is essential. Working out properly means breaking a sweat and it also means you’re going to have to shower and change at the gym before you go back to work. Otherwise, your work colleagues may comment on the way you smell, which could be embarrassing! If you work out in your lunch break and don’t take a gym bag with you, then you won’t want to break a sweat and risk stinking for the rest of the day. And if you’re not going to do your workout properly, then what’s the point? You sure won’t be building muscle or losing any fat!
A Workout Log
A workout log is an important piece of weight lifting gear. It’s essential that you monitor your progress every week so you can see how you’re doing. It’s important that you know exactly how much you lifted the week before, as it’s your goal to always lift more each week. And to be accurate, you need to write it all down in a workout log.
Post Workout Shake
It’s important that you bring a post work shake with you to the gym. After your workout your body is starving for glycogen and the best way to feed it is with a post work out drink. The best time to have your post workout drink is as soon as you finish your workout. Your drink should contain a mixture of whey protein, dextrose and malt dextrose. This mixture of carbs and protein will be absorbed quickly by your body, ensuring that your muscles are getting the exact nutrition they need after your workout. You can always have two post workout drinks instead of one, though. A shake made of whey protein and a separate drink like Carbo Fuel is a good combination.
Lifting Straps
Lifting straps can be very useful weight lifting gear when you’re lifting heavy weights. If you’re doing stiff legged dead lifts, lifting straps can really help you. Now you won’t have any more excuses as to why you can’t do stiff legged dead lift reps when you use lifting straps.
Lifting Gloves
If you don’t want to get blisters or calluses, or you already have calluses and they’re preventing you from gripping the bar properly, lifting gloves can help you.
Lifting Chalk
Lifting chalk can be used instead of gloves. It may be a bit messy, but it can really help you with your grip. If you use chalk for normal lifting, you can then break out the lifting gloves when you need a bit of extra help when attempting the super heavy weights.
Dip Belt
Once you can do eight reps of dips just using your own bodyweight, it may be time to think about adding a dip belt to your weight lifting gear. Since you want to increase the frequency and intensity of your dip exercises each week, using a dip belt can help you add more weight to your reps.
Weight Lifting Belt
You can use weight lifting belts for exercises like squats and dead lifts. Some people say you don’t need to use them and other people say you do. So what should you do? How about not using them when you’re first doing your exercises, and then, when you can feel the weight getting heavier, you start using the belt to protect yourself from injury.
