Would you like to deadlift, squat, and bench more weight? I'm sure you have your workout gear all ready to go from your outfit to your selfie stick. However, there are 3 accessories that you need to check out if you are serious about lifting heavy weights often. Check these out.
Shoes
As long as your shoes are tight, you probably don't even think about the type of shoes you wear for heavy lifting. Athletic shoes are probably not your best bet, which is shocking to a lot of people. Flat bottomed shoes with no give is what you should be looking for. Athletic shoes just aren't built for powerlifting-type exercise. Instead of spending hundreds on a specialized lifting shoe, how about $40-50? The old school Converse All Stars are basically the perfect lifting shoe. They have bottoms that are very hard and are very flat. While ankle support may seem important, it's not the job of your shoe. For that reason, maximize your ankle flexibility with the low top Converse.
Joint Sleeves & Wraps
If you plan on lifting heavy for more than a few weeks consecutively, you are going to need joint support. Your body probably needs help if you expect to stay injury free. That's where sleeves and wraps come into the picture. Knee sleeves are great for basic support and knee wraps are great for your heaviest leg work. Elbow sleeves are great to support your elbows when you are going to lockout on upper body moves, like bench and military press. As always, you should look into lifting belts if you plan on squatting or deadlifting heavy.
Lifting Chalk
I know they make wrist wraps with material that you wrap around the bar for better grip – you don't need that. We are going to take a step back in technology here. You need to invest in some lifting chalk! Chalk up your hands for anything that involves good grip – the majority of exercises. If you find yourself shifting during bench press, chalking your upper back will keep you more stabilized on the bench. Chalk your upper back again for squats for bar security. You can also chalk your legs for deadlifts, just in case the bar bumps them. Chalk is your multifunctional best friend.
Don't overlook these 3 accessories when you are stocking your gym bag. These 3 are very important and can give you some important gains that you might not have gotten otherwise.
Shoes
As long as your shoes are tight, you probably don't even think about the type of shoes you wear for heavy lifting. Athletic shoes are probably not your best bet, which is shocking to a lot of people. Flat bottomed shoes with no give is what you should be looking for. Athletic shoes just aren't built for powerlifting-type exercise. Instead of spending hundreds on a specialized lifting shoe, how about $40-50? The old school Converse All Stars are basically the perfect lifting shoe. They have bottoms that are very hard and are very flat. While ankle support may seem important, it's not the job of your shoe. For that reason, maximize your ankle flexibility with the low top Converse.
Joint Sleeves & Wraps
If you plan on lifting heavy for more than a few weeks consecutively, you are going to need joint support. Your body probably needs help if you expect to stay injury free. That's where sleeves and wraps come into the picture. Knee sleeves are great for basic support and knee wraps are great for your heaviest leg work. Elbow sleeves are great to support your elbows when you are going to lockout on upper body moves, like bench and military press. As always, you should look into lifting belts if you plan on squatting or deadlifting heavy.
Lifting Chalk
I know they make wrist wraps with material that you wrap around the bar for better grip – you don't need that. We are going to take a step back in technology here. You need to invest in some lifting chalk! Chalk up your hands for anything that involves good grip – the majority of exercises. If you find yourself shifting during bench press, chalking your upper back will keep you more stabilized on the bench. Chalk your upper back again for squats for bar security. You can also chalk your legs for deadlifts, just in case the bar bumps them. Chalk is your multifunctional best friend.
Don't overlook these 3 accessories when you are stocking your gym bag. These 3 are very important and can give you some important gains that you might not have gotten otherwise.