Why should you use our Lifting Straps?

Do you want to lift heavier weights in your training? There are several methods of increasing your lifting capacity, some more simple than others. However, in some cases it may be your body's limitations that prevent you from reaching your goals. Here you will get a number of tips and tricks on how you can improve your lifts.

Do you have control over your breathing?

Many bodybuilders, powerlifters and weightlifters use breathing techniques to lift heavier weights. One of the most widespread methods is Valsalva's maneuver, named after the Italian doctor Antonio Maria Valsalva. This technique creates stability in the body during heavy lifting, which both reduces the risk of injury and increases the training effect. The technique involves taking a deep breath before lifting and holding your breath during the heaviest part of the exercise. This increases stability, especially around the chest, and relieves the spine.

Example: When squatting, you take a deep breath before bending your knees. Hold your breath through the most strenuous part of the movement, and exhale only when you stand upright again.

Struggling with your grip?

Many find that their grip strength or sore wrists limit their lifting ability, even though the rest of the body could handle more. It can be frustrating when the fingers give up before the rest of the body.

Change your grip for better grip strength A simple method to improve your grip is to change your grip position. If your wrists can't handle a double overhand grip during the deadlift, you can try a mixed grip, where one palm faces you and the other faces away. In addition, the locking grip can be effective, especially during pull-ups, where the thumbs are locked around the bar with the help of the middle and index fingers.

Lifting straps as an aid If changing the grip is not enough, lifting straps can be a solution. They provide a firmer grip and make it possible to lift heavier weights or do more repetitions. With  Natural Athlete x MakeIt you can improve grip strength during heavy lifting.

Is your head position correct during exercise?

How you hold your head affects your results. If the head is positioned too far back during, for example, squats, you can block nerve pathways in the neck, reducing your ability to lift heavy. Therefore, ensure that the head is kept in a natural extension of the spine in order to make full use of the muscle power.

Do you use chains and bands in your training?

Chains and bands are effective training tools that can help you lift heavier, especially if you struggle with "sticking points" where you stop in the exercise. These tools change the strength curve so that the exercise becomes heavier at the top. They are particularly effective in bench presses, deadlifts, dips and pull-ups, but require a certain level of experience.

Have you taken a break from training?

If you've taken a break from training, don't be afraid to start all over again. Your muscles have a "muscle memory" that makes it easier to rebuild strength after a break. Research shows that muscle cells remember previous training information and that this memory can be stored at the DNA level.

How can you use muscle memory?

You can take advantage of muscle memory by exercising regularly. The more often you train, the faster you can increase the weight in your exercises, as long as you get the right amount of sleep and diet. After a training break, your muscles will remember previous exercises, but start carefully to avoid injury.

If you already exercise regularly, you can use these tips to lift heavier weights. Muscle memory helps you increase both weight and number of repetitions by storing information from your previous workouts.