Security Blankets

Today, I got a 15lb PR on my front squat; 155 lbs. Really wanted 160, but I just couldn’t get it. I found myself leaving the gym feeling pretty disappointed and down, even though I PR’d. As I gave myself the pep talk about getting the PR, I also reminded myself about the fact I wasn’t wearing lifters, I didn’t have any knee sleeves on, nor did I have my wrist wraps on.

As I thought more and more about it, the immortal words of Carrie Bradshaw came to mind…’I couldn’t help but wonder’, are we sometimes using accessories as security blankets?

Now hear me out, I certainly know there are many of us who have to use these items because of physical limitations, previous surgeries, and anything else preventing us from doing full range of motion without them. I’m not suggesting you need to stop, or it’s the wrong thing to do. What I am curious about is, are there those of us who may be able to do without or reduce the need for them because we have a different kind of limitation?

When I started Oly class, I bought the lifters. Then eventually knee sleeves (and I didn’t even have knee problems, they just felt good) and already had wrist wraps. I also bought a weightlifting belt. I even bought elbow wraps. All of these items, of course, helped tremendously in their own way. But as time went on and I took in the teachings of ankle, wrist, hip mobility and overall movement technique more, I started to notice a shift. I eventually started to play around with not wearing lifters. I did just as well on some movements, like cleans, but not so well on snatches. So I kept using the lifters on snatches until eventually, I didn’t have to. But because I had a fear of snatches and anything overhead, I wore the lifters probably a little longer than I needed to because they made me feel safer. They were my security blanket.

Then…140# front squat

But you see the real issue was my mobility. And once I improved that, everything changed.

So my challenge to you is this: think about why you are using your accessories. Are they rehabilitative or are they your security blankets?

Now…155#

Side note, I still wear wrist wraps sometimes; I may not be feeling as mobile that day and the extra support helps. And I will pretty much always wear a belt for max deadlifts. Finally, lifters are not completely off the table, they may come back in as squats get heavier, who knows. Time and effort will tell!