Gloves
Weight lifting gloves can protect your hands while working out. If you have not worked out before you may get blisters, which will be replaced by calluses overtime. Whether or not you use gloves is personal preference. For about $15 you can get a pair of weight lifting gloves in most any sports store.
Wraps
Elbow, knee, and wrist wraps are common in the gym. People may use these if they have an injury or sore joints for added support. Many power lifters wrap their knees when doing heavy squats.
If you do not need wraps it is best not to use them. Overtime they may cause your joints and surrounding muscles to become weaker because they are being supported by the wraps. However, if you do develop sore joints you can use elastic wraps. This will help keep the area warm and provide extra support while giving your joints a chance to heal. Wraps are available at most drug stores for about $10 - $20 depending on the type of wraps.
Weightlifting Belt
This is a basic bodybuilding accessory. The purpose of a belt is to provide protection and support for the lower back. It is best to save the weightlifting belt for when you need it, you shouldn't wear it during your entire workout. Use it for heavy squats, dead lifts, heavy rowing exercises, etc. Overuse of a weight lifting belt may weaken the lower back because the muscles are always supported and do not get a chance to be worked like the rest of the body. Weight lifting belts are available at most sports stores, the price can vary depending on the type of belt, but a good belt is approx. $40 - $50.
Wrist Straps
Wrist straps are short, narrow pieces of strong material (usually about 20 inches long and 1 inch wide). They are wrapped around the wrist and then around a barbell or dumbbell to improve the grip. Wrist straps are most commonly used for exercises such as dead lifts, shrugs, chin ups, and heavy rowing exercises. They prevent a weak grip from limiting your workout poundages.
Overuse of wrist straps can cause the muscles of the forearms to get weaker. It is best to save them for when you really need them (i.e. on your heavy sets of dead lifts or shrugs). Do not use wrist straps for your warm up sets. Wrist straps are available at most sports stores for about $10.
Head Harnesses
This is a leather harness that fits around the head and has an attachment for a weight at the end. Head straps allow you to work the muscles of the neck. Most bodybuilders do not do direct neck exercises because heavy shoulder and back work will also work the neck muscles. However, if you neck development is lagging behind you can get a head strap and do some extra work. This should be available at a sports store, but you may have to order one because it is not as popular other accessories.
Chalk
Many bodybuilders like to use chalk to dry the sweat on their hands. Olympic weight lifters, power lifters, and gymnasts all use chalk. It comes is small blocks and is available at most sports stores for less then $10. Some gyms do not allow the use of chalk so check with your gym's policy before you bring along chalk.
Gloves
Weight lifting gloves can protect your hands while working out. If you have not worked out before you may get blisters, which will be replaced by calluses overtime. Whether or not you use gloves is personal preference. For about $15 you can get a pair of weight lifting gloves in most any sports store.
Wraps
Wraps
Elbow, knee, and wrist wraps are common in the gym. People may use these if they have an injury or sore joints for added support. Many power lifters wrap their knees when doing heavy squats.
If you do not need wraps it is best not to use them. Overtime they may cause your joints and surrounding muscles to become weaker because they are being supported by the wraps. However, if you do develop sore joints you can use elastic wraps. This will help keep the area warm and provide extra support while giving your joints a chance to heal. Wraps are available at most drug stores for about $10 - $20 depending on the type of wraps.
Weightlifting Belt
Weightlifting Belt
This is a basic bodybuilding accessory. The purpose of a belt is to provide protection and support for the lower back. It is best to save the weightlifting belt for when you need it, you shouldn't wear it during your entire workout. Use it for heavy squats, dead lifts, heavy rowing exercises, etc. Overuse of a weight lifting belt may weaken the lower back because the muscles are always supported and do not get a chance to be worked like the rest of the body. Weight lifting belts are available at most sports stores, the price can vary depending on the type of belt, but a good belt is approx. $40 - $50.
Wrist Straps
Wrist Straps
Wrist straps are short, narrow pieces of strong material (usually about 20 inches long and 1 inch wide). They are wrapped around the wrist and then around a barbell or dumbbell to improve the grip. Wrist straps are most commonly used for exercises such as dead lifts, shrugs, chin ups, and heavy rowing exercises. They prevent a weak grip from limiting your workout poundages.
Overuse of wrist straps can cause the muscles of the forearms to get weaker. It is best to save them for when you really need them (i.e. on your heavy sets of dead lifts or shrugs). Do not use wrist straps for your warm up sets. Wrist straps are available at most sports stores for about $10.
Head Harnesses
Head Harnesses
This is a leather harness that fits around the head and has an attachment for a weight at the end. Head straps allow you to work the muscles of the neck. Most bodybuilders do not do direct neck exercises because heavy shoulder and back work will also work the neck muscles. However, if you neck development is lagging behind you can get a head strap and do some extra work. This should be available at a sports store, but you may have to order one because it is not as popular other accessories.
Chalk
Chalk
Many bodybuilders like to use chalk to dry the sweat on their hands. Olympic weight lifters, power lifters, and gymnasts all use chalk. It comes is small blocks and is available at most sports stores for less then $10. Some gyms do not allow the use of chalk so check with your gym's policy before you bring along chalk.
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