This morning I finally had to bid my favorite lifting belt goodbye.
I have been in this position before. I remember many years ago, before our gym moved to the new location, I had once lost enough weight to need a new belt. I am not sure how long that lasted and when I needed to go up a size. As with everything I was doing at the time, I most likely chalked it up to “I am lifting big” and rolled with it.
This time feels different.
This time has to be different.
This morning I had some pressing to do on the program and went to grab this belt. I have always used it for CJs, PP, jerks, and any pressing. I have an Ohio belt from Rogue that I use when I squat. This Schiek belt has been through it all. I have sent this one back to Schiek, who fixed it super fast with no charge. It was the belt I wore when I lifted at my last weightlifting competition, even when I did not know that would be my last weightlifting competition. As I have lost weight, I noticed it getting tighter and tighter. This morning, I ran out of Velcro.
I don’t imagine anyone grabbing a belt off the rack and using this one will know what all it has been through. On some levels, I feel silly even talking about the sentimental value of specific lifting equipment. I was partially sad to take this out of my bag and hang it up on the rack. Not like there would be any ceremony or fanfare and anyone watching would assume I was just putting equipment back where I borrowed it.