No Glove, No Love?

[CliffA74]

As some may know, I've been training for the past three years or so exclusively with BW exercises, isometrics and Dynamic Tension.
I've started playing with the weights again, mostly the hodge podge of lifts that make up Crossfit.

And I am tearing the heck out of my hands.

At first the callouses were "cool" in a manly sort of way. Then two of them got blisters underneath them, I had to rip one off. My hands are really inflamed after last nights session.

I remember reading something somewhere sometime by someone (an expert ) espousing the evils of wearing gloves.

What do you guys think?
Gloves, No Gloves, or only on every other Friday?

I think a hot pink colored pair would like nice on you Cliff and would match the tassels on your training hot pants.

I've never worn them even when I was doing 100+ pullup workouts, but if I had what you described I'd be wondering if I should.

Don't include them on your Christmas gift list for me. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[LiftGirl]

I wear gloves for every lifting workout, and I see no problem with it. There's no sense putting yourself through painful calluses just to prove your manhood.

I don't think gloves impact the quality of your workout, and I think each person should do what they are comfortable with.

[.V.]

You know you had a real workout when you leave blood on the bar.

So take a midol and suck it up.

Nah, I'm just kidding. If you can workout in gloves and you feel you need them, then by all means use them. Personally, I've found that my grip isn't as good in lifting gloves and they interfere with my workout. But if they don't get in your way and help your hands, then go for it.

If you choose not to use them just hang in there and know that your hands WILL acclimate to it over time. You will do like all other lifters over time and get calluses behind your two middle fingers that will toughen your hands up making it much easier.

[spiritwind]

For goodness sake wear gloves! Maybe you won't need them at some point, but now you do. Exercise should make us healthier. That includes the hands.

[Retro]

I wear gloves and find it helps me greatly. What should stop me completing a set is the fact that my muscles can't go on, not the fact that my hands are burned from friction pain.

[luke.w]

Originally Posted by CliffA74

At first the callouses were "cool" in a manly sort of way. Then two of them got blisters underneath them, I had to rip one off. My hands are really inflamed after last nights session.

I remember reading something somewhere sometime by someone (an expert ) espousing the evils of wearing gloves.

What do you guys think?
Gloves, No Gloves, or only on every other Friday?

by your "expert" statement I believe your poking fun at such a person, so then I think you know the answer to your own question.

now maybe deep down your "manly" instincts are saying you want to overcome this, maybe the "pink glove" statements get to you?

anyhow I'm more into the manly "toughguy" camp myself and try to make my hands like catchers mits, not be cool, but more to feel secure that my hands can handle tough things (like labor, because thats who I am).

(I watch movies for guys who like movies)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anyhow there are ways to build up your hands, improve grip strength and methods to keep those callouses in check, if your interested, if not by all means wear gloves!

[maverick]

Do whatever works for you, as I think luke was getting at. The weight is still heavy, your muscles still grow. If you can't think of a conceivable reason why you shouldn't wear them, then go ahead.

2 examples:
1) I used a bar pad for squats til I started getting into heavy good mornings and it was throwing off my bar position. I scrapped the bar pad for the good mornings and after a couple weeks never used it again, even when I was partial squatting 5 plates.

2) When I first started I used gloves to protect my hands but mainly to look cool. They worked fine til I got into heavy deadlifts and then the fabric around the knuckles would just bunch up and dig itself into my skin. I scrapped the gloves for those sets and after a few weeks have never used them again.

[CliffA74]

Thanks for the replies.

Part of my glove aversion is the pink glove thing.
I don't want to be "that guy."
-The guy who wears gloves but only uses machines with padded grips.
-The guy wearing Under Armor pants, underarmour shirt, underarmour socks and underarmour headband with a shiny lifting belt worn for all exercises along with his underarmour gloves. Typically does 1/4 squats and uses the squat rack for curls.

But I think I'm going to breakdown and buy a pair.

Might even buy a pink!

[LiftGirl]

I have pink gloves, and I love them! What's wrong with pink gloves

It takes a lot more than a pair of gloves to turn into "that guy." It takes a whole package of behaviors.

[.V.]

I don't like gloves. I've used machines in the very recent past to compensate for injuries...AND DON'T LIKE THEM. UnderArmour is something tbe little kids like so they look cool at football practice... But ya know what? If those things help you get a better workout and you are getting results...then be that guy. Do what it takes to get the results you want.

Get your gloves if you think they might help. Or hell, come get mine, I haven't used them but a couple of times and they are sitting in the back of the car somewhere.

[maverick]

In defense of underarmour, I like the jockies they make since they never lose elasticity, unlike every other pair of jockies I've used. I also like the long sleeve cold gear they make. I work out in my basement, where it gets cold, and this lets me add an extra layer of warmth without screwing up my mechincs from bulky clothes.

[Dan C]

Under Armor does make some quality stuff, but I don't wear it to train in (with the exception of the cold gear when I'm outside).

It's crazy that they have revived spandex.

[maverick]

Originally Posted by Dan C

It's crazy that they have revived spandex.

Gotta love rebranding. Its like the Coq10 in all the "age-defying" creams for women now... its a powerful anti-oxidant thats been around forever but now they jack up the price, make commercials that say it takes away wrinkles, and rake in the jack.

[Firehawk]

Cliff, I think you need to get over your case of vaginitis. It's contagious as well, as evidenced in this thread.


Take midol for any cramps in the meantime.