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Wasim Kagzi

Hi! I’m Wasim Kagzi and this is where my team and I write and research about everything fitness. On MuscleLead we share all the helpful tips, techniques, and advice we've learned over the years. Personally, I've been lifting for more than 10 years and hope to eventually become a Certified Personal Trainer. My goal is to compete in weightlifting and train to be the strongest version of myself.

How to Breathe During Deadlift – The Proper Way

How to Breathe During Deadlift

Key Points We may know how to perform deadlifts, but neglect proper breathing techniques. I am going to outline the optimal deadlift breathing for a safe and effective workout. We start off by going over why we need to breathe properly during deadlifts, including; oxygen uptake, spine safety, and deadlift efficiency/effectiveness.  So how should you … Read more

Semi Sumo Deadlift Ultimate Guide (4 Benefits, 2 Drawbacks)

semi sumo deadlift ultimate guide

Key Points There are so many deadlift variations I’ve lost count. Have you ever heard of the semi sumo deadlift? No? Well, I’ve put together a beast of a guide on what it is and the main similarities and differences of the semi sumo deadlift.  What is the semi sumo deadlift? So let’s get to … Read more

10mm vs 13mm Belt – Choosing The Best Belt Thickness For You

10mm vs 13 mm belt choosing the best belt thickness for you

Key Points A few millimeters make a world of a difference. Going to a thicker weightlifting belt for workouts or competitions makes a significant impact on your training, fitness goals and lifting enjoyability. Most athletes in the powerlifting world believe that the 10mm belt is only for beginners. They would be wrong. So what is … Read more

How Tight Should A Lifting Belt Be – Find The Ideal Tightness

A male lifter lifting weights and the text in photo 'how tight should a lifting belt be'

Key Points When I got my first weightlifting belt I remember how excited I was. I couldn’t wait to get it on and start using it in my regular workouts. There was only one problem: how tight should a weightlifting belt be? Weightlifting belts don’t come with a user manual. You’re expected to figure it … Read more

When Should I Start Using a Weightlifting Belt? Easy Weight Guide

A weightlifter performing lifts using a belt

Key Points Your ultimate goal as a lifter is simple: Lift more. Once you master the basics of technique for squats and deadlifts, your focus should be on lifting more weights. But when should you start using a weightlifting belt? Turns out this answer is not as simple as a certain number for most trainees. … Read more

How To Brace with a Powerlifting Belt: 4 Key Points To Consider

How to brace with a powerlifting belt. A shirtless man wearing a lifting belt

Key Points Hats off to those who have made the investment and bought their first powerlifting belt. The powerlifting belt is a great training accessory for sure, but the problem is that most don’t optimize it for bracing.  For this reason, I have highlighted the main core stability muscle groups and then revealed my top … Read more

Do Weight Lifting Belts Help Lower Back Pain? Tips and Videos

Anatomical view of lower back pain while deadlifting

Key Points “There are two types of people in the world: those with back pain and those without it.” Charles Barkley NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley famously said this after he retired due to his lower back injury. I can attest to this quote after seeing my friend go through bouts of lower back … Read more

Using A Lifting Belt For Bench Press (10 Benefits, 3 Drawbacks)

should you use a weight lifting belt for bench press? Some benefits and drawbacks

Key Points Weightlifting belts and powerlifting belts are becoming more commonplace in gyms everywhere. If you take a look in any lifters bag, 9 times out of 10 they got a belt in there. Commonly, lifting belts are used for exercises such as the squat and deadlift. However, even some of the top powerlifters in … Read more