Substitute for HBBS oj the Bridge 3.0?

Dear BBM Team,

I’ve only done the Bridge 1.0 prior to doing 3.0. Previously, (programming details of a template were posted here…)

I am now going into Week 6 of the Bridge 3.0, and frankly do not feel comfortable going in with the HBBS. Is there another exercise I can sub here? At present time, I am doing my “Squats w/ Belt” beltless because I don’t own a powerlifting belt. What can I do instead of HBBS? Could you kindly explain ypur rationale for including the paused HBBS? Thank you.

Kind Regards,
Eddie Mun

Why can’t you do HBBS and are you getting a belt?

Dear Dr. Feigenbaum,

Before I got into SS, I was doing Stronglifts, in which I was doing HBBS as my main squat movement. At the time, I was prone to squatting too deeply, which hurt my lower back because I was doing butt-winks. Now, I own a pair of weightlifting shoes, but I’m a little concerned that I will continue to butt-wink my squats (as I’m writing this, I realize how stupid of a reason it is NOT to give HBBS a try, so I guess I’ll give it a shot). From the Lever Row response, I’m also guessing the rationale for the paused HBBS is also for optimal fatigue modulation, but I wonder why the leg press/belt squat was preferred for the preceding 5 weeks.

As far as not getting a belt is concerned, I don’t think I will purchase one for the time being, because I think I’m learning how to contract my abdominals better without relying on a belt. Using my old Valeo belt in the past has made me rely on it too much; consequently I never learned the right way to hold the Valsalva. I’ve been doing Bridge 3.0 beltless for the past 5 weeks, while microloading all of my lifts: 1kg increments for squats and deadlifts, and 0.5kg increments for the presses and rows. Is this suboptimal?

Kind Regards,
Eddie Mun

The volume, fatigue, and specificity differences in the context of a strength program drove that programming decision.

I would highly recommend getting a belt. Contrary to your statement here, the evidence appears to suggest a belt helps people figure out how to contract their trunk musculature more effectively. You are short changing your training from a strength perspective by not getting a belt. I don’t think you “never learned to do a Valsalva” with the valeo belt, as a valsalva is reflexive in many ways.

I don’t expect your progress to be linear, e.g. 0.5 or 1 kg per week, on any of your lifts reliably. Rather, they’ll ebb and flow- trending up over time in a non uniform way…

Dear Dr. Feigenbaum,

Thank you for the nuanced answer! Shall I run the Bridge 3.0 again when I get my belt? I’m going to put in an order today.

Kind Regards,
Eddie Mun

That’s totally reasonable.