The Hardest Weight
Not a good day, overall. I’m overweight. Just looking at me, you may not know it, but for competing in my weight class at the Pan Ams, I’m way over the line.
It’s my fault. I should have known better. Traditionally, I’ve always competed at middleweight, 160-173 pounds. At the Pan Ams, with the gi on, I am allowed to weigh 181 pounds. “Fantastic!” I thought to myself, “I’ll come in at the top of the weight class,” just as I did competing at 173, usually weighing 175, and dropping 2 pounds. But being older, wiser, and living without a scale, I did not realize that I have packed on some muscle over the last year, and even in the past couple weeks leading up to the competition.
Last week, weighing myself at the dojo, I was 181 with my clothes on. Spot on. I thought it will be equivalent with my black HCK hot weather gi, which I planned on competing in. But after placing a harried call to Mr. Liu himself, the hot weather gi is a canvas gi, and therefore not allowed. Only single, double, and golden weave gi’s are permitted. My competition single is my favorite gi, and the lightest alternative, but that tips me over an additional 2 pounds. The final nail in the coffin.
I’ve always wanted to weigh more, and I finally got my wish. But at the wrong time. I’ve always loathed dropping weight, even 1 or 2 pounds, with my body fat being sub 10%. Now, with my scale that I am constantly stepping onto, I realize I am about 4 pounds over. Not a huge margin if you have time to dehydrate then rehydrate over a 24 hour period, but I only get about 20 seconds.
Weigh ins are immediately before you step on the mat. You get one chance to make weight, or you’re immediately disqualified. It’s likely that the latter will happen, but I’m going to show up anyway and step on the scale. Robb Wolf counseled me on the limited tricks I have available to me, and I’ll be implementing a few. Broccoli and an apple for breakfast. Irritability for lunch. Lots of water now, then none for 24 hours or so. Life is too short to be doing this again. Next time, I’ll take the heavier weight class…
Good luck cutting weight! I didn’t realize that weigh in’s were so close to the match.
Another trick for about 1/2 a pound or so: Have someone help you stand on your head/hands for about 30-60 seconds pre-stepping on the scale, while the fluids are running down your body they will not measure on the scale weight. It’s kind of like you are jumping in an elevator: while you are in the air, your weight is not measurable on the cables connected to the elevator. I wish you the best of luck.
Do you have to weigh in immediately before every match? Is it a one match deal?
Good luck!
John Shanks from lyndonville, VT
on Thursday, March 27, 2008
Roy, don’t give up yet, you have quite a few options. Eat a cup of Bran Buds w/fat free milk mid afternoon tomorrow and follow it with another cup on saturday morning. You’ll clear everything out of your system. Get at least one good sweat before you go and keep water to a minimum. Eat what Rob has designed for you and I bet money you make weight.
James Malone
on Friday, March 28, 2008
Positive self talk Roy.
Brian
on Friday, March 28, 2008