Make Weight The Right Way!
Before reading this passage let me say that cutting weight to make a lower weight class, even done correctly, may be hazardous to your health. If you can compete at your regular weight, then you should. Please check with your doctor before beginning any new diet or exercise plan.
Jeff’s follies in weight cutting
Let me just begin by saying that I was not a high school or collegiate wrestler. The only wrestling experience I had before I started BJJ was on the carpet in the living room with buddies like many of you. What I’m saying is that I had never had to cut weight or make weight before.
I had attempted to lose a small amount of weight on my own for a Grapplers Quest event in Vegas and I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t know how to cut weight so I asked some friends what they were doing to make their weight. Some former wrestlers were going to sweat it out by doing exercise in the sauna while wearing a sweat suit the night before the weigh ins. I knew that I wasn’t going to go that route because I’d read about people croaking from heat exhaustion and stroke. I had read that some people just eat an apple and some peanut butter each day for a week before the tournament. Geeze, I wasn’t going do any of that craziness either.
Anyway, I tried to cut the weight the best I could and I ended up just giving up and competed at a higher weight class. Since I had tried to cut and failed I was under nourished, somewhat dehydrated, quite demoralized. If you’ve ever competed before then you know that being “demoralized” is not a way to enter a grappling tournament lol!
After a less than stellar performance at the competition, I drove away from Durango High School (grappling venue) and headed home. Heading home on the long desolate straights of the Interstate 15 south I had a lot of time to think about my preparation for the tournament. I decided then to take my competition preparation more seriously and learn the right way to make my desired weight class.
I began to do some research and find the safest method to shed some weight without sacrificing energy and stamina or jeopardizing my health. I found The Grapplers Guide To Nutrition and followed Michael Fry’s program to a “T”. Following this programs nutrition program I got myself to the appropriate weight before I began to cut weight so that I would only cut a reasonable amount of weight. In the end, I made my desired weight class at the weigh ins the night before the tournament. By the time I was set to compete I was totally re-hydrated and entered the competition full of energy and confidence. It was as if I had already won a victory by making my weight class safely, while maintaining my energy. I have so much praise for Michael Fry’s program. So if you have to make weight, do it safe and do it right! Good luck!
If you’d like to check out this safe and effective program: CLICK HERE!
