Cutting weight for meet.

[Thorgrim]

I am doing the CPU nationals in about a month and am looking for tips on making weight. The weigh in is at 7am and lifting starts at 9am the same day.

It isn't going to be a big cut. I am in the 83kg class (182.6 lbs and under) right now in the mornings I am about 186.

I could start dieting now and not cut water. Or keep eating lots right up to the meet and cut water which is what I would like to try.

If I cut water I am thinking either the hyper hydration method and then cut off the water the evening before or I need to find a sauna in Calgary use it the night before unless one is open nearby in the early morning.

Any thoughts or ideas? Anyone tried hyper hydrating?

Is dandelion root any good?

[steve_d]

Honestly, if you are only 4 pounds over right now, then you could actually benefit from bulking up a little and then cutting even more water. For every pound of (even fat) my lifts all go up. Aside from deadlift which isn't MUCH effected by bodyweight. Cutting water does very little to strength loss especially given at least a little time to rehydrate. Actually, there has been studies to show even dehydrated that strength is not effected for events requiring pure power such as sprints, powerlifting, etc.

The only issue is how your suits fit at a different body weight to be honest! But if you figure that out, it truly is remarkable how much cutting water is the most ideal thing for powerlifting. Now... to give a little advice on how to cut water. essentially its very similar to cutting water for a bodybuilding contest - although, you can actually get away with even more extreme methods, because it doesn't matter how flat you get. The biggest trick is to make sure you consume massive amounts of water, and then suddenly cut it out completely. sodium manipulation is key as well...basically if you drink about 10-12 litres without any sodium, or very small amounts (after you are used to drinking lots WITH sodium) magic will happen. You can expect to lose 5-10 pounds easily from morning weight just doing that. another 5 pounds on top of that if you continue to stay dehydrated a few hours more after you typically would wake up and start drinking again. Normally you wake up and pee right? well, once your really dehydrated, you stop peeing every hour.

this is of course just a brief overview, but in a nutshell, the principles are all there. you can also cut carbs for 2-3 days, which again will help drop even more water. there are a lot of factors on top of this...depending on how lean you are at 186, perhaps you are already fairly dehydrated in the morning. most people above 10% bodyfat are NOT waking up totally dehydrated. This drying out morning weight tends to happen more when you start getting under 10% bodyfat in my experience. after a while, water simply doesn't stick! but, at reasonable bodyfat levels, it is EASY to cut 10 pounds in a week. I've cut 16 pounds in a week - but that was my limit. I wouldn't recommend it as for me, that was 10% of my bodyweight, and that was 16 pounds morning weight...26 pounds more like it if you weighed me at the end of the day a week before, and then at my weigh in of 165 pounds... But again, it was NOT worth the experience :)

[Talo]

Is that your morning weight ?

I would just continue doing what you’re doing as you should be able to drop 4 pounds over night easily.

If you sweat it out I'm sure your hotel will have a sauna and if not than the shower can easily be turned into one.

But don't stress out about it you will prob drop 10lbs over night by the hydration/de-hydration method. Anyways I've attached a great e-book that I used to drop 20lbs in 24 hours, I did have a 18 hours weigh in though, so I had no issues putting the weight back on.

Just make sure you fuel up once you have weighed in. Lots of water / Gatorade ( or Xtend ) and use fruit / nuts and bolts as snacks throughout the day so you don't get too full , but have lots of strength to make it through the day as it can become long.

I might even see you down their - do you know the date when you are lifting ?

[Thorgrim]

Thanks for the help guys.

Steve- I am lifting raw so nothing to worry about with suits. I was sort of thinking along the lines of eating big right up until the meet so I go in feeling strong, glad you agree. I think I am 10-11% right now.

Talo - Thanks for the E-book. I am lifting on April 11 it is a Wednesday. My morning weight is 186-187.

[steve_d]

yep, I'd continue to eat enough that you feel strong and full. Follow the protocol and you should lose 10 pounds quite easily putting you low 180s. You can always monitor the weight too and if you feel its shrinking you too much, then begin adding some carbs in early :)

[DaveFinistauri]

Sweet E-Book...thanks for posting Talo. 100KG weight class, here I come! haha