The picture on the left was me at my most voluptuous 328.5 lbs. The picture on the right was for the few minutes I was 220 lbs after my most recent weight cut. And before anyone asks, no, I am not claiming I dropped 118.5 lbs in a week. However, I did go from 241 to 220 in five days. I have cut weight a number of times, and here are my thoughts on the subject.
I‘ll start with the good. Most obviously a weight cut for a meet will allow you to compete in a lighter weight class. Now most people will tell you not to cut weight unless you are in a big time comp or going for some type of "real" world record. Keep in mind that's not a federation submaster, single ply, half wrapped, half assed world record I read about on social media every day. Me, I don‘t care whether someone cuts or not, it‘s your choice.
There are a couple of things I really like about cutting. I dig the concept of challenging myself, obviously. I find it truly fascinating what we can do with our bodies. It‘s a living science experiment I get to perform on myself. Another benefit which most don't realize, when shooting for that lighter weight class you focus that entire week on the cut rather than the actual meet. Since I have started cutting, I notice that I don‘t get very anxious about the meet that week. Anyone who competes knows it‘s very easy to play head games with yourself. With cutting, you are wholly focused on that process.
Here is a good that anyone cutting shoulder consider, get a coach to help you through the process. Most of the time I have done it on my own, and it's been pretty brutal. For my last two cuts, I have used Mike Mastell. He has worked with tons of strength athletes and everyone recommends him highly. One cut was around 5 percent body weight and the other was close to 10. Both were excellent experiences as far as everything happening the way it should. There are lots of variables in cutting and a good coach should know them all. Working with Mike made these last two cuts infinitely easier than any of the cuts I made on my own.
One of the bad's I did not know about until I had a coach was understanding the hormonal effects of cutting. Most of the times when I did it on my own, I would start the sweating portion the afternoon before like most do. Then the mistake I would make was trying to keep that sweat going when I went to bed by wrapping up in lots of warm clothing. Well, that wreaks havoc on your body and a hormonal affect is that it disrupts sleep. Sleep is something I do really well, so when that is ruined I am a wreck. Certainly not something anyone wants right before a meet. Also, trying to keep that sweat going through the night can really stall out the process for the morning. You kind of need to reset your body, that's where a good coach comes in handy once again.
Here's a bad that nobody really talks about, how badly it sucks putting the weight back on. You have all seen the social media pics of competitors and their food porn after making weight. The truth of the matter is one big cheat meal is not how that weight goes back on. It's mostly fluids. You have to methodically force fluids down your throat for as much of the 24 hours leading up to the meet as possible. Also, McDonald's and pizza are not the best foods either. Sure, you can have a little fun with food, but to do it right, it's not a food free for all. There's actual science applied so that you consume the most optimal nutrients to get that weight back on. To imagine how putting that weight back on feels, think of your most wounded moment after a Thanksgiving feast. Now imagine that feeling for the better part of 24 hours. Yep, not fun.
The most obvious bad is that cutting is really friggin' hard. It's a brutal assault on your body and mind. Every time I cut I question what the hell I am doing. Then I always promise myself it will be the last time. Keep in mind, a lot of lifters do not make their cuts which results in just missing their weight. Now that really sucks. Not only have they punished their bodies, but their minds as well. They enter the meet already defeated. That's no way to start a day of competing.
Now for the ugly. Cutting is really dangerous. One of my friends recently had to be carried out of the sauna. I myself had a bit of a scare one day. Years ago I reserved a hotel close to a meet site with a big tub so I could use hot baths to make weight. When Jess and I got to the room we were a bit surprised that the tub was not in the bathroom, but in the bed room. Jess ended up going out for a bit, and I made the mistake of starting my hot baths alone. Well, when getting out after a session I was so light headed I collapsed. I was really lucky to have booked the love shack because when I fell my head landed against the nice soft bed. Had I been in the bathroom, I would have undoubtedly cracked my head on a much harder surface. That's when I learned, you should not cut by yourself.
Even more dangerous are the health risks associated with cutting for weigh-ins. If you have been in any sport where athletes shed a lot of weight for competition, you'll hear tails of some drastic measures being used. I have heard them and I have seen them. These methods are not only dangerous at the time of the cut, but they can adversely affect long term health as well. What's worse, many athletes have died making weight cuts. I don't mean to be Debbie Downer, but I'd be remiss if I didn't say it. I'm sure not one person who has passed away making a weight cut thought it would ever happen.
After all these years of making weight cuts my takeaways are these. If you have strong willpower a 5 percent cut is relatively easy. That's pretty much water manipulation and going a little thirsty and hungry the day before weigh ins. Plus, putting that amount of weight back on is not too bad. When you get over 5 percent you'll have to do some sweating. Couple that with being thirsty and hungry and it's much less pleasant. Now keep in mind, that's if you are actually doing it right. I know a lot of people who have screwed up cutting badly. Just because you read someone else's plan does not mean it will work for you. That's where a coach comes in. Having a "good" coach take you through the week long process is invaluable.
So to cut or not to cut is up to you. If you do cut, it's not easy. However, there are ways and people who can make it much more manageable. Good luck and be safe.
