I've gone back and forth for a long time about what I think around when a lifter should cut weight. Stay with me here, its kind of rambling.

Competitive powerlifting is a hobby for every single person. No one is making a living directly from competing. Yeah, there are some money meets out there but nobody is making a living from that. Of course some do quite well with businesses related to powerlifting. But no one is winning enough meets to make decent living without another income source.

So it's a hobby for all of us. A hobby that many take extremely serious, but a hobby nonetheless.

As a hobby, I think lifters should do whatever makes it the most fun for them. I think this about what federations you lift in, how much gear you wear, monolift or not, etc, etc, etc.  This logic applies to cutting weight too.

I "like" cutting weight. I like manipulating my body to do things that it probably shouldn't be able to do, things that other people can't do. That's a big part of what I like about powerlifting, bodybuilding and nutrition. I like understanding the variables that I can manipulate to make my body change, adapt and grow. So I like cutting weight. It's part of the game for me. Cutting weight makes competing more interesting, more challenging and more fun for me.

Don't be an idiot about it. Understand the risks that you are taking with it.

- Obviously there is a health risk. Don't take that lightly, understand what you are getting yourself into.

- It will be more stressful than just walking into the meet. Make sure you understand your plan and are prepared to get it done.

- There is performance risk. I've been bit by this before. Cut didn't go awesome, I didn't feel great and put up a performance that wasn't up to par with what I was capable of.

- I said I liked it and it makes powerlifting more fun for me. The cutting process isn't fun, it sucks.

Overall philosophy: Compete in whatever way makes powerlifting the most entertaining for you. If that includes cutting weight, then cut away!

(Disclaimer: There are definitely exceptions to that. This is blanket statement opinion that would apply to many, but not all, lifters.)

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