Making Weight & Everything Else Making weight and everything else | Page 30

“Athletes aim to be the heaviest in their weight category
because they believe they have a power advantage. But for me,
as a heavyweight competitor (100kg+) I believe that it is not
only power but also condition that matters. The heavier men
in my weight category are the ones in the worst condition.
They can barely stay standing for a whole fight.”
– Ben, judoka
When you ask retired fighters what they are not going to miss about
competing, they are likely to say cutting weight and dieting. Cutting weight
is not a fun experience and this is definitely the first drawback. And, yes, it
is dangerous. There have been a few cases of death due to weight cutting.
These are very rare, but should be seen as a warning to all athletes who cut
weight: it can happen. You have to know what you are doing.
If you focus only on the competition and the direct effects that weight
cutting have on performance, cutting weight is not that bad. Losing a lot of
weight or lack of recovery can damage maximal power, and aerobic and
anaerobic ability, but in most cases, if you do not cut more than 5% body
weight, four hours is enough for full physical recovery [45] . But wait! Before
you wear your sweat suit and go out running, be aware of some other
implications:
Higher risk of injury and illness: Athletes on a long-term low energy diet
or athletes cutting weight week after week are likely to lack nutrients.
Vitamin deficiencies make athletes more prone to infection and illness [41] .
The prevalence of injury is higher in athletes who cut 5% or more of their
body weight in a short time period [46] .
Mental effects: Rage, aggression and depression are common direct results
of weight cutting, as are neurological effects such as impaired short-term
memory, concentration problems and confusion [47] . Most of these
problems will disappear after your first meal. Keep in mind that there is a
long-term risk: athletes who cut weight are more likely to suffer from eating
disorders and obesity later in life.