Fat and Happy

No, please don't get fatter.  That phrase is merely a common saying describing the feeling when you don't have to cut weight for a tournament.  I first heard it from one of my off-season coaches in high school; he was telling us how one of the best things about going to open tournaments in the spring is that you don't have to worry about making weight.  He said that he would show up to tournaments "fat and happy."  Now, we all need to acknowledge the fact that many wrestlers have a really screwed up sense of reality when it comes to judging how fat we are.  I highly doubt that my coach was actually overweight; but I'm certain that he was fully hydrated and had a good meal the night before and the morning of.

There's a lot to be said for showing up to a tournament without having to give your weight a thought.  You can eat and drink freely the day before, and you don't need to worry about how much you sweat.  As a result, you're more relaxed, you have more energy, and you focus all your attention on the wrestling, not the weight cutting.  Along with this, you probably are happier (ever notice that you're more irritable and grumpy when cutting weight?), and all of this will undoubtedly lead to better performance.

But what if you're trying to capture a spot at Fargo and the stakes are very high?  Many wrestlers cut weight for those big tournaments, but you'll notice that several others don't cut much at all in the off-season.  One mistake of mine was cutting weight in the off-seasons of 2006 and 2007.  The first year that I competed in freestyle and Greco, I dropped down to 98.  I wasn't cutting that much, but it didn't help that it was my first time cutting and I had no idea what I was doing.  I did things the hard, old school way, and as a result I was dehydrated and weaker.  During the Team Illinois training camp, maintaining that weight while practicing three or four times a day took a toll on me, and even walking up the stairs was a drag.

Looking back on it, I'm not even sure if I would have qualified for Fargo if I was at the higher weight, so part of me doesn't regret it because that was a major turning point for me as a wrestler.  But if I can give people advice for the future it is to not bother with cutting weight this spring and summer (and winter for that matter).  Eat healthy but eat as much as you need to feel comfortable.  Be as hydrated, rested, and strong as you can possibly be.

Losing unnecessary amounts of weight sucks all the fun out of the sport, and it is a big reason why guys quit or get burnt out.  If you have been cutting weight this year and make the switch to "fat and happy," you'll feel as if a weight has been lifted off of you and your love for the sport will be rejuvenated.

Be happy - not fat,
Jeff