|
Post by dryfarmer on Mar 20, 2015 7:02:34 GMT -7
I know the only way to really figure out your ideal fighting weight is individual trial and error. Still I'm curious what works for everybody else. It seems useful to have a sense of the range that works generally, in terms of planning when to start and stop your own diet (especially the first few cycles that you're dieting).
I'm a shade over 5'10" and am naturally pretty bony. I lose muscle immediately if not working out. That said, rapidly approaching the age of 40, I also have no difficulty putting on a bit of a beer gut if I'm not careful. In spring 2014 I did an imperfectly implemented rockprodigy cycle, getting down to the low 150s in weight, and I had a personal best-ever bouldering season. Summer and fall 2014 were lost to injury, work-related travel, and lack of motivation, so I got out of shape and my weight crept into the high 160s. Spring 2015 I've been back on a full training cycle again. I lost about a pound a week through my base and strength phases just by cutting out most alcohol and junk food and eating moderate portions of healthy food. In my power phase I've been doing a full-blown diet and am now down to 155.
So long story short, I'm curious how much more weight I can plan on losing. Time will tell obviously, but in the meantime, what works for other folks? What are your fighting weights and heights?
|
|
|
Post by joev9 on Mar 20, 2015 9:02:54 GMT -7
5'10" and 145 (143 if I try really hard). I'm at 148 right now and climbing pretty well, trying to drop those last few pounds to get some big sends...
|
|
|
Post by jessebruni on Mar 20, 2015 9:51:00 GMT -7
I don't think I've been doing the rock prodigy method to know what my fighting weight is. My goal has always been to get to a body fat level of around 10-12% and try to maintain that, then maybe during diet phases I'd try to drop down to 7% or 8%. I think that's pretty pie in the sky, especially considering that I'm not sure what my BF% is right now but I'm guessing around 15% based on photo's I've seen of people with similar body types. What I really need to do is go do a hydrostatic weighing and get an exact figure. Anyway if you want to figure out fighting weight based on body fat levels and assuming no muscle gain try this www.fitwatch.com/calculator/ideal-body-fat-weight. So according to this calculator I need to drop an additional 8 pounds of fat to get to 10% body fat. That seems really hard so I'm not expecting it to happen overnight!
|
|
|
Post by dryfarmer on Mar 20, 2015 10:31:02 GMT -7
Thanks for the data point on weight, especially for that height.
Thanks for that link to the calculator. Useful to easily calculate a range of plausible weight loss scenarios. Even if you don't know your exact current body fat %, you can calculate a reasonable high and low estimate.
This all sounds like good news to me. Seems like I have more potential for harder climbing through weight loss than I was realizing. Of course, we'll see how the dieting continues...
|
|
|
Post by jlarson on Sept 25, 2015 11:08:01 GMT -7
I'm 1/4" shy of 6' (it's been a lifelong goal to hit 6'!) and 165 is an easy place for me to live. The last month or two of my training cycle I stop drinking beer and tighten up the diet a bit and can drop down to 160 with out too much fuss.
Right now 160 is my fighting weight but I'd like to experiment with what it takes to get to 155.
|
|
Sander
Junior Member
Posts: 61
|
Post by Sander on Sept 26, 2015 5:16:58 GMT -7
I'm usually oscillating around 10% body fat. During the strength phase I weigh about 176 lbs at a height of 6' and 1/2". I try to drop to 170 for performance. So far I've failed to get lower than that...
|
|
|
Post by tedwelser on Sept 28, 2015 12:32:21 GMT -7
I am 6'0" and have recently worked down to 162 (at 14.5%) from 167 plus or minus. I would like to get my bodyfat down to 11% or so, which, if I only lost fat would be about 155.5 according to the calculator linked above. I am hoping to reach that goal for spring performance season. Fall performance phase is basically starting in two weeks, so I might make it to about 160 by then, when my priority will become maintaining while feeling as strong and energized as possible for sending days.
|
|
|
Post by robdebruyn on Sept 29, 2015 7:36:43 GMT -7
I'm 5'11" and typically weigh around 165 when I'm not trying to manage my weight. Before this fall, I had never really concerned myself with my weight, thinking that I've always been pretty lean, and losing any additional pounds would require too much discomfort. I've basically adjusted my diet the same way that jlarson has, not drinking beer and making my lunch and dinner more vegetable-based, without as much grain or meat in my diet.
Now I'm at about 154, and I don't feel like the changes I've made have been a big sacrifice, or would be unsustainable in the long run. I've actually been surprised with how easy it was to lose the 10 lbs to get from 165 to 155. And the really cool part is, I'm feeling way stronger on routes than I have in the past, and just sent a new grade this past weekend. It was a really pumpy PE-heavy route, while I'm technically still in my power phase. I can't wait to see what happens after a couple weeks of PE training, and when temps get even crisper here in New England.
I think I'll allow myself to relax a little bit more during the strength phase this winter (I really like beer), and get strict again during the power phase to prep for PE and performance. After what I've managed to do in the past couple of weeks, I've been made a believer!
|
|
|
Post by stpatty on Nov 3, 2015 15:09:11 GMT -7
I'm all over this thread, sorry I'm late to the party. I'm 6'3" and fluctuate very often but normally around 180 lbs. I used to easily be able to get down to the low 170s, but since I've been doing the RPTM program I feel like I've put on some muscle, especially from SE exercises (weighted pull ups and inverted rows). Or maybe I just don't have the will power to get back down that low again, but I'd like to think my fighting weight is around 175 with the added muscle.
Either way, I know there are advantages and disadvantages to both sides, but those scrunchy positions and crimps really give me trouble with my height/weight.
|
|
|
Post by erick on Nov 4, 2015 9:19:58 GMT -7
Interesting to hear where everyone is at. I am little over 5' 10" and did my first "diet" during my last cycle. I am normally pretty lean and weigh in around 158. Dieting (cutting all sugar and simple carbs) got me down to 148 at my lowest and I definitely climbed my personal bests. At that point my wife was complaining that I was looking like a skeleton. After eating normally again my weight has gone back up to around 153 and stuck in that spot. I am not sure where my BF% was during all that and I wish there was a simple and accurate way of checking yourself. My wife is not too excited about me dieting again, I think it makes her feel like she needs to even though she really does not, but I would like to get closer to 140 and see what that does to my power.
|
|
|
Post by MarkAnderson on Nov 4, 2015 15:10:23 GMT -7
My wife is not too excited about me dieting again, I think it makes her feel like she needs to even though she really does not, I have the same problem. Plus, my natural state of being is basically a dick. It takes a good amount of energy to hide my true nature from the world (and thus appear friendly or helpful). When I'm dieting "hard" I often have less energy, so I occasionally fail in my efforts to disguise my true self. This bothers Kate the most, but there is definitely a perceived shaming effect as well. At times like this, when I'm not dieting, I feel bad that my lifestyle negatively impacts her body image, even though she is a very lean and healthy person. Fortunately when I'm dieting, the real Mark is in charge, and he doesn't give a shit about any of that nonsense
|
|
|
Post by Chris W on Nov 4, 2015 19:05:43 GMT -7
my natural state of being is basically a dick. It takes a good amount of energy to hide my true nature from the world (and thus appear friendly or helpful). Glad I'm not the only one.
|
|
|
Post by joev9 on Nov 5, 2015 14:20:06 GMT -7
I weighed 138 today and am feeling super strong. Just need the weather to improve to log in some big sends...
|
|
mclay
Junior Member
Posts: 96
|
Post by mclay on Aug 29, 2016 2:02:04 GMT -7
This is helpful and encouraging to get others successes and struggles - especially the "true self" coming thru when dieting. I've almost given up a couple of times due to my wife and kids having to put up with me.
The main take-away for me is every body varies and you have to learn what works for you. This is the first time in my life I've intentionally dieted. I hit this PE/Diet phase at 1.87 m (6' 1.5"?) and 75 Kg (165 lbs.). Was hoping that I could drop to 70 kg, but can't seem to break the 73.5 barrier. This was discouraging, but I'm realizing that for me there isn't much more weight to drop maybe. I can notice a leaner appearance and overall feeling better/stronger. The first "redpoint" trip of my performance phase is this coming weekend, so we shall see if there is a difference on the rock.
From the do-it-yourself body fat tests I reckon I'm at 9-10% body fat. This is without extensive cardio up till this point. Is it even worth fighting the good fight to drop a bit more weight? I'm hoping to push in to 5.11+ by the end of this year. My assumption is that a kg here or there isn't going to make or break me until I'm on more sustained fingery 5.12 territory.
|
|
|
Post by JIm on Aug 29, 2016 9:21:46 GMT -7
mclay, if you're truly at 9-10% bodyfat, I wouldn't worry too much about getting it below that figure. For most people, it takes a considerable amount of focus, discipline, and/or energy to get below 9-10% bodyfat and that focus, discipline and/or energy would be better served in climbing efforts. It can be hard to balance the reduction in food consumption or need for excessive cardio to get below 9-10% while maintaining climbing specific strength and power. It becomes a basic cost/benefit analysis where the costs are often higher than the benefit once you get into single digits in body fat percentage. I know there are a few mutants out there that are naturally that lean, but that would be the exception and not the rule.
|
|