Weight Class decision -following Szolek

The next weight down for me in Ketttle bell sport is 176lbs which is not realistic at 6'1" with the muscle I carry. That made that decision easy even though GS, like OCS, has big weight classes -10 kilos not 10 lbs.

I was walking around at 186 which feels big and strong to me. I went off the creatine about a week before the comp ( end of September). I figured I'd see how close I could get to 180, the next weight class down for OCS, if I gave up the creatine.

After 6 weeks of pretty tight eating I'm at 182 but I feel "skinny". I think there has been some caloric restriction, although not in a formal way. To get to 179 -180 I would have to give up muscle and be diet "concsious", something I no longer have to do - I just eat like this after all these years. Giving up muscle is a bad idea in evey way possible, metabolically, aging wise, bad-ass wise etc...

So, I will go with the weight class I'm in, which is 180-198. I will take all comers. I will eat smart and hard, train with 20s, then the 25s and get my Bruiser for my 44th B-day ( 3/2). Hope to wind up at 188 or so at 9%. Abs and Arms baby -yeah

Bill

[Scott Sonnon]

Right on, Bill.

The difficult part about OCS is that the sport doesn't favor larger athletes. Although larger athletes may be 'stronger' (due to true recruitment, or leverage and muscle cross-section) they still have the same duration to complete greater volume. Not just strong and long, heavier demands faster to accommodate the higher rep requirement... a uniquely demanding character of such strength endurance sports.

But like in Sambo, cutting weight doesn't put you in stronger than your competitors at a lighter class; it puts you in weaker with less stamina.
For World University Games, I had 2 weeks to drop 22lbs. to make my weight class and keep my seat. I did things to myself for which coaches would be arrested if they had done them to their athletes. Never again.

My cutting days are over as well, amigo. Upward with strength and stamina.

[cqc10]

I'm 5'8" and weigh 172 right now. I can't imagine 6'1" frame weighing high 170's without being "skinny".

[aaron]

I could see 6'1" and 172lbs, but maybe that is the wrestler in me talking. But, I'd consider the fact you're focusing on competitive weight lifting and advice against that kind of cutting.

What is the lowest men's weight class in GS?

5'10" 150, 7-8% body fat. I'm starting the anabolic diet as was suggested by Humi and it seems like it'll work out best for me. 160g of carbs 2 days a week sounds good.

[Scott Sonnon]

You may find the list of OCS weight classes at www.circularstrengthtraining.com/clubbellsport.html

[cqc10]

So that's what I had in mind -