Sitting on Lightweight fence

corpsrower · Post by **corpsrower** » April 1st, 2007, 12:50 pm

I was looking around today when I found out that the limit for college lightweight men is less than 160lbs and not the 165 i thought it was. My problem is that I currently am sitting on the fence between 158-162 lbs. My question is whether or not I will continue to gain weight as I train. I've held a pretty constant weight under 165 (sometimes got fat, around winter and thanksgiving) and haven't ever gotten out of shape. Is it still possible for me to stay as a fat lightweight?

P.S. - In high school rowing I weighed in at nationals at 150.0 lbs...coach wasn't terribly pleased.

johnlvs2run · Post by **johnlvs2run** » April 1st, 2007, 3:29 pm

You're only 5' 11".

Yes, row as a lightweight.

yehster · Post by **yehster** » April 2nd, 2007, 7:40 am

One of my friends on my lightweight squad back in college pushed 170 or so during the winter. As the first race of the spring season approached he was always grumpy trying to cut weight. He was captain of our squad senior year. I doubt he would have been as competitive rowing with the heavies. Maybe a little happier from a diet perspective though. In the end, you have to decide for yourself if the trade-offs to cut weight to be more competitive are worth it to you.

The fact that weigh-ins for crew happen the night before an event, rather than just before like for wrestling mean that sucking weight isn't as bad of an experience. You have some time before your race to rehydrate and enjoy a meal. Of course this is purely "lip service" from me as I was a "weight maker" for the boat and didn't have to cut.

/Wishing I could make weight these days

corpsrower · Post by **corpsrower** » April 2nd, 2007, 9:18 am

yehster wrote:One of my friends on my lightweight squad back in college pushed 170 or so during the winter. As the first race of the spring season approached he was always grumpy trying to cut weight. He was captain of our squad senior year. I doubt he would have been as competitive rowing with the heavies. Maybe a little happier from a diet perspective though. In the end, you have to decide for yourself if the trade-offs to cut weight to be more competitive are worth it to you.

The fact that weigh-ins for crew happen the night before an event, rather than just before like for wrestling mean that sucking weight isn't as bad of an experience. You have some time before your race to rehydrate and enjoy a meal. Of course this is purely "lip service" from me as I was a "weight maker" for the boat and didn't have to cut.

/Wishing I could make weight these days

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't know that weigh-ins were the night before since in my HS experience we always weighed in that morning and then rushed to fill our stomachs. I liked rowing lightweight just because of the competition and I doubt that I would be competitive as a fatty for teh simple reason stated above, I'm just not tall enough. If I was 6'1" or so then I'd start drinking protein shakes day in a day out...but guess not.