Question about weight(Making a lightweight boat)

GLC-Will · Post by **GLC-Will** » November 15th, 2007, 1:33 am

I was wondering if some of you think it'd be unhealthy if I try to get my weight down to around 155 or 160 lbs. I'm thinking about trying to make the lightweight boat this year, and right now i'm around 170-175. I don't think it'd be that hard for me to do, since i'm motivated enough to work out(in addition to winter conditioning).

I'd want to make lightweight varsity because I think it'd be a good experience with the different coach, and because the lightweight boat is probably going to be KILLER this season. This past season was my first season in the varsity boat, and i'm only a sophomore, so I have plenty of time to make varsity during other seasons. I'm only worried because I don't know how healthy it would be for a 6'2"-6'3" guy to be at 155 or 160 pounds. I know some guys on the team who are taller then me and on the lightweight boat, so I was thinking it couldn't be that bad.

What do you think? And how would I get down to around 155 by the time spring season starts(febuary) in a completely healthy way?

PaulH · Post by **PaulH** » November 15th, 2007, 5:07 am

You might want to clarify your starting and ending weights - you've set a range of 10-20 pounds, which is a big difference! You should also explain your current build - I could certainly lose that much from my frame (sadly), but if you're fairly muscular already you may not be able to do so healthily.

GLC-Will · Post by **GLC-Will** » November 15th, 2007, 11:34 am

Right now i'm pretty sure i'm at 175 lbs. I want to get around 155-160. The boat average is supposed to be 155, so that means If somebody is 150 in the boat and i'm 160, I could get away with being at 160. I'm already slim, but I don't know what my body fat percentage is. I'm going to try and find out a way to get that accurately measured so I can decide how I would get down.

Besides, even if I can't get lightweight, getting my weight down while keeping my erg scores the same/lowering them would still be beneficial towards me making the varsity boat again come spring.

Lincoln Brigham · Post by **Lincoln Brigham** » November 18th, 2007, 3:15 pm

I"m 6'1". I've been down below 155 and it's not a happy place athletically.

tbartman · Post by **tbartman** » November 18th, 2007, 9:41 pm

I'm 40 years old, and 6' 3". I was obese for a long time, but went from 260 to 185 over the last year (mostly in 7 months). I still had a little paunch (tire), so I tried desperately to get down to 180 or 175. A) My body really resisted,

I found I was making less progress on the erg. In the last month or so, I've let myself slowly back up to 190, I feel better, and my erg times are improving again. This is an n=1, so take it with a grain of salt. I still don't look great in a speedo, but am going to focus on some muscle building before trying to shed weight (fat) again. I'm sure there's still 10 lbs of pure adipose to be lost.

Your results may vary. I would find someone with calipers to get you your BF%. Figure that 8-10% is a reasonable goal for a male who doesn't want to waste away muscle. If you are already there, I think LWT is undoable. If you are 12-15%, then maybe you can do it.

Tom

Elamonta · Post by **Elamonta** » December 28th, 2007, 11:00 pm

Wow I thought I was reading my autobiography lol...my first weigh in was the physical to join the team freshman year in college. I was 6'2 and weighed 178. After one spring semester, I could tell the medals and potential all rested in being in the Lightweight boat as you seem to fall under that category also. I dropped down to 165 within a year, and maintained (actually dropped them some) my erg times. That being said I never drop weight down to 160 or even 155. My deal with the guys in my LTWT 4 was if I dropped down 15 pounds the 3 of them combined could help lower the avg if I stopped at 160lbs. They agreed and we were faster because of it. The stats of our boat was two guys at 6'1 avg 153-154, myself at 160 (6'2) and one at 6'4 (152lbs). I firmly believe he is a rarity...he is 6'4 almost 6'5 weighs 150-153 during the spring and his body fat is between 6 and 8 percent any given day. After the weight loss I now weight around 164-166 during the fall and early spring...then I lose a pound here and there...and when the weigh-in races begin I drop the last 3-4 pounds...which BELIEVE ME can be lost in a DAY easily. My coach's husband lost 18pounds in 2 days for a weigh-in and they still hold the record at the Head of the Hooch in the Masters 4.

Without knowing your body stats, etc...I would say its possible...be safe and realize that weight will not drop in a day...and that cardio weekly and proper eating makes a big difference. It did for me and now my body has stabilized at 165 instead of 178. Best of luck to you...

Rowan11088 · Post by **Rowan11088** » December 29th, 2007, 2:28 am

Believe me you're not alone with that decision. But you're really asking two different things: First, whether you can maintain a weight of around 160 lbs and be healthy. I'd say that's unlikely. But could you maintain a weight of 170, and drop down for races? Probably. Some people think that kind of drastic cutting is dangerous, and of course it can be in extreme cases, but honestly I think it's a lot healthier for you to put your body under duress a dozen separate times during the spring rather than keeping it in starvation mode constantly.

I would say talk to the LW coach, before doing anything else. He'll have a good idea of your potential weight, as well as how useful you'll be in his boat after cutting.

Elamonta · Post by **Elamonta** » December 29th, 2007, 9:21 am

Well said Rowan...that is what I was alluding to in my post. It is tough to drop all the weight and become a natural lightweight where you dont need to worry about your weight...for you I am sure that would be unhealthy. On the other hand, dropping down to 165-170 and then dropping before weigh in like I do...is healthier and more realistic, but as he said talk to your coach and usually every high school/college has a nutrition teacher or personal trainer that could assist you also. Good luck.

GLC-Will · Post by **GLC-Will** » December 29th, 2007, 6:17 pm

I might as well update.

I'm not going to try and go lightweight, because I got my body fat measured and it would actually be physically impossible for me to drop down to 155 without losing muscle and being at 1% body fat.

Instead, i'm going for bulking up and getting alot more muscle weight, which is what I need if i'm going to keep rowing for HWT varsity.

Thanks for the help, guys.

Elamonta · Post by **Elamonta** » December 29th, 2007, 8:08 pm

Well best of luck to you. It sure as hell is easier on the stomach to remain heavyweight thats for sure!

iain · Post by **iain** » January 8th, 2008, 10:31 am

Off message (please excuse as this seems resolved), but what is the consensus on losing weight. I am 39, 5'11"and have steadily put on weight from 157 at my fittest to 169 currently despite losing some muscle. I intend to race lightweight on ergs so only need to drop a few pounds, clearly losing the weight is an option for me. I am far from fit so need to concentrate on improving my times.

Would it be beneficial to concentrate on getting the weight down early to a couple of pounds below the limit and then maintain this through serious training, or drop closer to the race?

Elamonta · Post by **Elamonta** » January 8th, 2008, 5:06 pm

I wouldn't worry too much about the weight, but I would not let yourself gain anymore. Normally I weigh around 168 with minimal cardio and horrible eating habits. I drop down to about 158 in the OTW rowing season. For you all you need is 4 pounds, so my advice would be to continue training but maybe try to lose another 2-3 pounds and then when it gets closer to racing season shedding those 2 pounds for a weigh-in won't be so bad. Plus, I have been to many an erg race where they have given a 2-3 pound allowance....

Hope this helps...

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