Almost a Lightweight

PaulG · Post by **PaulG** » February 6th, 2009, 4:01 pm

I stepped on the scales this morning and for the first time saw the numerals 1 6 5. Usually I am between 166 and 170. I started erging seriously about a year ago for conditioning and competition and lost about 12 pounds without paying much, if any, attention to diet. Now I am a very light heavyweight within range of being a lightweight. Does anyone have experience in making that final drop to LW and maintaining it? I am somehwat ambivalent about it. If I can make lightweight, my national rankings will shoot right up there if I can repeat my PBs (I should be able to). However, you are what your PB is regardles of your age and weight. The rankings are in a sense vanity because they are a relative measure. OK I'm vain. As a 52 YO, 5' 11'' male I am interested in other light HWs (or heavy LWs) experiences in making and maintaing lightweight status.

RowtheRockies · Post by **RowtheRockies** » February 6th, 2009, 7:54 pm

Paul,

If you were able to get down to 165 with just the rowing and no change in diet, I think that getting a comfortable buffer under 165 might not be that difficult with some small but not drastic changes to your diet.

This of course depends on how lean you are. If you are already at 6-10% bf then maybe it would not be so easy but if you have a little exra around the middle then it probably would be.

When I stopped running three years ago my weight was 174 but I was also very lean. The lightest I have been in my adult life was 164 when I was running a lot. For me to get down below 165 would probably effect my performance more than it would help in the rankings. Of course now I am a "portly" 180 lbs.

Rich

Nosmo · Post by **Nosmo** » February 6th, 2009, 8:02 pm

Just slightly smaller portions should be all it takes. You are so close that it should be easy to loose about a half pound a week, if you pay attention and do it consistently. In a month you will be under 165 pretty consistently and in two you will always be under. Since you only saw 165 once, I'm assuming you are really averaging a bit more.

PaulG · Post by **PaulG** » February 10th, 2009, 2:23 pm

Thanks for the information and encouragement folks. I was 168 this morning so I think LW is within reach. I am nearing the end of the 26 week UK interactive progam so there will be lots of interval work to do, which I understand helps with weight loss. Seeing that the indoor season ends at the end of April there is time. However, this may require giving up beer and I am not sure I am up to that.

SkipChurch · Post by **SkipChurch** » February 14th, 2009, 6:51 am

Paul, hello. I'm at 5'11" and 175 pounds, 58 years old. I went on a vegan diet (following Joel Furhman MD, "Eat to Live") and found my weight easily fell to 167 and I suppose would have drifted down a bit more if I had continued. After six weeks I reintroduced animal products to about 10% of total calories, and my weight rose back to the 172-175 area.

If I wanted to make weight for LW I'd follow the Fuhrman diet more rigorously, continue to row ~60 minutes a day, and lift weights or play racquetball three days a week. Adding in the weight training is probably the most important part when you're trying to push your weight down to a lower set-point.

Good luck!