Putting on fat when going up a weight class

[skribs]

I had hovered around 185 for most of my adult life. Last year, I managed to get down to 175 to compete at middleweight in IBJJF. This year, I got down to 160 (which would put me in lightweight) in preparation for a Taekwondo test. The less weight I had, the easier all the cardio and acrobatics would be.

I have also started strength training, and am starting to climb back up. I am hovering around 165 in the mornings, and I believe if I continue my workout regime, that's going to start going up. In just under a month, I will be competing in jiu-jitsu again, this time in Jiu-Jitsu World League, which uses similar weight classes as IBJJF for gi. My options are light (168 w/ gi) or middle (182 w/ gi). I don't think I could make 168 unless I stop lifting and keep up my current diet. If I keep lifting, I think I'll be around 170 with the gi.

I'm wondering if - for the short term - I should pack on some weight. If I pack on 5-10 pounds of fat, I'll be closer to 180 in the 182 pound bracket. Then, as I catch back up to around 175, I can start to go lean again, and try to maintain weight while increasing muscle.

 

[HighKick]

I had hovered around 185 for most of my adult life. Last year, I managed to get down to 175 to compete at middleweight in IBJJF. This year, I got down to 160 (which would put me in lightweight) in preparation for a Taekwondo test. The less weight I had, the easier all the cardio and acrobatics would be.

I have also started strength training, and am starting to climb back up. I am hovering around 165 in the mornings, and I believe if I continue my workout regime, that's going to start going up. In just under a month, I will be competing in jiu-jitsu again, this time in Jiu-Jitsu World League, which uses similar weight classes as IBJJF for gi. My options are light (168 w/ gi) or middle (182 w/ gi). I don't think I could make 168 unless I stop lifting and keep up my current diet. If I keep lifting, I think I'll be around 170 with the gi.

I'm wondering if - for the short term - I should pack on some weight. If I pack on 5-10 pounds of fat, I'll be closer to 180 in the 182 pound bracket. Then, as I catch back up to around 175, I can start to go lean again, and try to maintain weight while increasing muscle.

I had to go up and down in weight quite often in my college wrestling days. A team mate would get hurt and I would move up or down to fill a weight class. Going down in weight was much easier for me than going up and I could sometimes do it in a matter of days. But my weight has always swung pretty fast, I have always assumed due the amount of fluid intake and fluid flush/retention.
We currently weigh about the same (175) and I regularly swing up and down about 10lbs through the course of a year, less in summer months.

If I understand correctly, you are at 165 and may compete 168 in a month? What time of day is weigh-in? That matters. Learn how your body reacts and moderate your intake leading up to weigh-in and you should be good. Do you know what your average daily gains (ADG) is? It is a great predictive tool to use to help plan the weight curve.
Back in the day, if I was worried about weigh-in (going down) the night before or a couple days before I would steeply drop my fluid intake, and take laxatives to be good and cleaned out (yes, it works). But here is the kicker, you will essentially have a hangover from dehydration the morning of weigh-in so have plenty of your favorite electrolyte drink and high calorie/protein food on hand to get a good energy boost.

When I was in the WT circuit, making weight was less of an issue since the weight categories were much broader. Being a welterweight was my natural weight.

It does not sound like you are that dangerously close to missing weigh-in so some of this may not be necessary. Maybe switching your strength training to have more intense cardio than raw weight leading up to the match is all you need.

I am sure you know muscle weighs more than fat, so with your weight training regimen you may be headed to a higher weight bracket if not careful. Usable muscle mass is the key. Thing gymnast strength not body builder mass.

 

[skribs]

If I understand correctly, you are at 165 and may compete 168 in a month?

165 in my birthday suit in the morning and will compete at 182 with the gi on in a month.

There's no way I'm making 168 with the gi in a month if I keep strength training.

 

[HighKick]

165 in my birthday suit in the morning and will compete at 182 with the gi on in a month.

There's no way I'm making 168 with the gi in a month if I keep strength training.

Do you have to weigh in with the Gi on?

If you know the strength training is the variable to change, then why not change it?

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Personally, unless it was a career, or i needed the prize money, I wouldnt. If you've got a set routine and gameplan going for weightloss/muscle building, suddenly changing it to gain back that weight you lost is just going to jeopardize your existing routine/diet, and that's not worth risking for just one tournament.

 

[skribs]

Personally, unless it was a career, or i needed the prize money, I wouldnt. If you've got a set routine and gameplan going for weightloss/muscle building, suddenly changing it to gain back that weight you lost is just going to jeopardize your existing routine/diet, and that's not worth risking for just one tournament.

Yea but I want a few weeks of enjoying cheeseburgers and milkshakes.

 

[drop bear]

Personally, unless it was a career, or i needed the prize money, I wouldnt. If you've got a set routine and gameplan going for weightloss/muscle building, suddenly changing it to gain back that weight you lost is just going to jeopardize your existing routine/diet, and that's not worth risking for just one tournament.

That.

Amateur competition is about developing your potential as a martial artist.

You are literally the only person you can impress with your jujitsu gold medal at this stage.

(Start looking at worlds. Obviously a different discussion)

So in that vein. Develop your sise and strength to whatever is the most optimal for you. And compete in whatever weight category you wind up in.

And look. Jujitsu tournaments are hinky anyway. You will probably wind up in the weight bracket above or the belt level above ir something anyway.

 

[drop bear]

Yea but I want a few weeks of enjoying cheeseburgers and milkshakes.

That is kind of bad. Just from a personal discipline kind of way. If you have a fight camp you commit to. That is more beneficial to you than winning a tournament.

 

[skribs]

...and now that tournament is delayed by 7 weeks, so now I have a ton of time to put the weight on.

I'm still going to enjoy dessert this week. Get back to the new normal next week.

 

[HighKick]

...and now that tournament is delayed by 7 weeks, so now I have a ton of time to put the weight on.

I'm still going to enjoy dessert this week. Get back to the new normal next week.

May I ask what is causing the delay? How are they handling the media/advertising side of it?
Always good to hear how other organizers handle things.

 

[skribs]

May I ask what is causing the delay? How are they handling the media/advertising side of it?

I'm trying to find out. They sent out an email, quoting that folks had asked for it and they're granting the request to help competitors, coaches, and fans.

 

[Yokozuna514]

How big is this tournament ? How large of a geographic area is it drawing it's competitors from ? Unless it is national tournament or there is prize money involved, I wouldn't worry too much about moving up and down weight categories unless you are trying to get into a category that has seasoned competitors that dominate and you are not interested in an eventual match up. Adult tournaments 30+ can draw a mixed bag of people that may have been past champions in their youth who are still training or people finding the sport later in life and wanting to compete to practice their skills against people other than those they regularly train with. A lot of the people competing will be like you who has found BJJ as an adult. They are going to go through the same anxiety as you are going through simply because they haven't competed in a lot of tournaments. Some will eat the cheeseburgers and and some will not. Will it make a difference in their performance that day ? Not as much as the sweat they have put into learning the skills and preparing for the tournament. Not as much as the confidence they have to show off those skills and keep their anxiety in check. Not as much as their ability to be in the moment and to trust that the work they have done will give them the opportunities to secure each victory to get to them to the final.

If you believe a dessert will stop you from getting the W it probably will. Only you can decide if the cheeseburger or dessert will help or hinder you.