Why not to cut weight.... at least for me.

I cut weight for Copa, and this was closer to cutting weight than what I normally do.  If I want to drop a weight class, I always start well in advance, and try to go about doing it in the best way possible, with the least negative effects on my body.

For Copa, I about 5% of my body weight in six days.  It may not really seem like a lot, but it was enough to put me in the hospital.  Oops.

I normally have low blood pressure, and in cutting weight, I got dehydrated, and it caused my already low BP to drop even lower.

The weird thing about it was I have been dehydrated before, and I feel dehydrated.  I am tried, my head hurts and I feel awful.  This time though, I felt generally fine.  I was tired, and sore, but I attributed it to the fact that I had just competed.

However, walking across my house, I blacked out, and landed on my face.  Neither of those things were real great for my body.

It's actually not as funny when you are the one falling down. 

And being that blacking out and smashing your face is not something that generally happens to 30 year old healthy women, I was forced to go to the ER.

Luckily the problem was just hypotension caused by dehydration, and possibly my anemia in conjunction with my already low BP.  My normal BP is 85/50 ish... so when it is already low, having it drop rapidly from standing and moving quickly, I fainted.  I do get dizzy if I stand up quickly from time to time, but I guess it was just made worse by dehydration.

So, they gave me an epic crap ton of fluids... they started with three bags all at once.  That sucked quite a bit.  It made me REALLY cold and miserable for about an hour... but then they gave me fluids at a normal rate and kept me for observation.  ... Observation being, my standing up and siting down a bunch of times over and over, whist my hospital gown malfunctioned horribly.

So, the moral of this story is... I will never cut weight again.  I will just fight strong at my walking around weight and that will just have to be enough, and I am sure it will be.  

It is decided!

Thanks to help from the beautiful and wise, Georgette I have decided to fight medio.

It makes more sense for my team, my body type, and general metal state and safely of those around me while I cut.

I can still be a beast in middle weight and that is exactly what I am going to do.  (This is where I start to psych myself up.)

I am very relieved to have come to a decision, and on top of that I've never trained to for a strength and size advantage.  I am looking forward to it.  I think it will take more discipline but I can be disciplined and happy.  I am not a happy cutter.

Let the training begin!

Still Undecided.

I talked to Fabio last night about what to do... and pretty much anyone else who would listen.

I still don't know what I am going to do.... I would make a pro and con list, but I know the pro list will consist of one item, and one item alone.  Beast mode!  

After last night though, I have a few other things to factor in.  

We have a LOT of girls fighting who are planning to go to the Miami Open and if I fight middle weight we will all be in different divisions.  Which really is making me consider middle weight more seriously.  

If we all go, we will have a female in every adult white belt division, as well as two in masters, super feather, and medium heavy.  ...This is if I go middle weight.  Other wise we will have two lights, and no middles.  

Obviously, I'm not worried about having to fight my teammate... but in different divisions we have potential to being home two golds instead of a gold and silver... Clearly, a better scenario for the team.  I would however, be perfectly happy to flip for gold/silver with any of my teammates. 

The other bit of information that is making me consider middle weight is I checked my ovulation app, and the week of the Miami open, is the week I am the most bloated as well as it being the stretch of time I am in most need of Dorito therapy.  That won't stop be from making light weight, it will just make it all the worse for the people unfortunate enough to be around me that week.

I know if I decide to cut my stubborn determined nature will be sure I make light weight... but it seems the more and more I think about it, the less sense it makes to cut. 

Perhaps bulking up a bit is the better option here.  ... but but but.... beast mode?  *sad face*  

I need to make a solid decision by the weekend.  I am doing my self no favors by waiting to decide.  

In other news, after class last night Yeti showed me the most ridiculous side control escape to head and arm choke thing ever.  It made me do a evil little cackle.

To cut or not to cut?

Right now I weigh 143.

Light weight in gi is only 141, but in my gear I need to be 136 to make weight.

The next weight class up is 152 in gi, which is where I am now.

Its only 7 pounds, but 7 pounds is really hard for me to lose... Not to mention the fact that my doctor lectures me when I get below 148.

I know getting to 136 isn't going to kill me if I do it temporarily... I am just remembering how very hard it was for me to get to light weight last time.

I have plenty of time to make the cut and maintain for a week or so before the Miami open.. I just don't know if it is worth it.

So, it is basically... Do I suffer and punish by body for the next few months to be a 5'9 light weight... Or just eat and behave normally, and fight middle weight.

I vowed to never again cut to light weight again, and Ben always said to fight where you are.... but here I am considering it again.

Decisions, decisions.

Any input you might have would be greatly appreciated.

Some recent observations...

This is just a a few random observations I've recently made...

No gi - It sucks.  I grappled a guy no gi today and it was by far one of the most annoying things I've had to deal with grappling.  I had on short sleeved underarmor, and he was wearing a tee-shirt.  Normally when I go no gi, I wear long sleeved rash guards to protect my elbows.  Anyway, with both of us being a bit sweaty, I could NOT for the life of me create any traction with my arms against his arms or legs.  So, I will be 100% sure to always bring my long sleeved underarmor to competition from now on.

Cutting weight - I will never do it again.  When we went to South Shore, I had not eaten breakfast...  Not on purpose or anything, I just had a hectic morning... then we had to meet up, and travel and we didn't start grappling until about 1:30 - 2:00.  And like I said in my previous blog... I hit a wall like you would not believe.  I think the heat may have been a factor, but it may also have been that I'd not eaten.  Annoying?  Yes... but it did teach me that food is important for grappling.  This last NAGA I cut weight, and didn't eat anything all day... Then I grappled.  It was fine, but I really didn't have much trouble in the novice division..  But this time I did have to work, and it drained me.  I'd already decided I wouldn't cut weight again, but this cemented it.  I would be SO angry with myself if I hit a wall in a competition because I wanted to cut weight.

Wrestlers - They are interesting when they first start BJJ.  One of our purple belts is also a wrestling coach.  One of his students came to class night and that kid gave up his back, and suck his neck out like a turtle ALL night.  I understand the very basic of wrestling, so I know why he did it... and even during one of his grapples, he said "Man, this is like speaking another language!"  Toward the end of the night he was doing it less, but still... It was interesting to watch.

Big New Guys - Not so scary anymore.  Well, at least the ones who don't flair and panic when I girl is choking them out.  I rolled with a fairly new guy today, and was able to submit him a few times, but the thing I was most proud of with that grapple was the fact that when I sat out in side control I could hear and feel the air being squished out of his lungs.  LOL -  I that may sound kind of jerkish, but the fact that I could do that to a man who easily had 100 pounds on me, meant more to me then the submissions.

I also got a very nice compliment today.  "Man, you are really light, but you feel so heavy."  Only a fellow grappler would understand why that is a compliment.  lol

And oh look.. I managed to type out all of this and manage to say nothing at all.

Alright, listen up body.

I run this show.  Not you.  (yeah, yeah, I know that sounds insane, and my body will do whatever it wants, but yelling at it makes me feel better.  lol)

You make light weight, and you will do it by Friday night.

Ugh!

I gained .2 more pounds.

It seems impossible, but it is what it is, and I will do what I have to to make light weight.

I didn't come this far just to fight middleweight... I have passed the point of no return, and I will make my goal.

Nemesis, why do you taunt me so?

Friday morning I was down to 137.

Two pounds from light weight.

Saturday morning I was up to 138.4.  I knew I'.d eaten a little crapper then I should have, so I expected it.

So on Saturday I stuck to my meal plan, and grappled like a mad woman.

I had to take the kids to a birthday party.. I passed on the cake, soda and root beet floats.  I only snacked on the raw veggies, and had a salad for dinner.

I went out after dinner to a local sports bar to watch the fight, and I ordered celery, humus and water.

This morning, I weighed 139.6.

How on earth I gained over a pound in a day where I ate basically nothing but raw vegetables is beyond me.

I  now have 6 days to lose 5 pounds.

It is so not going to happen.

Yes!

I am down to 138.9

I am into the 130s.  Phew!

12 more days, 4 more pounds.

Eep.

I know I can dehydrate the rest off, but I really, really do not want to. I wouldn't really even considering doing it, except for the fact that I have been busting my butt for the past month, and I don't want it to be all for nothing.

And BTW - My teammate, Jimmy, who competed in Abu Dhabi won his division, and his first match in absolute.   He lost his second by two points.

Awesome job Jimmy!  I knew he would do well.  Jimmy is awesome.

Hello wall.... Go away!

I appear to have hit a wall in my quest to lightweight.  ... and it is pissing me off.

I haven't lost anything in three days, and today, I gained!

I am going to have to up my cardio.  I am going to run (or walk depending on if I have to take the kids in the stroller) three times a day on days I don't grapple, and twice on days I do... and once on the days I go to class twice.

Cardio three times a day, no carbs after 3:00, and even though I am eating right I am going to start counting every calorie I put into my mouth.

If I do that, and don't start losing again there is no way my body is going to give up any more fat with out doing damage.

Nemesis!

No, no, I am not talking about my brother in law for once.

This is my new nemesis:

The holidays are finally over... and the least fun week of the month will be over in a day or two... and so help me, if the number on the scale does not start going down... Well, bad things will happen to the scale, and I will start pounding the pavement like a crazy person.

No more excuses... no more tapping out of running after the kids are in bed... no more of Zaile's potty training M&Ms... and no more cheese trays!

I will get down to light weight. I will do it right, and I will not be a zombie on competition day. but to do that, I will have to have an iron will.

I just weighed my self... 148.2 -Thank you holidays.

I want to get to 133 ideally. The cut off is 134.9, but I need to take clothes and being a living human body into consideration so I want to give myself a little wiggle room.

Warning!

Nerd brain calculations:

15.2 pounds is what I need to lose, and if I do not weigh in the night before, I have 42 days to lose it. I need to average a loss of .37 pounds a day...

My current BMI is 21.9

I need to get it down to 19.6

I will post my weight, and BMI every day.

44 days and counting

I will make light weight for the next NAGA.

I'm 5'9 and my training partner is 5'4. At the November NAGA she was easily the biggest girl in her class. ... and I dwarf her. (And I say biggest, but she is tiny.) I was aching to grapple the little twigs she got to fight. lol

I have 44 days to drop 15 pounds. I put on a few pounds over Christmas because I trained less, and had to eat three Christmas dinners. ... And for the love of all that is holy, if you put cheese and crackers out on a tray, I will eat them... all.

Anyway, I lost 8 pounds for De la Riva and it wasn't too hard, and I did that in 16 days.

This time I have to lose a little more, but I have much longer to do it. ... and I will do it.

Rawr!

The only thing I am unsure of is where I should try and maintain. I think I was looking a little bony at 140. I can pretty much eat what I want (except for epic amounts of cheese trays) and stay at 145... but that means I will be going up and down 10 pounds between competitions. But I guess as long as I keep myself healthy while I do it, it shouldn't matter that much.

Maybe between the Feb, and June NAGAs I will just let my body do what it wants and see where I even out. I've never been as low as 135 as an adult and there are no major food holidays between those NAGAs, so maybe I won't get back up to 145... I plan to compete every 3 months provided everything works out. I'm sure I will miss a few. It takes a lot of planning to go away for a weekend when you have two small children.

Gain or Lose?!

I lost 7 pounds in the last two weeks or De la Riva, and it was for absolutely nothing. I ended up fighting a 208 pound woman.

Now, I am thinking about NAGA.

The weight classes for women are 134.9 and under, and 135 and over. I am at 140 right now.

I do not want to go to NAGA at 140.

Should I drop 5 more, or gain 5 more?

I have 11 days to do which ever I decide.

At 140 my BMI is 21.1

135 BMI is 20.4

145 BMI is 21.9

All within normal.

Ugh! I don't know what I should do!

Finally!!

I need to be under 144.9

I am 144.0 this morning.

Wooohoooo!!

Now I just have to maintain for 5 days. I don't have to worry about dehydrating... or spitting.. Thank goodness. I don't think I am capable of spitting with out getting it on myself.. and I really didn't want to spend a day trying to spit, and end up changing my shirt 15 times.

And now that my paranoia about my weight is over.... I can already feel the nerves setting in. ... and I'm thinking about how I have done one whole take down ever. One. My second one will be in my first competition.

Honestly though, my biggest fear is disappointing my instructors. I don't want to let them down.

And on a semi-related side note..... Sometimes being tall sucks! lol

Evil

If you know me... You know I am generally a fan of evil. I always root for the villains... I have a little crush on Darth Vader and I fan girl when Sylar starts popping skulls off. It's weird...I know... I can't help it, but I have come to terms with it, and so should you.

However, today I found a form of evil that I do not like

Pure unadulterated evil... Asking me to go get you deep fried spicy mushrooms when I still have a pound to lose before the weekend.

Deep fried mushrooms are my kryptonite. I only eat them every once in a blue moon, but they are my favorite... possibly even more so then chocolate and almonds... but only because I eat them so rarely.

Being the glutton for punishment tha I am... I went and got them...

Resistance if futile my foot.

De La Riva!

There is a small tournament here in 18 days. I think it will be good practice for NAGA, so I am going to do it.

And I am going to attempt to drop 4.9 pounds. I am not going to kill myself over it, but if I don't I am in the 145 and over weight class... whereas losing the weight I will be in the 130-144.9. I wouldn't mind being the bottom of my weight class if there was a cut off weight, but I really don't want to go against some gigantic woman.

I will have to put it right back on for Naga though, because at 145 I will be near the bottom of my weight class.

I just need to work on.....

I have been eating right, and working out every day for about a month.

Now, I need to get more sleep. I have ALWAYS deprived myself of sleep. Always. I am used to it, and I can go on 5-6 hours of sleep a night, so I do. But I am going to work hard at getting at least 8, at least a few times a week. I am going to start getting in bed at 11:30.

9/09/09 - Date Win

So - For the past week or two I have been driving myself insane. I've been overly conscious of what people think of me. Normally I don’t give two craps what people think of me, so it’s been an interesting week. And I don’t mean that I don’t care what people think.. I do care how people think, and feel… I just don’t tend to care if people judge me. I mean, I’m not living my life for anyone but God and my family… so if Joe-shmoe thinks my hair is offensive, or that my boots are weird… I don’t care. But all last week, I was hyper aware of everything… My nail polish…Should I take it off?... Should I not wear these flip flops because they have pink on them? … What will people think if I wear this? …. I was driving myself… and poor Allie insane. Allie in her infinite wisdom said she thought it was because lately I have been working losing weight, and I’ve been hyper aware of my body and what it looks like… I for the first time in my life I really truly care what I look like to myself, I was worrying about what everyone else was thinking too…. And I so don’t have to.

On my way to a meeting that I was stressing about, I called Allie. She told me to pray about it after we got off the phone.. so I did. And I am already feeling better about it. Granted, it could just be that all the things that were stressing me out are over… lol… but I do have to do something Friday that was really causing my brain to malfunction, and I am not worried about it anymore… at all.

So, all that is good and nice, but the weird thing was… This morning Youtube had a suggested video for me… and it seems kind of random as I do not listen to or watch other videos like it on Youtube.

My Suggested Video:(It's the song... not the video.. lol)