Author Topic: Effects of bodyfat loss on strength (Read 3241 times)

John Mosca · « **on:** Apr 12, 2005, 02:37 PM »

Speaking of weight do overweight people who loose 10-15 lbs loose strength?

Steve Gough · « **Reply #1 on:** Apr 20, 2005, 09:43 AM »

I have been working with Damon Fox since last August. Damon had weighed as high as 155 kgs and did his best lifting at a little less bodyweight. At last years seniors he weighed in at approx. 134.6 kgs, unfortunately bombing out with a 127.5 kg snatch.

Damon moved up to Montana to go to school and train with me. My only caveat was "he had to lose weight" (which also implied drastically changin his lifestyle). Initially we shot for the 105 kg class (he is approx 5-10 in height). He has by and large stuck with it, but as we neared that 105 kg bdwt we both simultaneously and independently decided to keep going towards the 94 kg class. We are not there yet, but we have gotten close (97/98 kg range) and right now are maintaining an approx 100 kg level for the time being. (I believe that his last bodyfat test (in Texas) revealed him to be about 35%). What it is now I do not know.

Some observations...his fitness has improved dramatically. And obviously his speed has also dramatically improved. We have been able to keep up his leg strength to a great degree. He has snatched 125kg at roughly 99 kgs bdwt (note... snatching really for the first time in his career poundages well in excess of his bodyweight).

However, his clean and his clean and jerk has proven to be much harder to maintain, dropping off dramatically. My conclusions based on watching him in the past at the greater bodyweight and now contains several factors. (1) his prior technique and bdwt gave him an entirely inefficent motor path... in the bottom of his squat his body became more of a giant landing pad to absorb the crash of the bar... the trajectory was more than just a simple "swing of the bar." This technique has been the constant object of change on our part. (2) With the great loss of bodyweight and mass, his positions have changed quite dramatically... especially his "rack", which now lets the bar sometimes sit way too deeply causing "lightheadedness" to occur.Also, he sits deeper than ever before.
(3) prior to the new "Damon", his right hand would almost "always" come off the bar. Apparently, this was due to an elbow injury that he had sustained and endured over the years, which would not let him hold the bar on his shoulders. Damon had surgery in November, and has been slowly improving that entire situation eversince.

To his credit he has persevered... both with diet discipline and training. His life style change has been a slow yet ongoing evolution. I believe that he has a new and much brighter outlook on his life and self esteem...
That said, we are looking forward to the 2005 Americans and the 2006 Nationals.

Note... Abajiev talks of the "quality of muscle" quite frequently. Leading me to believe that accurate bodyfat tests in a timely fashion are a tool we should be considering.
Steve

Jack Lawless · « **Reply #2 on:** Apr 21, 2005, 07:23 AM »

I always wondered what possible benefit could be derived from those big bellies that some supers have. I got my answer after doing some front squats with a weighted vest. The vest has forty pounds of weight concentrated around the waist, like a spare tire. The first time I tried front squats using the vest I discovered it was much easier coming out of the hole because I could push my new 'artificial' belly against my thighs. I worked up to front squatting nearly as much while wearing the vest as I could without those extra 40 pounds. Interestingly, I was competing a few months later and spoke to a heavyweight who had lost a lot of weight recently and (without knowing my experience) told me how his cleans/front squats were more difficult because he didn't have a belly to push against his thighs.

Jack

Steve Gough · « **Reply #3 on:** Apr 21, 2005, 07:46 AM »

In Damon's particular case he has more than enough leg strength (front squat) for his cleans. What we are continuing to battle is four years of engrained bad clean technique. When he reaches a certain weight he tends to revert back to bad habits, his feet jumping way too far back, the trajectory of the bar waging a battle between near-vertical vs near- horizontal. In actually his "real" leg strength is now far-greater when you take into account that he no longer has the larger leg size and mass to rely on. We shall remain patient and keep working on it... Of course, suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

glennpendlay · « **Reply #4 on:** Apr 22, 2005, 12:54 AM »

damons "four years of bad technique" might also be termed a work in progress. i remember when damon first started, a near 400lb bencher and 600lb squatter, who endured miss after miss after miss simply trying to POWERCLEAN weights in the 70k range. technique has come hard for damon. to his credit, he has perservered.

if you had seen damon when he was in his first year of lifting, i think you might have a different view of how his technique got where it was when he moved to montana.

i talked to him today, seems he is lifting well, wish he was going to nationals. hope he continues to progress.

Steve Gough · « **Reply #5 on:** Apr 22, 2005, 09:06 AM »

I have no doubts inre the physical limitations from which he started with. Nevertheless, "his way" is engrained. And yes, he is a work-in-progress. Regardless of future lifting success, of which I have doubts of him achieving, the decision and determination to "change his lifestyle" and re-create himself so to speak may be the biggest victory of all.

Dean Redzic · « **Reply #6 on:** May 04, 2005, 08:13 PM »

Steve,
Could you please go into a little bit more info about the weightloss of Damon (with respect to privacy of course). Was the training altered much or was it more from diet. Was there anything that stood out to help the weightloss. I am currently overweight and continuing to change manythings in my life, but interested in what has helped others. Were there guidlines for food intake?

thanks

Steve Gough · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2005, 10:18 AM »

Dean R,

I pondered over how to train while attempting to lose a fairly massive amount of weight simultaneously. I even asked several people who had college degrees in this regard. They all advised the same thing, which went aainst my grain.

Damon has trained through this ordeal the same way we always train. I believe that he not only has become use to this training regimen, but accepts it and believes in it. Last year at the Seniors he "bombed" with 127.5 in the snatch while weighing 134.6 kgs. This week at roughly 100 kgs he snatched that very same 127.5. I think we are on a roll. I think his weight/bodyfat loss is starting to be his gain.

If anything I think I demanded/expected too much inre losing the weight and bodyfat in too short a time. We pushed a little too unrealistically trying to pare down to 94 kgs in too short amount of time (all the while trying to maintain strength and ability). I think I've come to my senses. If Damon ultimately goes down to 94s I think it will be a lot more gradually from here on out. But then again, maybe we will find out that he does not belong in the 94s.

I will ask him today to respond to your post/questions. After all he's the one doing it/making the sacrifices/ the self discipline. He can give you his diet and I am sure that steve z and glenn p may want to comment on it. The hydration glenn talked about is vital... we found that out the hard way.

Steve