Topic: Weight Class

[Andy Dick]

Chris, this was origionally a question for you but I figured I would ask it on the forum for the edification of all.

Right now I weight 174 clothed (on my scale at home which I think is a pound light I am about 170; so around 171ish) so I am a little heavy for the 77 class.  Now my lift PRs are 70kg for snatch and 102.5 for clean and jerk.  Obviously, my numbers are kinda low.  So what I was wondering as far as weight: (obviously lifting is going to remain constant) but would it be better to watch what I eat and try to maintain my weight at where it is now or should I not worry about weight right now and try to get my total higher possibly at the sacrifice of weight?  I was thinking that it would probably be better to not worry about eating and try to get my totals up and then when I start to get numbers where I would start contending, to at that point start worrying about weight.

What do you all think?

[Shaun Le Conte]

Based on your videos it looks like you might grow into 85 kg. I'd just eat good foods, weigh yourself regularly and stay away from gummy bears.

[Matt Erdman]

Gain quality muscle takes time, so don't try to load up quick. But I do think you should keep gaining. I did my first competition about 13 months ago as a 77, and lifted 75/98. So I think you are at a good starting point to move up. Just keep an eye on the body fat. I think the Russian rule of thumb was 5kg a year. I don't remember where I read that. Maybe Weightlifitng Encyclopedia. I'm pretty much on target with that.

Haha Gummy bears. 

[Andy Dick]

oops I forgot to mention I am at 11% right now...I figured if I dropped to 7% I can make 77kg but that is paying a ton of attention to eating all the time.

[Shaun Le Conte]

Why 7%? 77 kg is 169.8 pounds. In your present shape you only need to drop a pound which is a piece of cake.

Though if you do manage to drop to 7% you would be able to gain muscle and stay 77. Your lean body mass is 152 pounds using your figure of 11% bodyfat. At 7% with no change in LBM you would weigh 163.4 pounds giving you 7-12 pounds of muscle to gain while remaining in range of 77 kg.

Good luck getting to 7% 

That's not a hat, it's a hammer

[Bob Takano]

What is your height?  If you are interested in being the best lifter you can be you should only worry about the lifts you make at the weight class you are in.  If you are too tall for the weight class you are lifting in, then you need to gain up to the appropriate bodyweight.  Remember two things.  They don't check your bodyfat percentage in the Olympics, and the stats show that the average height of the medalists is significant lower than that of the class in general.  Your bodyfat will reach the proper level if you train hard enough.
 

[Andy Dick]

5'10" or 10.5" I cant remember I havent checked in a while

[Matt Rupiper]

Andy,

In all honesty, who cares about body fat?  Its weight lifting, not bodybuilding.  At your weight, and being a past wrestler, you could cut that weight in a matter of hours (though i would advise longer).  When i dropped to 77 (actually got to 74/164lbs, the lowest weight i'd been in 7 years), i started at 83 (185lbs), which is my natural weight, so i took about 5 weeks of slow tapering, with the last week revolving around hydration.  Get those lifts up.  At six foot tall and 74 kgs, I towered over everyone in my class.  In reply to Bob's post, you would have to build into the 94 or 105 class to get the right height to weight ratio.  Naturally, i don't think you could do it.  I'd say lift as much as you can, stay within 5 kg of your class.  If you got time, see what your total/weight ratio is at 77 and 85 and see what fits you best.