NEED HELP ASAP... cutting weight

[Chris Herzog]

I wont let my kids cut weight until they get to high school. It isnt worth the grind if they burn out early. Bump her up is what I would personally do.

Agree 100%, she is growing. Most kids do not hydrate enough as it is, you do not want to cause serious damage by trying to have her cut weight.

[Scott Yockel]

You have her fight at whatever she weights in....no skipping meals, no changing diet, or extra workouts. She is still growing and you need to let her! What's the difference in weight, she will fight just as hard in both weight classes.

[lannie]

Sorry to say this cutting weight for a kid how is not obese is extremly dangerous , your girl trains hard that's why she gain weight . but do not cut weight because she wants to stay in her weight class . Just cut some training days !

[Cora Sek]

OK guys, things are getting even weirder... this morning when she woke up, she weighs in at 64.8 lbs and 2 hours later she weigh in again, but this time it was 65.4 lbs. She only has a granola bar in between the weigh ins.

[DanConway]

I know this is a little too late to apply to this situation, but please consider it for any situation in the future:

Do not bother even considering cutting with kids... of any kind...(Excepting cutting out junk food, soda, white sugars etc, that they really shouldn't be having anyway). The most important thing to them is proper developmental growth, winning a medal now isn't worth impairing their development in any way. Especially at their low weight, the ratio of impact of losing just a few lbs is massive on their body.

A very commonly neglected aspect of shocking your body with a weight cut of solid %, is that the state it puts your body in, does not just last for a day, it lasts for weeks. The way it can effect your body's use and storage of fats, glucose, insulin, and by proxy all functions of your body and aspects of athletic performance can be hindered far more than the benefits a weight cut can often offer. Especially at her age, anything that could imbalance metabolic stability is a poor idea.

I have researched weight cutting extensively, and am near competition of an in depth manual on the topic including health concerns of various methods and I can tell you for sure, at her age weight growth spurts are not abnormal, and it would be a terrible thing for her to be cutting weight. For both her future health and her future as a jiujitsu competitor cutting weight will hinder her development. For her to have her full potential in healthy growth and development is much better overall than being able to bully a tournament by being in the top of the weight cap instead of the bottom.

Cora is super skilled, and it's much better to be in the middle of a division and skilled enough to where a few lbs is no difference at all, than relying on having to be the biggest in it. I know in this case you wanted her to stay in the division so she would have MORE competition, but again it isn't worth the drawbacks.

If your reading this and still saying 'yeah but she really wants to compete and win so we will cut this one time even though it might be...', just stop there and ask yourself whats important -- this ONE medal or ONE event with good competition, or all the ones in the future she will get by not having her growth and development impaired.

Cora is a future world champion, hurdles like this might be frustrating now, but shes got a long and bright future, and girls/womans bjj is only getting started. ;]

[Rachael Kaulig]

OK guys, things are getting even weirder... this morning when she woke up, she weighs in at 64.8 lbs and 2 hours later she weigh in again, but this time it was 65.4 lbs. She only has a granola bar in between the weigh ins.

Weight fluctuates, I can have a difference of 5 pounds in one day. Again, I am not a fan of weight cuts in kids and agree with Zog and DeWitt. Since you posted to get opinions, mine is to move her up in weight class. Let her enjoy her trip to Pan Ams, she can worry about this type of stuff when she's older!

[derrick ikwueme]

cutting wait at a young age can stunt your growth, that's why so many wrestlers are short. & if she gets into mma one day she's gonna want that reach. plus the burnout factor is too great

[Sam Sales]

Little kids should not cut weight.

[Josh Passini]

As life long wrestler I will cant explain the damage you could do by having her cut. Let her compete at her walking weight what ever it is. TRUST ME!!! I grew up with a father who was a insane college westler and what I went through to win was nuts very dangerous! As Dan stated there could be development issues that develope. Not Worth another Medal. She has 30-40 yeas toget more medals.

[Cora Sek]

OMG... you guys... All i'm saying is i'm cutting down on her exercise, cutting down sodas, cutting down all the junk food as this girl loves junk food. For the rest of the week we are going to work out very lightly. Her coach and I been talking about his and we know now why she is gaining weight. Since she's been training hard after class with him, we don't leave the gym until late, so there is a Chinese restuarant just next door. Last week we only cook food at home 1 time. Been eating out alot. Also after school, I got lazy so I would buy her McDonalds about 4 times last week. I do this because if I spend time cooking for her after school, we will cut down on our practice time before we go to the gym. All of the eating late, and eating out and McDonald contributed to her gaining weight. ANd with her working out so hard, she's turning all that food into new muschle mass. So if we cut all that down, she will be back to her walking weight at 63 lbs. In over 8 tournaments, she's been at 63 lbs. I am 100% agree with you ALL on the subject of cutting weight. I do not believe in it at all. Also, going up another weight class is NOT an option either. I've been keeping track of the registration for Kid Pan Ams and there isn't anyone registering in that next weight class. She will not have anyone to fight, so she might as well be disqualified. She will be heart broken if she training so hard and have noone to fight. I know yall know where I'm coming from with this. So in recap, I am NOT having her cut weight like you think I am, she's not a pro fighter cutting weight, no... we are just going to eat better and at the proper time and not train so much this week. That should set everything back in order for her. What yall think I am.. a bad parent?? LOL And btw, we are already setting up exhibition fights also once the tournament is over. She will be fighting higher belt and bigger kids. She also got invited to go to AOJ to spar with some of their high level kids, but I don't think we will make it because we rather go meet Master Eddie.