PREFACE

In high school, I wrestled varsity at 98 pounds my freshman year and at 105 pounds as a sophomore. I didn't have to cut weight either year. In my junior year, I weighted 140 pounds before the start of the season. Although I was determined to wrestle varsity again, I couldn't beat any of the number one wrestlers within 20 pounds of my weight. I thought my only alternative was to drop to 112 pounds. I decided to go for it. My days of carefree weight control were over.

I had no idea how much fat I had to lose, and I didn't care. I made up my mind that I was going to make 112 pounds no matter what. When I stared my diet, I didn't eat anything for the first two days and then limited my food intake to about 700 calories per day. I worked out in rubber suits and sat in saunas to lose fluid weight. I drank very little water or other liquids. I made weight at 112 pounds and won my first match. I was feeling healthy and strong and was convinced that I had done the right thing. I celebrated by pigging out at a fast food restaurant. I was nine pounds overweight the next day.

Throughout the season, I ran, starved, sweat, and spit before each match in order to make weight. After each weigh-in, I rewarded myself by eating, usually in excess, before I wrestled. I repeated this cycle every match. Gradually, my performance began to suffer. My strength was progressively decreasing, and I was always tired. I started losing matches I should have won. It was difficult to concentrate in classes, and my grades started to slip. I was always hungry. Losing weight before each match became increasingly more difficult. I even resorted to using laxatives. My desire to wrestle was becoming overshadowed by my desire to eat. I was constantly thirsty. My skin was dry, itchy, and cracking from dehydration. I was miserable. I quit the team before the end of the season. I played basketball my senior year.

It wasn't until I became a wrestling coach that I regretted what I had done that season. I realized cutting so much weight made me hate a sport I truly loved. If I had applied myself as much to my wrestling as I had to making weight, I might have been a much better wrestler.

As a coach, I am determined to prevent my wrestlers from making the same mistakes. I want them to concentrate on their wrestling and not on their weight so they can enjoy the sport of wrestling. It is the coach's responsibility to teach wrestlers the right information on nutrition and weight control. The Wrestler's Diet was developed specifically for wrestlers and their parents, but is also intended to help wrestling coaches teach the principles of proper nutrition.

- Roger Landry, Wrestling Coach

INTRODUCTION

Wrestlers who cut weight often deny themselves the very nutrients they need to perform well. Many wrestlers either don't care about proper nutrition or they simply do not know any better. Wrestlers often think of food and water only in terms of gaining weight. They forget that food provides nutrients to fuel their bodies. However, the scientific facts are simple: poor nutrition will hamper performance. The body cannot function at its best when it lacks vital nutrients. Consider these points: