What is feasible in two weeks? I’m up a few pounds (some could be water). I’m thinking I could feasibly fluctuate around 5-7 lbs based on water weight alone. I’m thinking 3-5lbs is possible. I don’t want to hurt my power to weight ratio in terms of watts/kg but also don’t
want to feel like an encased sausage in my wetsuit. I’m at 151.5lbs. I’d like to be 149lbs or less by July 28th.
I’m planning on going plant based supplementing with protein shakes through the day during the week. Meat at dinner on weekends. I already only eat meat during the evenings only. I’m thinking this will be a long term adjustment for me and not just a crash course in cutting weight. At the
end of the day I need to worry about mitigating performance losses, but I think dropping 3-5lbs over 2 weeks is
possible when including water in the equation.
Why would you want to cut weight 2 weeks before a race? Especially water weight! I mean, don’t you sweat during races? personally I would rather put on 1-2 lbs of water weight right before a race because that means that is an extra cushion to not getting dehydrated. I do have a pretty high sweat rate and there is absolutely no way I can take in enough fluids to cover my what I lose.
Why specifically do you want to be 149lbs? Is that your historical racing weight? Is it just a number you plucked out of the air because it’s a few lbs lighter than you are right now? If you have excess body fat then 1-2lbs per week is not unreasonable but I don’t think that optimum training and focusing on losing weight are necessarily compatible, but it all depends on where you are right now. You say your 151.5lbs but are you 5’4" or 6’? Are you 10% BF or 18%? Male or female?
Not to debate your decision to go plant based, but why? Is it only because you think it’s the best way to manage your weight?
What is feasible in two weeks? I’m up a few pounds (some could be water). I’m thinking I could feasibly fluctuate around 5-7 lbs based on water weight alone. I’m thinking 3-5lbs is possible. I don’t want to hurt my power to weight ratio in terms of watts/kg but also don’t
want to feel like an encased sausage in my wetsuit. I’m at 151.5lbs. I’d like to be 149lbs or less by July 28th.
I’m planning on going plant based supplementing with protein shakes through the day during the week. Meat at dinner on weekends. I already only eat meat during the evenings only. I’m thinking this will be a long term adjustment for me and not just a crash course in cutting weight. At the
end of the day I need to worry about mitigating performance losses, but I think dropping 3-5lbs over 2 weeks is
possible when including water in the equation.
Why would you want to cut weight 2 weeks before a race?
I thought this at first too but the OP didn’t actually say anything about a race, though that is a reasonable assumption. I definitely would start overhauling my diet 2 weeks out from a race in hopes of dropping a few lbs.
I have the perfect solution, no weight cutting required.
Swim without the wetsuit. Your extra pounds will keep you warm and you don’t have to worry about the wetsuit being too tight. The time you save stripping your wetsuit will offset the loss from the swim.
My manufacturer’s wetsuit chart is 145-149 for the size. Feasibly I can fit it above this but don’t want to come in like an overstuffed sausage. I got down to as low as 146lbs in early spring, but
have actually been picking up some weight. Obviously it’s nothing crazy, so I’m wondering if some of it is muscle and water due to ramping things up in training. I do think I could be
more disciplined with diet on occasions in the past couple months.
In terms of going plant based M-TH, I do think it’s the best way to manage my weight. I want to be light for my races.
In the 24-48 hours before the race I’ll need to take in plenty of carbs, electrolytes, sodium, potassium and magnesium. This certainly won’t help with cutting over a short time frame, but performance trumps all else at this juncture. It’s unreasonable to think these dietary changes can have any longer term effects over a short period of time.
Most likely I’m way too hung up on the wetsuit size chart, but as well I have tried to meet an online formula for mass of top AG triathletes in terms of height relative to weight. 145-146lbs would be ideal for me. I also think it optimizes my performance.
Why specifically do you want to be 149lbs? Is that your historical racing weight? Is it just a number you plucked out of the air because it’s a few lbs lighter than you are right now? If you have excess body fat then 1-2lbs per week is not unreasonable but I don’t think that optimum training and focusing on losing weight are necessarily compatible, but it all depends on where you are right now. You say your 151.5lbs but are you 5’4" or 6’? Are you 10% BF or 18%? Male or female?
Not to debate your decision to go plant based, but why? Is it only because you think it’s the best way to manage your weight?
What is feasible in two weeks? I’m up a few pounds (some could be water). I’m thinking I could feasibly fluctuate around 5-7 lbs based on water weight alone. I’m thinking 3-5lbs is possible. I don’t want to hurt my power to weight ratio in terms of watts/kg but also don’t
want to feel like an encased sausage in my wetsuit. I’m at 151.5lbs. I’d like to be 149lbs or less by July 28th.
I’m planning on going plant based supplementing with protein shakes through the day during the week. Meat at dinner on weekends. I already only eat meat during the evenings only. I’m thinking this will be a long term adjustment for me and not just a crash course in cutting weight. At the
end of the day I need to worry about mitigating performance losses, but I think dropping 3-5lbs over 2 weeks is
possible when including water in the equation.
I’m getting the impression that your are way too fixated on the scale and a sizing chart. You want to be a specific weight because a chart or some online formula for the perfect triathlete weight says so. IMO, your obsessiveness is probably more counterproductive than anything, even if you do manage to drop a few lbs.
It’s almost certainly going to be a
non-wetsuit swim so possibly a moot point for this specific race. If I wear a swimskin it’s range is 150-155lbs,
so I’m good.
I suppose nothing drastic is needed.
It’s more about long term weight management to stay in my sweet spot. Part of me wonders if I’m pretty close to my bottom line as cutting anything
has been a real challenge despite staying quit disciplined.
I have the perfect solution, no weight cutting required.
Swim without the wetsuit. Your extra pounds will keep you warm and you don’t have to worry about the wetsuit being too tight. The time you save stripping your wetsuit will offset the loss from the swim.
You’re probably right to an extent. I can’t argue it although the
s’mores, ice cream and hamburgers over 4th of July weekend didn’t help.
I’m getting the impression that your are way too fixated on the scale and a sizing chart. You want to be a specific weight because a chart or some online formula for the perfect triathlete weight says so. IMO, your obsessiveness is probably more counterproductive than anything, even if you do manage to drop a few lbs.
I agree with the others in that you don’t want to necessarily “scale” watch, although we all do! I’m somewhat in the same boat as you. Less than 2 weeks out from LP. Obviously, with the taper, you do need to watch calorie intake. But, this week in particular, I just try to really behave…avoid eating after dinner (I tend to do a scoop of protein powder and water after dinner to curb appetite). I do mainly healthy salads for lunch. The main thing for me if that I really cut out drinking the past several weeks. Those few IPAs and glasses of wine add up! All said, it’s a fine line…I definitely feel better running when I drop to my ideal race weight…but I won’t force it. Good luck!
It sounds like we’re in similar situations. You’re being careful as well. I also do
a salad at lunch with a protein shake.
Doubling down with the same meal at dinner now. I’m also adding protein to my oatmeal in the morning. Just trying to keeps cals and overconsumption at bay moving into my taper for IM Ohio 70.3. I’m even drinking a glass of water
to curb the appetite before bed. As some say it could be OCD or it could be self discipline. Just look at some of the measures pro cyclists take to keep weight under control. In some cases it’s extreme and probably not a good idea especially long term, but on the other hand results aren’t going to be achieved without the effort which includes diet.
quote patd]I agree with the others in that you don’t want to necessarily “scale” watch, although we all do! I’m somewhat in the same boat as you. Less than 2 weeks out from LP. Obviously, with the taper, you do need to watch calorie intake. But, this week in particular, I just try to really behave…avoid eating after dinner (I tend to do a scoop of protein powder and water after dinner to curb appetite). I do mainly healthy salads for lunch. The main thing for me if that I really cut out drinking the past several weeks. Those few IPAs and glasses of wine add up! All said, it’s a fine line…I definitely feel better running when I drop to my ideal race weight…but I won’t force it. Good luck!