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Wrestlers' Diet A Healthy Guide to Weight Control Preface Introduction Determining Your Wrestling Weight Percent Body Fat Minimum Body Fat Principles of Good Nutrition Cutting and Maintaining Weight Food Pyramid Calories Nutrients Water Carbohydrates Fats Protein Vitamins and Minerals Eating Before Training or Competition Methods of Weight Control that Should Be Avoided Summary Appendix A - Sample Menus Appendix B - Eating Out Wisely Appendix C - How to Calculate Your Minimum Body Weight Appendix D - Fast Food Menus   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: Concentrating on wrestling rather than on cutting weight will make you a better wrestler. To grow naturally and increase strength, wrestlers need the same nutrients as other teenagers, but need more calories to meet the demands of daily training. Fasting causes the body to use muscle proteins for energy even if fat is available. This limits muscle growth and strength development. A proper diet will help wrestlers lose fat weight without sacrificing muscle tissue or becoming dehydrated. Dehydration is a major cause of losses in strength and endurance. Losing weight rapidly results in a loss of both muscle tissue and water. Losing weight gradually (2-3 lbs/week) is the best way to lose fat and keep muscle. Proper training includes practicing proper nutrition every day. Practicing good nutrition and proper weight control methods is vital to achieving peak physical performance.   Wrestlers who cut weight often deny themselves the very nutrients they need to perform well. The body cannot function at its best when it lacks vital nutrients. DETERMINING YOUR WRESTLING WEIGHT There are several factors to consider when deciding your "best" wrestling weight, but the most important is: How much weight can you safely lose and still perform well? The weight class you choose should not be so low that you have to sacrifice good nutrition for the sake of making weight. In addition to the adverse physical effects of trying to cut too much weight, unhealthy weight loss practices affect you psychologically; the more you worry about your weight, the less you concentrate on your wrestling. Here is how to determine your "minimum" safe weight for competition. Percent Body Fat Body fat percentage can be determined by measuring the thickness of certain skinfolds on the body. Many health care professionals will be able to perform these measurements for you. The results of the skinfold measurements will give you a good estimate of what percent of your body is fat. For example, if the results indicate a body fat reading of 14% , that simply means that 14% of your body is fat. Such measurements are only estimates, and the error is about +-2%. In this example, you could be 12% to 16% fat (14%+-2%). The goal of safe weight loss is to lose excess fat weight. Not all fat on your body can be considered "excess" fat. A certain amount of fat is essential for use as energy, to act as a shock absorber for your internal organs, to insulate your body from the cold, and to store certain nutrients. Minimum Body Fat Seven percent body fat is considered the lowest healthy level of fat content for teenage males. Body fat measurments can help you determine how much fat you can lose in order to drop to 7% (See Appendix C). If you drop below 7%, you will likely lose muscle tissue, strength, and endurance. Keep in mind that 7% is not a magic number. It is just a guideline for you to follow. Most wrestlers perform very well at a higher percentage of body fat. So, if you are now 10% body fat, there is no reason to believe that you'll wrestle better at 7% body fat. Many health care professionals will be able to help you determine your minimal wrestling weight. There are several factors to consider when deciding your "best wrestling weight," but the most important is: how much weight can you safely lose and still perform well? The goal of safe weight loss is to lose excess fat weight. Not all fat on your body can be considered "excess" fat.   PRINCIPLES OF GOOD NUTRITION Cutting and Maintaining Weight Once you've determined your weight class, you should next develop a plan for making and maintaing the weight. Plan your diet to lose not more than 2-3 pound each week. For example, if you determine you want to lose 10 pounds, allow at least 5 weeks (2 lbs./week) to accomplish your goal. If you plan ahead, the gradual reduction in weight can be easily accomplished. Also, to achieve your goal, you must understand the principles of good nutrition. Food Pyramid Wrestlers can achieve a balanced diet by following the dietary guidelines provided in the food pyramid. The training table guidelines listed below indicate the minimum number of servings from each food group for each day. The menus in Appendix A show examples of these recommendations. The pyramid is divided into 4 levels according to the needs of your body. The base of the pyramid contains foods including grains such as oats, rice and wheat, and the breads, cereals, noodles and pasta made from them. Try to choose 6-11 servings of these products each day to ensure a solid foundation for your diet. Foods from this group are high in complex carbohydrates, which are the main energy source for training and other body functions. The next level of nutrition in the food pyramid includes foods from the vegetable and fruit groups. These foods include all fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruits and vegetables and juice. These groups are loaded with vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates and fiber. It is recommended that your diet consists of 3-5 servings of vegetables and 2-4 servings of fruit each day to ensure an ample supply of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. The next level of nutrition in the food pyramid consists of 2 food groups: the dairy products, including milk, yogurt and cheese; and the meat products, including meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts. These groups are rich in proteins, calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamins, and are essential for healthy bones and muscles. Choose low fat dairy products and lean (low fat) meat products to get the full advantage of these foods without excess fat calories. Your diet should include 2-3 low fat servings from the dairy group each day, as well as 2-3 servings from the meat group each day. Appendis A give some examples. The top of the food pyramid includes nutrients that should be used sparingly in your diet, including fats, oils, and sweets. Many of these nutrients are already present in foods previously discussed and are often added in processed foods. Be careful in your selection of foods and check food label for added sugars and fats that can add calories to your diet without significantly increasing their nutritional value.   TRAINING TABLE GUIDELINES Calories A "calorie" is a unit used to describe the energy content of foods. Your body requires energy, and the food you eat supplies that energy. When you take in more food calories than you use, those extra calories are stored as fat, and you gain weight. Weight loss occurs when you consume fewer calories than you use. This causes your body to utilize its stored fat for energy, and you lose weight as a result. Losing weight gradually helps assure that mostly fat will be lost. Losing weight too quickly will cause you to lose muscle and water in addition to fat, sapping your strength and endurance in the process. Gradual weight loss is best accomplished by combining your training with a slight reduction in food intake. Remember, your body requires a certain amount of enery and nutrients just to keep you alive and healthy. For this reason, your caloric intake should not fall below 1,700-2,000 calories per day. In planning your diet, it will be helpful to estimate how many calories you need each day. Caloric needs differ from wrestler to wrestler depending upon body size and activity level. You can estimate the minimum number of calories you need each day by using the graph in Figure 1. Appendix A contains examples of 2,000 calorie menus to help you plan your diet. Appendix B can help you plan to eat wisely at fast-food restaurants. Gradual weight loss is best accomplished by combining your training with a slight reduction in food intake. Remember, your body requires a certain amount of energy and nutrients just to keep you alive and healthy. NUTRIENTS Your body depends upon a constant supply of nutrients to keep it functioning. There are six essential groups of nutrients your body needs every day: water, carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients work together to build and fuel your body.   WATER The most important nutrient for any athlete is water. Your body is 60-70% water. Water is absolutely essential for optimal health and peak performance. You may be surprised to know that dehydration is a major cause of decreased performance. Some wrestlers are more sensitive to dehydration than others. A fluid loss of 2-3% of your weight can quickly occur during intense training. Even modest levels of dehydration should be avoided because dehydration harms performance. It is important to drink plenty of fluid during practice and between matches. Not only will you feel better, but you may also find you have more endurance. During physical activity, thirst is not an adequate signal of need for fluid. Follow the fluid guidelines listed below: Weigh-in before and after training to monitor fluid loss. Drink two cups of fluid for every pound of body weight lost. Drink 2 1/2 cups of fluid 2 hours before training or competition. Drink 1 1/2 cups of fluid 15 minutes before competition. Drink 1 cup of fluid every 15-20 minutes during training and competition. Avoid beverages containing alcohol and caffeine, as they promote dehydration. CARBOHYDRATES Carbohydrates are the main food source for your body and should make up 55-65% of the total calories you consume. Excellent sources of carbohydrates include breads, pasta, cereals, fruits and vegetables. FATS Everyone needs a little fat is their diets, and wrestlers and no exception. Fat should make up about 20-30% of the calories you consume. Most of the fat we consume is naturally found in foods (meats, nuts, and dairy products) or added during the preparation of food (e.g. fried foods). Sources of additional fat include margarine, peanut butter, and salad dressings. PROTEIN Protein is used for growth and repair of all the cells in your body. Good sources of protein are meat, fish, and poultry. Many plant foods, like beans and nuts, are good protein sources, too. However, nuts are also high in fat and so should be eaten only in small quantities. Your diet should provide 12-15% of its calories as protein. The typical American diet provides more than enough protein, so you don't need to worry too much about your protein intake. VITAMINS AND MINERALS If you eat a balanced diet from the four basic food groups, you will consume all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Including ample portions of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet will help ensure an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin and mineral supplements are usually unnecessary, but if you like to have the added "insurance" of taking a supplement, choose a vitamin and mineral supplement that does not exceed 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for each nutrient. If you eat a balanced diet from the four basic food groups, you will consume all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Including ample portions of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet will help ensure an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals.   EATING BEFORE TRAINING OR COMPETITION When you eat can often be as important as what you eat before competition and between matches in a tournament. When you eat a regular meal, it takes about three hours for the food to be completely digested and absorbed. As a result, meals are best eaten three to four hours before competition. For athletes too nervous to consume solid foods before competition, special sports nutrition supplements may be an option. Carbohydrate supplements and liquid-nutrition supplements can be taken up to one hour before training or competition, but you should experiment with such products to make certain that you do not experience discomfort. A properly-formulated sports drink can be consumed before, during, and following training or competition to help minimize dehydration and provide a source of energy to working muscles.   METHODS OF WEIGHT CONTROL THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED Dehydration Weight loss in wrestling usually occurs in a short period of time and consists primarily of water loss. If you lose weight faster than 2-3 pounds per week, you are likely losing water (and perhaps muscle tissue). Unfortunately, when you rehydrate after weigh-in, your body absorbs water at a relatively slow rate: only about 2 pints per hour, and it takes up to 48 hours for the water balance in your tissues to be restored. The ill effects of dehydration include a decrease in muscular strength and endurance, a decrease in blood flow to muscle tissues, and an impaired ability to properly regulate your body temperature. Therefore, it is recommended that: Wrestlers should limit weight loss by dehydration to a bare minimum. Use of diuretic drugs ("water pills") to help lose water weight should be avoided. These drugs can cause disorders in the way your heart and kidneys function. Wrestlers should not rely upon sitting in a steam room or sauna to cut weight. Exercise in a plastic suit should also be avoided. These practices are strongly discouraged be- cause they can cause rapid dehydration and heat stroke, which may be fatal. Weight loss in wrestlers usually occurs in a short period of time and consists primarily of water loss. If you lose weight faster than 2-3 pounds per week, you are likely losing water (and perhaps muscle tissue). Fasting When you do not eat at all (fasting), your body uses its stored nutrients, and weight loss will certainly result. However, fasting quickly reduces your blood sugar, which in turn robs your brain and muscles of their most important energy source. Fasting can cause your muscles to use muscle proteins for energy, even if fat is available. Eat at least the minimum calories your body requires each day so you can maintain your energy and strength while losing weight. Yo-Yo Dieting The greater the peaks and valleys in your body weight, the more difficult it is for your body to function correctly. Studies have shown that alternating between feast and famine may cause your body to use food more efficiently (hanging on more tightly to each calorie). Yo-yo dieting just makes cutting weight more difficult. Diet Pills Using diuretics (water pills) and laxatives to lose weight will dehydrate your body and rob your body of important nutrients. Diet pills can cause many adverse physical as well as psychological effects. Avoid using any of these types of products to lose or maintain weight. SUMMARY Research has shown that practicing proper methods of weight control is essential to maximizing your athletic performance. Peak physical performance can only occur when the body is supplied with an adequate amount of essential nutrients. Using improper methods of weight control will decrease your level of performance. The Wrestler's Diet provides the necessary information to help you achieve the highest level of performance possible. The psychological advantages of maintaining good nutritional practices are great: you'll wrestle better if you feel good physically and mentally. You will also wrestle better knowing that you have done everything possible to be at your best Peak physical performance can only occur when the body is supplied with an adequate amount of essential nutrients. Using improper methods of weight control will decrease your level of performance APPENDIX A Sample Menus and Snacks: 2,000 Calories Breakfast Blender Drink Banana, 1..................... 100 Milk, 1 cup 2%.............. 120 Peanut Butter, 1t........... 95 Toast, 1 slice............................. 70 Jam, 1t...................................... 15 Calories.................................... 400 Lunch Hamburger on Bun Bun............................... 120 Grnd. Beef, 2 oz........... 120 Catsup, 1T.................... 20 French Fries.............................. 220 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Oatmeal Raisin Cookies(2) (2 1/2" diameter)....................... 120 Calories.................................... 760 Dinner Roast Pork, 3 oz........................ 220 Baked Potato............................ 100 Broccoli, 1 stalk ........................ 20 Margarine, 2t............................. 70 Bread, 1 slice............................ 70 Sliced peaches, 1 cup............... 130 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Calories.................................... 730 Snack Lo-cal Pudding, 1 cup................ 130 Total Calories.......................... 2020 Breakfast Grapefruit Juice, 6 oz................ 75 Unsweetened Cereal, 1 cup......................................... 110 Banana, 1 medium.................... 100 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Toast, 1 slice............................. 70 Margarine, 1t............................. 35 Jam, 1t...................................... 15 Calories.................................... 525 Lunch Chicken Salad Sandwich Bread, 2 slices.............. 140 Chicken Breast, 2 oz..... 120 Lo Cal Dressing, 1T....... 30 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Apple, 1 medium....................... 80 Calories.................................... 490 Dinner Chili, 2 cups.............................. 600 Saltine Crackers, 12.................. 160 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Carrot and Celery Sticks............ 10 Calories.................................... 890 Snack Orange, 1 medium..................... 80 Total Calories.......................... 2025 Breakfast Apple Juice, 6 oz...................... 90 Oatmeal, 1 cup......................... 145 Raisins, 1T................................ 30 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Toast, 1 slice............................. 70 Margarine.................................. 35 Calories.................................... 490 Lunch "Sloppy Joe" Hamburger Filling, 2 oz............. 200 Bun........................................... 140 Carrot and Celery Sticks............ 10 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Chocolate Chip Cookie 1 small...................................... 50 Calories.................................... 520 Dinner Turkey Tacos Taco Shells, 3............... 210 Picante Sauce, 2 oz...... 30 American Cheese, 4 oz. shredded.............. 220 Ground Turkey, 4 oz...... 310 Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, etc................... 10 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Calories.................................... 900 Snack Orange, 1 medium..................... 80 Total Calories...........................1990 Breakfast Orange Juice 6 oz. 80 English Muffin 140 Peanut Butter, 1T 90 Banana, 1 medium 100 Milk, 1 cup 2% 120 Calories 530 Lunch Cheese Pizza, 2 slices.............. 400 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Apple, 1 medium....................... 80 Calories 600 Dinner Chicken and Noodles, 1 cup......................................... 300 Cooked Carrots, 1/2 cup............ 25 Lettuce Salad............................ 10 Dressing, 1T.............................. 60 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Calories.................................... 515 Snack Milk, 1 cup 2% 120 Fig Bars, 5 250 Calories 370 Total Calories 2015 Breakfast French Toast, 2 slices..................................... 300 Syrup, 2 oz................................ 200 Strawberries, 4 oz., unsweetened............................. 25 Milk, 1 cup 2%...........................120 Calories.................................... 645 Lunch Turkey Sandwich Bread, 2 slices.......................... 140 Turkey Breast, 3 oz................... 105 Lettuce, Tomato Slices............... 5 Lo-cal Mayonnaise, 1T............... 30 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Calories.................................... 400 Dinner Beef Stew, 2 cups..................... 400 Dinner Roll, 1............................ 70 Margarine, 1t............................. 35 Applesauce, 4 oz....................... 55 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Lo-cal Pudding, 1 cup................ 130 Vanilla Wafers, 6....................... 100 Calories.................................... 910 Snack Popcorn, 2 cups, no butter......... 60 Diet Soda, 12 oz........................ 0 Calories.................................... 60 Total Calories.......................... 2015 Breakfast Cantaloupe, 1/4 60 Egg, poached 75 Toast, 2 slices 140 Margarine, 1t 35 Jam, 2t 30 Milk, 1 cup 2% 120 Calories 460 Lunch Tuna Pocket Pita Bread, 1................. 120 Tuna, 3 oz.................... 100 Lo-cal Mayonnaise, 2T.. 60 Lettuce, tomato slices... 5 Pretzels, 1 oz............................ 110 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Calories.................................... 515 Dinner Broiled Turkey Breast, 3 oz........................................... 130 Wild Rice Pilaf, 1 cup................ 270 Spinach Salad........................... 15 Dressing, 1T.............................. 60 Angel Food Cake, 1 slice........... 125 Chocolate Syrup, 2T.................. 75 Milk, 1 cup 2%.......................... 120 Calories.................................... 795 Snack Pineapple, 1 cup....................... 150 Graham Crackers, 3 squares..... 80 Calories.................................... 23 Total Calories 2000 APPENDIX B   EATING OUT WISELY You can maintain your training diet when eating at a restaurant if you are careful about what you order. Pay attention to how foods are prepared. Choose food that is baked, broiled, boiled, or poached. Avoid food that is breaded, fried, or served in gravy. Limit your use of butter, margarine, mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese, and regular salad dressings. Instead, use barbeque sauce, ketchup, mustard, relish, and vegetables for toppings. Do not be afraid to ask for food served "your way;" ask for extra vegetables in sandwiches or on pizza, skip the extra cheese or extra meat, request skim or 2% milk, and specify the topping you want. When you know you will be eating out, carefully choose low-fat foods for your other meals that day. Also, take along your own fresh fruit to munch on after the meal instead of ordering desserts. When eating a meal at a fast food restaurant, don't make it a dietary disaster. A typical fast food meal is high in fat and low in calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin A. It is difficult to choose a high-carbohydrate meal at a fast food restaurant. Beware or you can eat half of your caloric allotment in one meal. Examples of high carbohydrate, low fat meals at fast food restaurants are shown in Appendix D.   APPENDIX C HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR MINIMUM BODY WEIGHT   1. To Calculate Your Fat Weight: Multiply your weight in pounds by your percent fat (as a decimal). For example, if you weigh 140 lbs. and are 12% fat: 140X0.12=16.8 lbs of fat 2. To Calculate Your Lean Body Mass: Subtract your fat weight from your body weight: 140-16.8=123.2 lbs. of lean body mass (LBM) 3. To Calculate Your Minimum Wrestling Weight: Divide LBM by .93: 123.2divided by.93=132.5 lbs. of body weight at 7% fat 4. To Calculate Your Maximum Fat-Weight Loss: Subtract your calculated body weight from your present weight: 140-132.5=7.5 lbs. of fat weight to lose APPENDIX D Sample Menus - Fast Food Restaurants Calories Protein Carbohydrates Fat Breakfasts McDonalds Plain English Muffin (S) 747 17% 56% 25% Strawberry jam (1 packet) Scrambled egg (1) Orange Juice (6 ounces) 2 % milk (1 carton) or Hot Cakes with 650 11% 66% 25% butter and 1/2 syrup pack and orange juice Lunch/Dinner Wendy's Chicken breast Sandwich 719 22% 53% 25% on muligrain bread (no mayonnaise) Baked potato Sour cream (1 packet) 2 % milk or Chili (8 ounces) 1,016 16% 57% 25% Baked potato, plain Frosty (small) Side Salad 3/4 cup lettuce 3/4 cup fresh veggies 1/4 cup cottage cheese Arby's Jr. Roast Beef on multigrain 695 22% 51% 27% bread with lettuce and tomato (no mayonnaise or horseradish) Side salad* 2 % milk or Arby's Regular Roast Beef or 970 20% 52% 30% ham and cheese sandwich Side salad* Vanilla shake *1/2 cup lettuce, 1 cup fresh veggies, 1/2 cup garbanzo beans, 1/4 cup cottage cheese 2 tablespoons low-calorie dressing. Taco Bell tostadas* 1,040 18% 56% 27% 1 bean burrito 2 plain tortillas 2% milk or 1 tostada* 2 bean burritos 1 plain tortilla 2% milk or 1 tostada* 2 bean burritos