Vinesh Phogat, an Indian wrestler, was disqualified from the 50 kg gold medal match on Wednesday morning due to her weight exceeding the limit by around 100 grams. She tried jogging, skipping, and riding overnight to lose the additional weight and match the requirements, but this still happened. In fact, her dehydration-related dizziness required her to be brought to the medical center.
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Since they must regulate their water and fluid intake for optimal performance while making sure that the calories and weight from these do not effect their weigh-in time, most athletes find it difficult to maintain their weight during weigh-in periods.
How can athletes lose water weight in preparation for weigh-ins?
Typically, the final few kilograms that athletes must lose to reach weight requirements are made up of water and other liquids. Sports medicine specialist Dr. Mukul Mittal of Delhi’s BLK-Max Hospital stated, “You can’t lose muscle at the last minute. All you really lose is water weight and a small amount of glycogen that has been stored in your liver from the meal you’ve consumed.
As a result, athletes who want to reduce weight quickly should do cardiovascular exercises like cycling and running. They typically do this by donning airtight suits or covering themselves with Vaseline to increase perspiration. To enable the body to use the glycogen that has been stored, they also cease eating a day in advance.”
Athletes that train at or just below their weight class restriction can experience disparities. However, a lot of them also carry a few extra pounds over the allowed limit, which they quickly lose before weigh-ins. ” He explained that this helps them since it enables them to gain more muscle mass in the months leading up to the competition.
Do sportsmen often fluctuate in weight quickly?
The official team physician for the wrestling team at the 2006 Asian Games and the Olympics in Athens, Dr. PSM Chandra, stated, “A daily fluctuation of one to one and a half kilograms is possible, but it takes an experienced professional to manage it.” In order to gain weight after the official weigh-in, wrestlers constantly maintain a gap.
Typically, they abstain from drinking water and fast the night before weigh-ins. Even a liter of water can cause a momentary gain in body weight, but this quickly disappears as the athlete urinates.” Additionally, fluid retention may be more noticeable in someone with high salt levels.
What difficulties arise when trying to shed water weight?
Prominent sports physiotherapist Dr. Anand Gangwal cautioned that the hormonal system can occasionally transmit contradictory signals and increase water retention while using weight loss and dehydration techniques. Hormones have a major impact on weight and can lead to water retention in the body. One person cannot have a direct influence on this. Hormone regulation is also significantly impacted by stress, the speaker stated.
What effects does their lack of food and water have on their performance?
But there’s a price for that: in order to compete, athletes require food and drinks for energy. “Just before their bouts, athletes typically eat a diet high in carbohydrates to fuel their competitive spirit. However, when you’re on the edge, small amounts of food, drink, or even restless nights might exacerbate your condition, according to sports physician Dr. Sidak Dhillon, who now treats football players.
Manipal Hospital sports injury expert Dr. Vinay Kumar Gautam continued, “Reducing stress is important because it can cause hormone imbalances, elevated insulin and glucose levels, and food cravings.”
How can grapplers stay in their weight class?
Training must change if an athlete wants to stay in a weight class, especially if they already have powerful muscles. “During training, they must burn more calories while consuming fewer. With the exception of event days when they require carbs for energy, they have to consume a diet high in protein throughout the day, according to Dr. Dhillon.
He stated, “Athletes aiming to stay in lower weight classes must also focus heavily on endurance training because only when your heart rate stays at 60 to 80 percent of your capacity can you lose weight.”
