How to Lose Water Weight For Wrestling

Reducing weight to qualify in lower weight classes remains a standard ritual for professional, college and high school wrestlers. This ritual boosts wrestlers' chances of inflating their victory record by allowing them to defeat smaller rivals. Wrestlers often shed pounds by reducing water weight just before a weigh-in. Rehydrating and bulking up by binge drinking and eating 2,000 calories to 3,000 calories immediately follows in the hours after weigh-in. This allows wrestlers to replenish energy and nutrition that will sustain them through the physical demands of the wrestling match. This cycle of depleting and restoring water in the body requires a mix of eating, training and supplement strategies.

Things You'll Need

  • Diuretics
  • Laxatives
  • Rubber suit or plastic wrap
  • Sauna
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Instructions

  1. Sweating Off Weight

    • 1

      Dress in a plastic suit or rubber suit while completing your exercise regimen a week or two before the crucial weigh-in. In lieu of plastic and rubber attire, Saran wrap and multiple layers of clothing can trap heat and ignite sweating. Long johns and several pairs of sweatshirts and fleece pants have proven effective for wrestlers.

    • 2

      Extend your daily workout by one to two hours or complete four to six separate exercise sessions a day to ensure profuse perspiration and calorie burning. Adding heavier weights can also induce greater sweating.

    • 3

      Use a heated room during your wrestling workout or retire to a steam room immediately afterward. The hot, humid environment will engender sweating.

    Diets and Supplements

    • 4

      Limit intake of fluids two to three days before competition. Although a controversial practice, wrestlers often have zero liquids during the two days before a major competition. Combat dry mouth and throat by gargling with water and spitting it out without swallowing.

    • 5

      Avoid sodium, which can lead to water retention. This means banning processed food, canned foods and fast foods which tend to have high sodium amounts.

    • 6

      Take diuretics to shed water from the body. Since dehydration frequently leads to constipation, take a laxative also.