"Bodyweight"

Finding my ideal bodyweight for training has been one of the toughest things I've ever done. When I started weightlifting I was 6'3" 215lbs, and everyone I knew who had spent time in the sport said that the 94kg class was no place for anyone over 6 foot, so I gained weight.

Once I got into the sport more seriously I started to figure out the more weight I gained, the stronger I got, and the quicker I recovered. Late night pizza and pancakes for breakfast meant lot's of PR's, but also lots of weight gain. 

Before I knew it (actually a few years later) I found myself at 280+lbs, chubby, and out of shape. I also found myself to light to be a +105kg, and too heavy to be within cutting distance of 105kg.

I could still hit daily maxes above 95% without issue, but my mobility suffered, my energy was low, and I didn't feel like an athlete. My quest for getting as big and strong as possibly got me bigger and stronger, but not where I wanted to be.

5 minute rests between sets were normal, and EMOM's were damn near impossible. It was around this time I decided to take my training more seriously and pack up my shit to go train with Jon. 

It was there that I found out how out of shape I really was, earning me the nickname of "RedWhiteAndPlump" so I decided to change it. The only question was, how?

I had cut weight for bodybuilding before, so I tried to implement the same strategies for weightlifting. Cut overall caloric intake, drop fat and carbs, take protein high. About two weeks in I realized how big of a mistake this was, I was losing weight, but also strength, and my recovery was awful. After crashing and burning I started to do some more in depth research on losing weight while maintaining strength. I realized that maintaining strength and recovery had to be the priority, instead of dropping weight faster. 

After reading about 10 hours worth of contradictory content I decided this was not the route to take, so I contacted TeamDO coach Jared Enderton about helping me get back to an athletic weight. Jared had previously weighed over 300lbs as a strongman competitor, and got himself down to the 85kg class (187lbs) as a weightlifter. Jared's advice has been amazing in helping me drop weight slowly and responsibly and keep my strength levels at a premium, and even get stronger. 

Finding one's ideal bodyweight for training is a tough task, but once you hit it you know how it should feel. You get stronger, you recover, and you don't ever feel under fed. 

I plan on competing in the future as a 105kg lifter, and am currently sitting around 120kg on my way down.