Controlling Body Fat

Fat and it's presence in the body is something which every fighter must monitor.

Obviously, as most fighters strive to make as low a weight class as they can, it is assumed that fat must be expended from the body in order to make weight.
However, many boxers neglect this and tend to temporarily dehydrate themselves in order to make weight. This practice ofetn results in the fighters performing at under their optimum level and even losing.

I feel that a key to avoiding this problem is to maintain a controllable fat level. By "controllable" I mean that during a boxer's career they should not allow their body fat to leave a range that would disallow them to make weight within one month.

Losing weight is a goal all of it's own. A fighter willing to get the most technically and physically from his or her training camp should not have to spend time shedding weight.
This demands the fighter maintains a certain level of conditioning between bouts and in interim phases.

If you can adopt a fighter's role for a moment. What steps would you follow in order to insure the effective control of body fat and what level do you deem acceptable?

Personally, I feel the key is nutrition. A fighter must eat enough food to fuel growth, development nd the immune system between fights, but must also be responsible in selecting food that will not cause bloat, excessive fat or any health implications which could endanger his or her profession.

Surely clean and sensible living outside of fights is key as well as maintaining a reasonsible level of fitness. That is going to differ for each fighter.

Hi mate.

Keeping trim is always a fighter's concern, and besides that there's what I'd like to call a "magic weight" in which many fighters fight their best at. A few pounds over despite whether it is muscle or fat gained and they won't be as effective as their magic weight. Therefore the fighter should aim to be at their best weight on the day of the fight.

To make this happen take a look at Hagler. Stay in good shape between fights, so that it'll be easier to get into fighting shape. A great fighter's discipline to not abuse food, deserts, and drinks is important, and having the right approach to diet and training is the way to go.

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Originally Posted by Chris Nagel

Hi mate.

Keeping trim is always a fighter's concern, and besides that there's what I'd like to call a "magic weight" in which many fighters fight their best at. A few pounds over despite whether it is muscle or fat gained and they won't be as effective as their magic weight. Therefore the fighter should aim to be at their best weight on the day of the fight.

To make this happen take a look at Hagler. Stay in good shape between fights, so that it'll be easier to get into fighting shape. A great fighter's discipline to not abuse food, deserts, and drinks is important, and having the right approach to diet and training is the way to go.

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I thgink you made a very good point there Chris.

I myself find I perform best at 71 kg. Even when I take fights at 75kg I try to get to 71 because I feel sharper, more athletic and dangerous at that weight.
In turn If I fight at 69 (or next year 67:() I'll try and be 71 just before the fight again.

I agree that body fat percentage is important.

If not for your performance at least for how prepared and athletic it makes you feel going into a competition.

You know when you're in good shape it's because you earnt it and that in itself can be a great confidence booster!

I tend to find it's not what I eat but more so when and how much though. I could never adhere to the strict regimes some other people do for more than a couple of weeks.

I do find that a huge percentage of the overweight people I know are not breakfast easters and are late night snackers though!

True Sharla, many who deny themselves something just end up compensating or evn over compensating with snacks later.

I think a plan is neeeded to be effective.

i dont compete(thank God)so my theory on BF comes from my powerlifting training... you need some bodyfat on you when training... if you dont have body fat your not eating enough carbs protin and fats to keep up with what your body is burning, hence lacking energy in training, and overall poor proformance. i eat as much as posible. and train as much as posible(weights and boxing). i have never been even remotly chubby, but at the same time i have never had a six pack, but if i realy tried im sure i could loose my curent bodyfat in 2 months.. but its easier to loose the same weight in water, and rehydrate within the 3 hours before a powerlifting meet.

BTW. i am normaly 205-210lbs, but i can drop down to 198lb for a lifting meet if i needed to in 2 days.

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Originally Posted by narcolepticpug

i dont compete(thank God)so my theory on BF comes from my powerlifting training... you need some bodyfat on you when training... if you dont have body fat your not eating enough carbs protin and fats to keep up with what your body is burning, hence lacking energy in training, and overall poor proformance. i eat as much as posible. and train as much as posible(weights and boxing). i have never been even remotly chubby, but at the same time i have never had a six pack, but if i realy tried im sure i could loose my curent bodyfat in 2 months.. but its easier to loose the same weight in water, and rehydrate within the 3 hours before a powerlifting meet.

BTW. i am normaly 205-210lbs, but i can drop down to 198lb for a lifting meet if i needed to in 2 days.

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Too True, it's like when you see those bodybuilder guys and they get exhausted just from flexing.

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Originally Posted by killersheep

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Originally Posted by narcolepticpug

i dont compete(thank God)so my theory on BF comes from my powerlifting training... you need some bodyfat on you when training... if you dont have body fat your not eating enough carbs protin and fats to keep up with what your body is burning, hence lacking energy in training, and overall poor proformance. i eat as much as posible. and train as much as posible(weights and boxing). i have never been even remotly chubby, but at the same time i have never had a six pack, but if i realy tried im sure i could loose my curent bodyfat in 2 months.. but its easier to loose the same weight in water, and rehydrate within the 3 hours before a powerlifting meet.

BTW. i am normaly 205-210lbs, but i can drop down to 198lb for a lifting meet if i needed to in 2 days.

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Too True, it's like when you see those bodybuilder guys and they get exhausted just from flexing.

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Yeah, there's such a thing as being too dry, or too fine. It happens to a lot of guys that lose focus on what's more important, being in peak condition at the time of the event. It happens to terrific conditioned athletes as well, take a look at Marvin Haglar, or even guys in distance running and cycling.

If it's going to be a long one, eventually your body is going to use up your blood sugar, your ATP levels will get used, and after that it'll need to tap into your fat.

I guess that wouldn't matter if you could finish your opponents off quickly though. :D