Teen boy needs to gain for wrestling

HappyHope0123
HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
edited November 27 in Fitness and Exercise
My son is a naturally fit fella - the kind you're jealous of! He's always been solid muscle. He's 16, weighs 141, and is 5'4. He wants to weigh 150 to get into the weight class. He went to the gym last night for the first time in a while and lifted weights. He's not on the wrestling team yet, since he's still got a few grades to pull up, but he's trying.

Today he took 2 ham sandwiches for lunch, despite me telling him that wasn't enough. I put 8 slices of ham (40g protein) on oat bread (20g protein). He had a carnation instant breakfast with skim milk (I plan to buy some whole milk for him).

What are your suggestions?

Replies

  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    One question.....why is he trying to go up a weight class, while everyone is trying to go down? If he's 16 and can naturally wrestle in a lighter class without a massive cut, he has the advantage.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    One question.....why is he trying to go up a weight class, while everyone is trying to go down? If he's 16 and can naturally wrestle in a lighter class without a massive cut, he has the advantage.

    This^^ Doesn't make sense.
  • HappyHope0123
    HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
    We don't feel it is healthy for HIM to lose...He honestly has like zero body fat. - Ok, not zero, but very low. I don't want him to start on the 'I've got to lose weight' bandwagon. (For a while this summer, he said he was fat and needed to lose, and he routinely skips meals, saying he isn't hungry, but *I* worry it is for other reasons.) If HE lost, it would be muscle, not fat. So for us as a family, we have opted that he should go up in the weight class, not down.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    What if he stayed the same weight?

    This just doesn't make sense... your intitial post indicates an attempt to get into a different weight class when he starts wrestling. Now you are saying he should gain because you think his body fat % is too low, which would make all of the comments about wrestling irrelevant.

    If it is just a question of gaining fat, then smear some mayo on those sandwiches for extra calories, give him soda, candy, etc. for extra calories.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    edited December 2015
    A higher weight class is a disadvantage for your son.
  • HappyHope0123
    HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
    No. I was answering the above comment about why he shouldn't lose weight. I don't think he has anything to lose without losing muscle. I want him to do this in a healthy way. I'll just talk to his coach and see what his recommendations are.

    How is it a disadvantage (Can you tell I know NOTHING about wrestling)
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    I know nothing about wresting also, but I know it would be a disadvantage to wrestle larger boys. I'm not sure anybody is suggesting that he lose weight... this isn't a question of gain or lose. There is a third option to maintain weight that you are not acknowledging exists.
  • HappyHope0123
    HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
    He came home telling us there are only 2 weight classes open...120 and 150. 120 is NOT an option.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Ask the coach.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    HappyHope0123 wrote: »
    He came home telling us there are only 2 weight classes open...120 and 150. 120 is NOT an option.

    Nobody is suggesting he lose weight but you.

    It is a question of gaining weight to wrestle boys that are larger than he is (because he is at the low end of the weight class) or maintaining to stay in the current weight class.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Nobody said he should lose weight. The point was that he could maintain his current weight and stay in his current weight class while others would be trying to lose weight to get into that class. He's at the advantage because he's not trying to lose weight.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    HappyHope0123 wrote: »
    No. I was answering the above comment about why he shouldn't lose weight. I don't think he has anything to lose without losing muscle. I want him to do this in a healthy way. I'll just talk to his coach and see what his recommendations are.

    How is it a disadvantage (Can you tell I know NOTHING about wrestling)

    Nobody said anything about HIM losing, we asked why he needed to go up a weight class rather than staying where he is.

    A big part of your OP that is missing is the only classes that are open are 150 and 120.

    What does his coach think about quick bulk that would mostly be a fat and water add, not muscle and strength to wrestle larger boys?
  • FrankWhite27330
    FrankWhite27330 Posts: 316 Member
    Peanut Butter Lots Of It..


    And milk
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Does 120 mean you weight between 120 and 129?

    I have no idea how weight classes work.
  • LooseyGoosey12
    LooseyGoosey12 Posts: 95 Member
    Weight classes are 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160,
    170, 182, 195, 220, and 285. You have to be below a weight to be in that weight class. You can wrestle higher a higher class but they will have the advantage of weight.

    Soooo, sounds like you want a healthy bulk in weight so he can have the advantage of weight in a higher class without freaking out over being "fat"? Is that right?
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    LooseyGoosey12 wrote: »
    Weight classes are 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160,
    170, 182, 195, 220, and 285. You have to be below a weight to be in that weight class. You can wrestle higher a higher class but they will have the advantage of weight.

    Soooo, sounds like you want a healthy bulk in weight so he can have the advantage of weight in a higher class without freaking out over being "fat"? Is that right?

    If there's no room at 140.....does that mean he can't wrestle anywhere from 138-152?

    Need more info from the OP on how the weight classes work where they are at.
  • HappyHope0123
    HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
    Will update when I hear from the coach. Yes, a healthy bulk.
  • Sam_I_Am77
    Sam_I_Am77 Posts: 2,093 Member
    I would be curious to hear what the coach has to say. If his walking-around weight is 141 then he has an advantage at 145 and should stay there in my opinion. That means he can eat and hydrate better which will help him perform better without really worrying about weight. Many kids that wrestle at 145 are likely dehydrating cut some weight and spending all their time before a match walking or jogging around in a garbage bag or something to cutter water weight. Definitely go with the coaches recommendation but from my perspective on how one performs, he's at a good advantage where he's at.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Sam_I_Am77 wrote: »
    I would be curious to hear what the coach has to say. If his walking-around weight is 141 then he has an advantage at 145 and should stay there in my opinion. That means he can eat and hydrate better which will help him perform better without really worrying about weight. Many kids that wrestle at 145 are likely dehydrating cut some weight and spending all their time before a match walking or jogging around in a garbage bag or something to cutter water weight. Definitely go with the coaches recommendation but from my perspective on how one performs, he's at a good advantage where he's at.

    Cosign...100%

    Along with kids wrestling in the 140's can be quite a bit younger as well, so he would have an age/strength advantage there as well.
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