Top Five Ways to Cut Weight Appropriately

Oftentimes the winter comes with weight gain, which leads to many pushing for weight maintenance or loss. Here are easy steps to be safe and successful with weight management.

Branden Gallimore

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Every year, thousands of wrestlers have to cut weight in order to make their weight classes. From eating minimal calories to not eating anything for days, wrestlers will do anything to drop weight. But the things these athletes do in order to cut weight may not be good for their bodies.

Wrestlers tend to be an extreme case. Winter weight gain and loss is not limited to just this sport’s hectic schedule and lifestyle. With the cold bearing down and many cooped up inside, any person can and will try to lose weight. With losing weight, there is a right way and a wrong way. In order to properly cut weight, there are five useful steps that anyone can use.

  1. Exercise

    The main key to losing weight is exercise. Exercise is a way to keep the body healthy and get it in shape. Exercise can help improve a person’s mood, energy and can help decrease stress. Exercise also has many health benefits: prevention and treatment of diabetes, strokes and heart disease.

    “Exercising is the main way that us wrestlers cut weight,” sophomore Michael Volkmar said. “It’s the best method.”

  2. Eat a High-Protein Breakfast

    Doing this is a healthy way to start off a day. Eating a high-protein breakfast can reduce cravings throughout the day, which will lower a person’s caloric intake. When someone says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they really mean it.

  3. Eat Food Slowly

    People that eat their food slowly tend to not eat as much, leading to a lower caloric intake. When eating food slower, the body has more time to process it, making it feel full earlier. This is the reason why fast eaters gain more weight.

  4. Avoid Sugary Drinks

    Drinks such as energy drinks and fruit juice are high in sugar, which is the main source for gaining weight. Avoiding these drinks with high levels of added sugar will help someone lose weight.

    “I usually drink a lot of water and eat small snacks throughout the day,” Volkmar said. “This helps to speed up my metabolism.”

  5. Sleep Well

    Not getting a good night of sleep over time could lead to weight gain and it is one of the largest reasons for weight gain. Getting a good night’s rest is more important than it seems.