Cutting - the journey continues

Cutting weight. Not something anyone should ever do. Losing weight faster than the normal healthy rate. Subsisting on a 1500-1600 calorie diet while working out 2-3 hours per day. It's not normal. It's not healthy, mentally or physically. But the next four weeks will consist of exactly this. And it makes me crazy!! It means I think about food constantly, hungry or not. It requires keeping exact track of whatever I might think of putting into my mouth. And it creates anxiety, decreases patience levels, causes your mood to swing psychotically, all in the name of making weight for a fight. Veggies and lean protein is what my diet consists of right now. Thankfully I have some low-carb protein bars that have a bit of chocolate flavor because in general, everything else is somewhat bland. Spices can only do so much when you aren't allowed oils or any fatty toppings.

4 weeks. That's how long this journey will take. I have fantasies of burgers and pizza. Although I know I shouldn't be eating that stuff anyway and probably won't after the fight. But the thought of fat and carbs runs through my head! 'Visions of sugarplums dance in my head'. It sounds familiar. I wonder what a sugar plum is anyway?

I wasn't going to cut. I had a complete freak out panic session the other night about making weight for the Iowa fights. 145 lbs puts me at 14% body fat, which is quite low. Way low in fact. But after a quite productive and supportive discussion with my kru, I feel ok about tolerating a month of hell to get down to that weight. I can do it. It's not going to be enjoyable, that's for sure, but I know I can do it. And if someone is supporting me, believing in me, then it's even better. At least I don't have to go it alone.

I went for a run at lunch today and discovered the pain of shin splints again. I'm hoping that it does not go as far as a stress fracture, as has happened in the past. That would be a real problem. So tonight after training, I will come home and ice my aching shins. One of them is seriously bruised as well, which is a bit of a problem. And the top of my left foot is horribly bruised after hitting someone's elbow during sparring last night. Yup, fight prep has begun - all the bruises are coming out and I'm starting to look like I've hit by a truck!

Remind me again why we do this to ourselves?