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drew_jones
Jun 19, 2002, 2:31 PM
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Gotta question...
Does being heavier hamper my climbing skills? I am working out on a consistant basis and am hoping to lose weight. Will that make me a better climber, or is it all about developing arm, leg, and stomach strength and TECHNIQUE (can't forget that!!!!)
If I lose about twenty more pounds (to get to 195) will I have an easier time getting up the climb?
Thanks everyone,
Drew
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veilneb
Jun 19, 2002, 2:52 PM
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Yes.
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psych
Jun 19, 2002, 2:55 PM
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Depends...if your solid muscle, then probably not much improvement, loosing out on the strength aspect.
But if your weight rests in the proverbial 'beer holder belly', then yeah. Your center of gravity is going to be much different than a very lithe person.
Keep at it!
Mike...
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dsafanda
Jun 19, 2002, 3:03 PM
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Yes...BUT that doesn't mean you can't have fun climbing at whatever wieght you're at. It's not always about pulling down on the hardest grades.
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cyberclimber
Jun 19, 2002, 3:04 PM
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Try climbing with a 20 pound pack, then without it. Of course you will be able to climb better without the excess weight. However, as long as you are reasonably fit and have a decent weight/strength ratio, you will find that technique is much more important. Good luck on losing the weight, but more important, keep on climbing.
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jman
Jun 19, 2002, 3:07 PM
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Depends on how strong you are, but no offense, if you have a big gut that's going to hamper your climbing cause it's going to be harder to get your center of gravity over your feet. If you're fairly in shape and just a big guy you shouldn't be hamper as long as you have good technique. Seen plenty of guys who are in the mid 200 lbs range climb pretty well...I felt a little bad for their belayers because of the weight discrepency.
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findaway
Jun 19, 2002, 3:11 PM
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Even solid muscle hampers your performance. Climbing operates on a strength vs. body weight principle Most peolpe with huge bulging muscles have a hard time with a single chin-up. Big muscles do not translate into massive strength gains when it comes to lifting that muscle. I remember flicking through the channels and seeing one of those "World's Strongest Man" competitions. One of the events was to time how long they could dead hang on a bar. These are the strongest people on the planet, but they weigh 350lbs. I can't remember the times that well but they were pretty much averaged 40 seconds.
If you want to push your climbing abilities it would be a good idea to lose some weight. But you can still have fun without climbing 5.13. It all depends what you want to do.
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tygereye
Jun 19, 2002, 3:31 PM
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If you want to lose weight in fat, go for it. But if the weight you'll lose is muscle, you'll just waist your time and energy, because with losing muscle, you'll lose strenth as well.
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alvchen
Jun 19, 2002, 4:09 PM
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What is meant by a "decent" weight/strength ratio? Do you want a 1:1 ration? Do you just want to be able to pull your own weight? If I weight 190 lbs., how strong should I be? I don't know how you can measure strength, but that's my interpretation of what's being said by a weight to strength ratio.
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punk
Jun 19, 2002, 4:11 PM
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The way to look at it is strength to weight ratio and there is whole philosophic debate about this couple of resources to answer your question will be
Extreme Alpinism
Optimum sport nutrition
[ This Message was edited by: punk on 2002-06-19 09:41 ]
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newtocalgary
Jun 19, 2002, 4:17 PM
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Here's the skinny (nice pun) on climbing with weight I am 210 and have climbed 12's with some what of a gut when i was skinnier years ago i wasnt as good but the explination is simple technic If i lose weight now with the skills i have learned over the 20 years of climbing I know id be way better but I happy now so why mess with perfection LOL
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lilred
Jun 19, 2002, 4:49 PM
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My man is 200lbs, and cranks 13's....so I don't see how weight could hinder anyone.
He was 220 last summer, and floated most 12's he got on too...
Its solid muscle tho...
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elvislegs
Jun 19, 2002, 6:14 PM
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The skinny guy sounds off . . . Well said Geo, nothing to add.
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torvum
Jun 19, 2002, 8:49 PM
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Being large because of muscle or because of fat can hinder your climb. A larger person cannot have the potential flexibility of thinner person.
The weight to strength ratio is really important as well. Sure, I cannot bench 200 pounds, but i can do 50 pushups. The guy who can bench 200 probably can't say the same. Large bulky muscles are developed with low rep, high weight training. This muscle tissue is the strongest, and is used for quick bursts, like huge dyno's, or that kindof thing. Rock climbers usually wanto develop the middle muscle tissue (name escapese me. PS 3 types of muscle tissue) by doing high reps with medium amount of weight. Your looking to do 3-4 sets with 20-30 reps in each set. This will develop your middle muscle tissue which is much more usefull in rock climbing. This muscle tissue has much more endurance the that big bulky muscle tissue, and it also doesn't make for huge, undefined, muscles. This will keep your strength, as well as your flexibility up.
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rock_climbin_06
Jun 19, 2002, 9:29 PM
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Well I am about 145 pounds or so so I really don't have any trouble with weight. I am a really skinny guy but I am not really all muscle either. I have a sort of even layout and i have no trouble with weight or muscle.
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pinto
Jun 19, 2002, 9:38 PM
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I'm currently weighing in at about 220-ish lbs. (Most certainly not all muscle!)
At this weight, I'll never be a phenomenal sport climber (I can redpoint up to mid .11, with lots and lots of effort), but I can't say it bothers me too much. One advantage to the weight (similar to mtngeo) is that for trad climbing, carrying a fat rack doesn't really affect me much. Twenty pounds of cams and miscellaneous stuff added to 220 pounds of chubb is essentially a marginal increase. Throw that same twenty pounds of gear on a 140-pound stick-boy sport climber and see how well they can crimp then! So, don't sweat being a bit heavy. In the cold, cold, cold midwest winters here, the extra insulation will keep you alive ice climbing up in Minnesota!
However, that being said, if you do lose some weight, you will climb better. I just like drinking beer far too much.
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cedk
Jun 19, 2002, 9:45 PM
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I heard that Jared guy from the Subway comercials is climbing like 5 grades harder now.
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lilred
Jun 19, 2002, 9:49 PM
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Hey torvum, I have to dissagree with you...just because a guy weighs 200 lbs doensnt mean he can't be flexable...I know really big guys who wiegh that much be able to do the splits...its all in how your train...my guy doesn't even lift, he's got the genitics for a larger frame, yet he's extremely flexible!
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psych
Jun 20, 2002, 3:11 PM
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cedk: LOL!
Mike...
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elvislegs
Jun 20, 2002, 3:57 PM
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Hey Cedk what exactly is five grades harder than barely being able to walk? And why exactly is that guy still on my TV set?
TO ANY AND ALL SUBWAY AD REPS VIEWING THE THREADS TODAY: ...OK ... I GET IT...YOUR FOOD IS HEALTHY... GIVE IT A REST ALREADY WITH THE WEIGHT WATCHERS COMMERCIALS.. THEY MAKE ME WANT TO EAT SOMEWHERE ELSE!
Ok I feel better now.
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rjmazzoni
Jun 21, 2002, 4:56 PM
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I'm with you, pinto!
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katywhitman
Jun 21, 2002, 5:19 PM
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Personally I feel that the more lithe you ar ethe better you will climb. When I work out I do 3-4 sets of about 20-30 reps at slightly lighter weight, SLOWLY. Don't let gravity or momentum do the work for you. This way you will gain the endurance strenth, rather then Bulk strength.
(I know this could have been explained a little more elegantly, sorry )
BUT foremost, enjoy yourself!
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crazyfingers
Jun 25, 2002, 1:35 AM
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I tip the scales around 215, and am 6' 6" tall. If your rippin' 5.12s working on 5.13s than 20lbs will make a big difference. If your rippin 5.9s and working on 5.10s, work on flexibility, Technique, and climb a truck load... the 20lbs will take care of themselves.
Climb on!
KT
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climbsomething
Jun 25, 2002, 3:03 AM
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OK OK, y'all have your valid points, but can I still get irked when people say to me, "you don't weigh anything, you should be pulling 13's." I am about the size of Lynn Hill, but that doesn't mean I can climb like her!
[ This Message was edited by: climbsomething on 2002-06-24 20:04 ]
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orestes1724
Jul 1, 2002, 12:10 AM
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Well, it depends. if your all muscle then hell, keep it. But if its not muscle then yes, losing some weight would help to climb better.
good luck.
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