|
abkaiser
Feb 21, 2002, 2:05 AM
Post #1 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 21, 2002
Posts: 122
|
Just curious: It's because I'm a stocky 5'8", and 210 pounds... I know as I continue climbing I'll lose some of this excess fat, but even when I'm totally in shape I'm about 180 pounds. Call it big bones or whatever, but that's the way I am.
Most of the climbers I see don't fit my stats. What's your weight? And do you think my weight will be a problem in climbing better?
Thanks!
Andy
|
|
|
|
|
crazywacky
Feb 21, 2002, 2:28 AM
Post #2 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 31, 2002
Posts: 409
|
I think you're weight is not really a factor as long as you still have the strength to move it.
Muscle tone and endurance, thrown in with some good technique will get you through most "fun" sport climbs.
When you get into the harder stuff, harder for the "bi-weekend warrior" than the real hard bodies, you will need to worry about fat percentages.
Me, I am a highly trained couch-a-lete.
I am 6 feet tall, and a svelte 255 pounds.
And it is NOT all muscle.
But I am ok on single pitch 5.7-hard 5.8s.
I am working on the poundage. trying to get the full-sized spare tire down to "doughnut" size...'cept I really like doughnuts.
Lots of aerobic lifting, high reps, medium weights...lots of cycling. I would run, but the Corps left me with a very bad set of ankles But I'm getting there. That 255 was a 265 about 5 weeks ago.
I guess I'm lucky to be able to carry it with out looking like a complete jelly fish.
Anyhow, until you get to where you want to be climbing over 5.10, I would say you are OK. Add to that, that if you climb regular enough to get that good, you will lose a lot of the extra weight.
CW
|
|
|
|
|
pianomahnn
Feb 21, 2002, 3:25 AM
Post #3 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 17, 2001
Posts: 3779
|
Could you someday do 11s and 12s, sure, why not? Hell, maybe even a 13 or two.
Its all up to how much YOU want to put into this. Work your ass off, and you're there. Slouch around, and you wont.
If you're content at feeling happy on 8s and 9s, awesome, contentment is what its all about. But if you want more, you might just have to grunt, groan, and yell a whole lot.
BTW..welcome to the site!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
brogan
Feb 21, 2002, 4:00 AM
Post #4 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 28, 2001
Posts: 53
|
Your weight only dictates the "power moves" that you want to do. When I can't power through something I have to finness it. A good book for you to look at and help you address your size problem would be " How to climb 5.12's. It is a great book now matter what your skill level. I am 5' 9" and 125 lbs. Here is a link to the book. http://www.trainingforclimbing.com/
[ This Message was edited by: brogan on 2002-02-20 20:02 ]
|
|
|
|
|
miagi
Feb 21, 2002, 4:00 AM
Post #5 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 1, 2002
Posts: 1087
|
Crazywacky is right about the weight/muscle factor. The larger you are the stronger your muscles usualy are to move around that weight. Im about a 5'10 162 lbs. It all just depends on your body structure also. You can still climb at your weight. Go for it! If you feel its hindering your preformace and you want to lose the weight climbing can help but wont make a huge difference. The best thing to lose weight fast is a heathly diet and aerobic exerise like running. Good luck to you
|
|
|
|
|
512
Feb 21, 2002, 4:04 AM
Post #6 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 10, 2001
Posts: 278
|
im a stocky 200lbs at 6ft. Not too bad
|
|
|
|
|
ratstar
Feb 21, 2002, 5:28 AM
Post #7 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 11, 2001
Posts: 1144
|
I wegh 180 at 5'9 so dont feel to bad. But All mine is them muscley thingers
|
|
|
|
|
madscientist
Feb 21, 2002, 5:50 AM
Post #8 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 21, 2002
Posts: 159
|
I have a friend who is 5'11'', 210 pounds and onsights 13a. As long as you are not packing alot of fat, the weight does not matter.
|
|
|
|
|
legsforarms
Feb 21, 2002, 6:55 AM
Post #9 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 12, 2002
Posts: 19
|
Actually, by following a steady diet of McDonalds and Starbucks, I now weigh 205, but who's keeping track? *wink
|
|
|
|
|
kaptk
Feb 21, 2002, 7:18 AM
Post #10 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 5, 2001
Posts: 423
|
Right now I am about 170lbs at 5'10". This is pretty close to the 165lbs I weighed when I was in the Armyy, but I had more muscle then and almost no fat. The key to losing weight is the desire to do it. There are a lot of reasons to lose it other than not having to take the extra pounds up the rock with you. You don't have to be skinny to climb, but losing some weight helps out, especially on all that wicked overhanging stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
gekolimit
Feb 21, 2002, 7:50 AM
Post #11 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 20, 2002
Posts: 144
|
68kg 1.84meters
|
|
|
|
|
pushfurther
Feb 21, 2002, 3:15 PM
Post #12 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 17, 2001
Posts: 2112
|
5'9'', 153.3 lbs. and i have a gut. 140-145 would be my ideal weight, IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
zlipper
Feb 21, 2002, 4:13 PM
Post #13 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 13, 2001
Posts: 383
|
5'9" and 141 pounds. ive been nearly this way as long as i can remember. weight doesnt play a larger role in the 8-9's as long as you can have the strength to pull it around but the harder stuff will kill you
|
|
|
|
|
abkaiser
Feb 21, 2002, 4:21 PM
Post #14 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 21, 2002
Posts: 122
|
Interesting. Thanks for the responses!
And just to clarify, I wanted to mention that part of my concern was that I'll never be able to be much lower than (my target) 180: I spent time in Japan on a foreign exchange program for college, and ate fish and rice and noodles, and biked 5 miles to school every day, and spend 4 days per week training martial arts... And I was 160. So I know that is my physical limit. I aint getting skinnier than that!
Andy
|
|
|
|
|
offwidthclimber
Feb 21, 2002, 5:21 PM
Post #15 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 13, 2001
Posts: 290
|
take a look at john dunne from the UK. that crazy f---er is pulling 5.13+ (and much of them are heady runout terror-fests). he's somewhere in the 200+ lbs range, and i doubt any taller than 6'0"
myself, i'm 5'10" and about 188 lbs. i'm doing V4+ right now and increasing steadily.
peace.
|
|
|
|
|
sheppe
Feb 21, 2002, 6:19 PM
Post #16 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 7, 2002
Posts: 170
|
It's all about the strength to weight ratio. If you're heavy, but strong then you'll climb as well as a guy who is light but weak. Also, as far as climbing harder grades is concerned - that's a personal decision for you to make. There's no rule that states you have to climb 5.12s. When I started climbing I weighed about 155 lbs, and 5.8 - 5.9 was my average. Now I'm a 5.11 climber, and I still weigh 155 lbs. The difference? Strength and technique. My goal is to climb 5.12s. I climb as a hobby (a hobby I really enjoy, mind you), but a hobby none-the-less. During the summer I climb about twice a week, but through the winter it's more like twice a month. Anyhow, the point of my blabbering is just to say, keep at it and your skills will improve.
-Sheppe
PS: I'm a little over 5'10".
[ This Message was edited by: sheppe on 2002-02-21 10:21 ]
|
|
|
|
|
orngave
Feb 22, 2002, 1:12 PM
Post #17 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 26, 2002
Posts: 220
|
All this weight is good if you have something to loose, but being 6'5 and 203 lbs. there isn't a whole lot I can shed, I could probably get 10 to 15 somewhere, but after that it would be muscle I am loosing. I think it just takes hard work, keep plugging.
E.B.
|
|
|
|
|
mountainrat
Feb 22, 2002, 1:40 PM
Post #18 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 22, 2001
Posts: 416
|
I'm 6,' 168. I met a guy at the crag the other day, well into his 40's, over 200 lbs., about 5'6." He volunteered to belay first, then cleaned both 5.10's we were TR'ing that afternoon. Effortlessly, it seemed. To my beginner's mind, it is becoming increasingly obvious that technique is more important than strength, and furthermore that "monkey climbing" may distract me from learning balance and footwork, and get me into some bad habits that I'll have to break later on.
|
|
|
|
|
rastalizard
Feb 22, 2002, 2:07 PM
Post #19 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 12, 2002
Posts: 75
|
I,m a skinny guy at 6.1/67 kg(Sorry don't speak american).I don't think weight makes a lot of difference.To be honest I could do with a couple extra kg's.
|
|
|
|
|
jcs
Feb 22, 2002, 6:35 PM
Post #20 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 26, 2001
Posts: 127
|
What I have noticed is that weight makes a HUGE difference when I get on climbs that e 5.11 and above. I figure that this is because at this grade and up FINGER STRENGTH is just as or more important than muscle strength. A big guy can have enough muscle strength to crank through something with jugs, but if the finger/grip strength to weight ration is low a person will never be able to climb those fingery or slopey climbs. Maximum finger and grip strength is mostly determined by your genetics, but working on a finger board can help a lot. Dont do this until you get your weight down to a level where you arent going to be blowing your tendons on a two second hang! And tendon strength isnt important until you get to the grades where you really need it- and you will definately know when you get there.
All that said, technique can make up for a lot. Concentrate on keeping your weight on your feet ("trust your feet"), and learn techniques like back-steps, flagging, and drop-knees, and your strenght to weight ratio will beome less important. Flexibility is also important, and bigger guys tend to be less flexible. Stretch a lot!
I am 5'9", and about 165 pounds. When I started climbing 3 years ago I was 205 pounds. When I started I could flash most 5.8's, but 5.9's killed me because they required a little more technique or a higher strength to weight ratio to climb. So I lost a lot of th extra weight by dieting and climbing, but got stuck again at the high 5.10's. I couldnt get through those until I concentrated on technique...
So now I can climb (redpoint) up to easy 5.11d, and boulder v5's- but I have only been climbing once/week or so for the last couple of months. So I figure technique is way more important than strength for me right now- when I am able to climb regularly again (3 or 4 times/week) I should be doing .12's pretty quickly. I'll let you know anyway. Hope this helps.
JCS
|
|
|
|
|
roclymber
Feb 22, 2002, 6:46 PM
Post #21 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 18, 2001
Posts: 157
|
Power to weight ratio is a good thing, but I have a big problem. First thing, Im 16 yrs old, and thats where I think the problem is started. I can't seem to lower my fat percentage, nor raise my muscle weight, and I am 6'4" 180 lbs. Most of you would say, what's wrong with that? well, from the looks of it, my fat percent is a lot higher than what it should be. (im going for hard body, but at 16 thats hard to do. all the guys my age are super skinny, or if they pack muscles, theres extra weight that follows.) I havent had fast food in like two months, no joke. I started eating only a small breakfast (yogurt, etc.) and have like three servings for dinner. my mom's cooking is awesome, and thats partial the reason why i havent eaten out, no reason too. but its weird, regardless how much i eat or do (i walk two miles to school, play hella sports, rock climb when i have a spare moment) i can't for the life of me raise my muscle weight/nor loose the excess fat. is like baby fat or something, and just will not come off! I know eating three servings is prolly the reason, but it somehow magically disappears the next day. any tips/tricks advice? and am i at the right weight, anyhow, and i shouldnt worry?
|
|
|
|
|
rrrADAM
Feb 22, 2002, 7:11 PM
Post #22 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 19, 1999
Posts: 17553
|
5'11" and I fluctuate between 170-180lbs daily. Depending on if I just ate or pooped.
rrrADAM
|
|
|
|
|
rigel
Feb 22, 2002, 10:04 PM
Post #23 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 81
|
6'0" - 195 and completely understand the whole "can't get rid of that last little bit syndrome"...some of it is genetic. i've done the zone diet, the adkins diets, etc...eventually, (unless you want to pull a tom hanks on castaway diet) you should just let it go...don't get me wrong. i'm not saying you should keep working out, but just enjoy life and don't let it worry you.
|
|
|
|
|
andrewokc
Feb 22, 2002, 10:26 PM
Post #24 of 55
(11081 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 30, 2001
Posts: 33
|
5 foot 9 inch
130 pounds.
muscless. but i think i climb hard.
|
|
|
|
|
dustinap
Deleted
Feb 22, 2002, 11:37 PM
Post #25 of 55
(11082 views)
Shortcut
Registered:
Posts:
|
5'5 120, but I'm like 6% body fat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
