"Weight cuts affect your performance"
Weight cutting will always be a topic for discussion if it's allowed in one's desired sport. My stance has shifted directions over the years on how I feel about it in Powerlifting. Since 2013 I had been cutting down to make 198. For the first year or two it wasn't that big a deal, but the stronger I got the bigger I got. Hence, making cutting more difficult. I was eventually cutting upwards of 20-30lbs and doing so 3 times a year. I always knew my capabilities but could never hit them in a competition. I was fully aware cutting probably deflated my performance by a few lbs, but I was trying to beat all these records, and I became obsessed with getting there. I finally allowed myself to walk into a competition off a mediocre prep to have a good time (because cutting so often made lifting miserable at times). I ended up adding 100lbs to my total. I had NO idea the amount of energy, lbs and whatever else cutting so much weight took out of my body. I wanted to use myself as an example for cutting weight since I've gotten so deep into it. To whoever is thinking about it, just don't do it. There are only a couple reasons that would make this okay, and the general powerlifter should not. If you're new to competition, I would highly recommend competing at what's natural. Do so for a few years to see what type of changes occur. This sport is about the long run, so be good to your body and allow it to do what's comfortable.
