Cutting Water is the Unhealthiest Mistake I Have Ever Made

Before ever competing in my first figure event I knew there were "touchy subjects" surrounding the sport of bodybuilding. Many of my friends have been competitors for years so I've seen the ins-and-outs of the fitness industry in a way that a "mainstreamer" would never see it. Yes, there is the use of steroids, Triiodothyronine (T3), growth hormones (HGH), IGF-1 and IGF-2, pharmaceutival grade diuretics and so on but there are other unhealthy actions to be concerned about. One of the most unhealthy actions during a bodybuilding event that often occurs is excluding water for a legnthy period of time; better known as "cutting water."

Regardless of anyone's preference; I'm a natural athlete but where I have faltered in the last three events is cutting water. Oddly, I have never believed in the practice of cutting water but did it on the advice of bodybuilders who believed there was no other way to "dry out" unless I reduced my water drastically.

On the contrary, I found that cutting my water did reduce the amount of water I was carrying but made me very, very flat. Next to being bloated this is the worst thing that can happen. It's a known fact that the human body consists of 60% water or more depending on different variables such as muscle mass. If you're muscles need water to look full and healthy then why would anyone cut water?

During my three bodybuilding shows I battled with the entire concept of cutting water and realized it just isn't for me. For years the stereotypical best way to "come in dry" for a bodybuilding, fitness and figure competition was to drink water until you were going to burst and then stop drinking it. I really mean stop drinking it.

For example, a Satruday competition would mean stop drinking water by noon on Friday and not do anything but sip water as needed until Saturday around midnight. Some competitors will cut water for even longer periods of time than that. It's by far one of the unhealthiest and dangerous practices to do for any event. Due to dehydration it is very hard to think or focus and will cause severe electrolyte imbalance among other health issues.

From my experiences I learned that cutting water is not necessary. There are far more comtemporary theories of "coming in dry"and they tend to work better. The real trick is getting very lean so holding too much water isn't an issue.

Source: Mayo Clinic
Source: Experience