My name's Chris. I'm training for my 1st bodybuilding show. I would like to do a show on April 24, 2007, which is about 11 weeks out. My weight is at about 208 lbs, and my height is 5'10", body fat at about 13-15%. The trainer at my gym says that I will not be very competitive at light heavy, so he said that I need to go middleweight. I used to wrestle in college so I'm familiar with the weight cutting. Do I have enough time to get down to middle weight safely, and if so could offer any suggestions on a diet?

Well without any pics to go on, and running with what your traner has told you, dropping over 40 pounds in 11 weeks would not be advisable. Your bodyfat also seems a bit high to have an effective prep in 11 weeks time.I would shoot for a show in July or August. Good luck to you, whatever you decide

Good advice Aram. Trying to lose that much weight and body fat in a short period of time is a recipe for disappointment. As a rule of thumb, the ideal way to prep for a show is to lose body fat at a rate of between 1 and 2 pounds a week. Thus if you were really 40 lbs over your ideal contest weight you would want to start your diet at 20 weeks out for a 2/lb a week average drop. when you lose weight/body fat more slowly your metabolish can stay more active and you do not have to risk burning up a lot of muscle as well as body fat as you lose weight.

Cutting for wrestling is a bit different than cutting for a body building show. For one thing you were probably never looking at cutting 40 lbs for a wrestling meet, perhaps 5 or 10 and you can do that primarily by dropping water weight.

Find a show farthur out and do it right. You will feel better about the process and will have a much higher chance of presenting your best physique.

One more thing, don't worry so much about a weight class as what your conditioning level goal is, i.e. don't chase a weight, chase a certain level of conditioning and your weight will be what ever it is.

Good luck!