[Otter]

Originally Posted by rico

I came down with a rare disorder called cold urticaria when I was 20... That means I am allergic to cold. I went to the Mayo Clinic last summer because they suspected cancer could be the underlying cause of it...results were negative. Not much is known about the causation of it and treatment is basically nonexistent. It ****ing sucks. Recent studies have indicated that in 50% or so of the cases, cancer, mononucleosis or rheumatoid arthritis are underlying causes. I've been checked for all 3 now...negative on all of them.

I swear, I acquired that condition by cutting way too much weight in high school and college. I think I ****ed up my equilibrium. I cut an atrocious amount of weight in grades 9-11 and my Sophomore year in college. Like...up to 30 lbs, when I didn't have much fat to begin with. I remember when I was a Freshman, I was varsity at 119 and the first weekend of the year, our 112 lber broke his hand. I was the only one who they thought could POSSIBLY make 112, so they asked if I would go down while we slid the JV 119 (who was a future state qualifier...pretty good) in at 119. I agreed despite the fact that it was HELL making 119. I weighed 129 at the end of the day that the kid broke his hand...gained 10 lbs that day just from making 119...and I had to make 112 by that following Thursday, and every Thursday and Saturday following that until after Christmas break. And I did it. The only thing I would do to eat or drink was suck on an orange and spit the juice out in a cup. Starved myself. And that's just one of many awf weight cutting experiences I had. It was a bitch making 112/119 as a Freshman, it was an even bigger bitch making 130 as a Sophomore, it was the biggest bitch making 140 as a Junior, it was a pretty decent sized bitch making 152 as a Senior, it was a huge bitch making 174 as a Freshman and Sophomore in college and a helluva bitch making 184 as a Junior in college. Just kept growing...thankfully it wasn't stunted, but I think my equilibrium was.

And weight cutting is so overrated...I wrestled worse because of it. I wrestled my best in offseason freestyle tourneys when weight wasn't a concern. Not only does it wear at you physically, but the stress and anxiety of making weight also wears at you. So counterproductive.

Congrats on winning state! What state?! Lonewolf was a state finalist.

I hear ya brother. Both my brothers are 6 foot or bigger and I'm 5' 9" and I know it was at least partially attributed to trying to be a 135 pound guy. That's 45 ****ing pounds and I didn't have an ounce of fat on me then or now. That weight cutting shit is bullshit and no good. States were won in Pennsylvania back in the mid 90's. Never pursued wrestling once past high school. I played college intramural hockey and practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu as much as I can fit in. I'd be happy if I was never in another brawl in my life. There were too many take downs that ended badly on both sides. Thank you on the congrats! Hope all works for you on the health issues. I'm rooting for ya.