In October, 2007 when I had decided to start wrestling, I knew I needed to be my minimum weight, but also as strong as I could be. My mom and aunt had been doing a program called Isagenix, which, until then, had not looked too appealing to me. I knew they were losing weight, and they were always talking how much energy they had. Even with all that it still wasn’t too appealing, but now that I had my mind set on being as good a wrestler as I could be, I gave Isagenix a chance. My mom bought me a 9 day program as soon as I asked her to and I started the next Monday. I lasted about a day and a half before I missed all the things I used to eat and everything else so much, that I couldn’t go through with the program the way I was supposed to. I knew that being a teenager, and eating as much as I do, my body wasn’t going to let me start this new diet. I asked my mom what I should do, and she told me just to have a shake every morning and every night, and just doing that will help me with my weight. After doing that for a month I had noticed a very gradual change in my appetite and decided that my body was ready for the cleanse and the 9 day program. I gave it another shot, and completed it with success (with a little cheating) losing 6 pounds. Being a wrestler, I needed to make weight, while still meeting all the hydration restrictions, and other rules they have put in place for wrestlers. I also had to build lean muscle mass, and have the energy to finish practice, go to my boxing, jiu jitsu and other work-out sessions I have every week.  I use all the products, I have a shake with my breakfast, with the IsaPro (Protein supplement to increase muscle mass) because together they fill be up and help me start my day.  I take the Ionix Supreme for energy and endurance, and faster muscle recovery. I have a protein bar with lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts and lean protein in my lunch, and I add a little of the “Want More Energy” to my water before practice.  I can get myself to exactly the weight I need to be at weigh in by cleansing before a competition, without starving myself, or doing any of the other dangerous things wrestlers do to make their weight.  And I really do have a lot of energy, even with an average of 2 hard workouts on most days. (My grades have improved too.)

 

Update: February 2009

So, this year, in order to wrestle on the Varsity Squad (as a sub), I had to wrestle at 125. My natural weight is around 133.  I won’t tell you it was easy, but I can tell you that I never starved myself, I drank an Isagenix shake with IsaPro every morning and every night for the whole season.  The one day I didn’t drink the shake, I ate crappy and felt crappy all day.  I added the protein bars, lots of nuts, and the snacks to my normal healthy meals (mostly vegetables, fruits and proteins, and whole grain carbs.)  I used the cleanse days as a tool right before weigh ins.
(I won the JV County tournament this year for the 125 class.)

 

Nicholas Connelly
River Hill High School
Clarksville, Maryland