Weight cutting for fighters like @dakotaditcheva is controlled depletion on a deadline. The stress: 🥊 They’re intentionally dehydrating (water loading then restriction, sauna, sweat suits), restricting calories, and depleting glycogen. Fighters can drop 10-20+ pounds in the final week before weigh-ins. 🥊 They’re pulling water out of muscles, blood volume drops, electrolyte balance gets disrupted, energy stores tank. 🥊 They’re temporarily weaker, slower, foggier. Their body is in crisis mode. The recovery: 🥊 After weigh-ins, they typically have 24-36 hours before they fight. That’s when they refuel — and this critical window can make or break their fight day performance. 🥊 Rehydrate smart (water plus sodium and electrolytes, not just chugging plain water) and they restore blood volume and get fluids back into muscle cells. 🥊 Refuel strategically and they have energy available. Botch it (dilute sodium further with too much plain water, eat heavy, skip sleep) and they step into the cage still depleted. At the elite level, cutting weight is standard practice. The advantage goes to whoever recovers better in that narrow window. The stress is predictable. The adaptation (or lack of it) shows up when the bell rings. The next bell rings for @dakotaditcheva on February 6. We know her sweat won’t be sweet. Stay Salty ⚡