Seems like an odd thing to say. What was the context of that comment?
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My taste in physiques.
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Yep. Especially women. Young men who lift expecting their muscle to get them women are usually badly disappointed.
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These are all fair points with regard to other people’s perceptions, but the large majority of my friends are vain, shallow, insecure, and immature.
And I say that with full knowledge that I fit right in with them. Basically a bunch of 180+ lb. toddlers. 
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Did you make the OP because you want to be that lean year round? If so, why, it you don’t mind me asking.
Actually I’ve become more educated on this point since making the first post. I was thinking of 10% as being the zone necessary for decent muscularity and separation. I realize now that most guys will have pretty decent muscularity even at 15% or slightly above. Moreover, the sacrifices necessary for year-round 10% bodyfat are not realistic for me, given my priorities. Finally, I did not realize that you can mess with endogenous testosterone production by getting too lean. So my goal now is to get to around 15-17% or so and try to stay there.
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Rather than fixate on a number, why not just get to a level of lean you like and hold that?
I legit have no idea what my bodyfat% is, and frankly I don’t care. I’m lean enough that I like it and my Mrs tells me I’m hot a lot.
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That’s kind of my plan, though I’m monitoring bodyfat along the way. I’m embarrassed to say that right now I’m at about 25%. I’m using 15% as just sort of a goal to shoot for.
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Say you get to 15% and don’t like how you look?
I’m a bigger fan of using the mirror. “I want 4 abs visible”, “I want shoulder veins”, etc etc. You can still set goals to chase this way, but without getting swept up in the numbers game. Hell, I got to my leannest without WEIGHING myself, to say nothing of bodyfat %.
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Yes. People in some cultures almost universally do this.
The payoff is other dudes in the gym admiring your joocy gainz brah!
Plenty of men start lifting in effort to boost attractiveness. Does exercise work to boost sex appeal? Yes… to an extent.
Most girls are fine with a guy who looks healthy…
Contrary to the gym-rat ideology, I’d wager most girls prefer this
to this
The latter CAN come across as intimidating. The first guy looks fantastic to the public eye, a solid balance between fit/lean yet he doesn’t appear as if he’s been composed in a laboratory designed to create human sized anatomical diagrams. Granted there’s a niche for different looks. I’ve noticed the small minority who prefer the bodybuilder look tend to REALLY be into the bodybuilder look, and I believe women into weightlifting/powerlifting/OLY lifting tend to prefer bigger men too (just “calling it as I see it”). Other settings where being big/muscular tends to be advantageous =
- clubs
- high school
- arguably college
But these tend to relate to superficial, meaningless interactions. What actually helps procure a girlfriend is the ability to hold a conversation, confidence, a sense of humour etc… not spending four hours/day flexing your hammies in the mirror to gauge symmetry.
now… if someone happens to like the bodybuilder/shredded look; by all means… go ahead. But by no means is it going to lead to some amazing, life altering “aesthetic lifestyle” that plenty of fake-natty fitness models tend to tout. I believe the fitness industry has a looooooot to answer for re setting unrealistic expectations and instilling insecurities relating to body image within youth demographics (topic for another discussion though)
With physique maintenance. Someone on here posted a picture of a professional athlete earlier. It should be noted many, many, many professional athletes use performance enhancing drugs of which directly alter fat deposition through a multitude of differing mechanisms. Even if natural, the job of an athlete is to train, diet and recover. The rest of us have to deal with occupational, academic and familial interactions and requirements. For most it simply isn’t feasible to adhere to a routine equatable to that of a top tier athlete.
What’s more, metabolic/endocrinological alterations associated with extensive dieting/excess leanness tends to lead to a wide range of pathological symptomatology, thus setting an adequate deterrent for those who aren’t genetically blessed. You’re 8%BF? Great, but now you can’t have sex and you’re irritable, fatigued and hungry all the time… isn’t the reason you’ve strived so hard for this to boost sex appeal? Seems counter productive
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Agreed.
@nealdog Bodyfat % is the fat accumulation from all over the body. A guy can carry most of his fat in one or two areas, usually Abs & trunk. You have to consider the amount of lean mass with the amount of BF and where that fat lies when deciding if you are happy with your overall appearance. Two guys at 15% could look night and day different. A bodyfat % is only going to serve a purpose (dexascan) if you are comparing your diet and training over time to see your own progress. Otherwise, the % doesn’t mean much.
Greg Doucette made a comment. He said “Close your eyes, imagine your dream body… YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO GET THERE”
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Yep. No question. Sit in a coffee shop on a busy street in New York, Chicago, or any other big city (well, do it once the pandemic passes) and observe the men who pass by with attractive women. 99% or more of those men will look nothing like bodybuilders.
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But 99% of ALL men will look nothing like bodybuilders in general. It’s a very unique look, irrespective of female companionship.
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I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it! Regardless, I’ll be healthier and look better than I do right now, so it seems like a worthwhile goal.
A true 10% is actually ripped my man. I’m aiming for 9-10% for photoshoots and it will more than lean enough lol and a hassle to get there already. Right now I’d say I’m at 12-14%, here are some very recent pics, no editing but goon lighting
Very easy to maintain but you can see the fat on my lower back/love handles, and most of what I hold is hidden there (ass and quads). If you have some muscle a higher %age looks better. At 10% I’ll have veins on my abs and obliques…
I don’t have a wife or kids and I don’t even want to be 10% year round ahah
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Damn guy, you like like Michelangelo’s David if David worked out! If I can look this lean, I will be more than satisfied.
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Huh… what… I see a Christmas tree in the pull-up photo and you’re seriously talking about love handles?
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Dude, you’re looking awesome!
Lol I’m sure it looks better than mine
my lower body doesn’t even look like someone’s who lifts, especially now that there’s extra blubber on my inner thighs
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