[quote]Professor X wrote:
SSC wrote:
UpChucker wrote:
I was going to say low to mid 20’s based off the first pics…wasn’t expecting abs. I would put him at mid to high teens now. Everything I have read says 6 pack around 10%.
Dude, you are so missing the point.
Everyone’s comfortable with a different level of body fatness. And people look different at different BF%s as well.
I guess I really am the wierd one, but I preffer the way most bodybuilders look in the off-season compared to dry and peeled. Unless I compete, I don’t plan on EVER getting that lean. There’s just no physiological purpose.
I agree. I could care less who on this forum calls me “fat”. I like the condition I am in now, for one, because I am strong as shit and actually fitting into XXXL shirts that are tight on your arms is cool as hell.
I am dieting now just because I want to see how it looks, but honestly, I like off season condition better and don’t fear carrying extra body fat.
[photo]20441[/photo][/quote]
So… If they make a Gears Of War Movie… I know who’s playing Cole.
[quote]loh208 wrote:
What bf levels are pro & amateur bodybuilders usually at on competition day?[/quote]
Diet Coach Tad Inoue (5’8"ish, 202 pounds, pictured above), who works with bodybuilders and figure competitors has said:
"[i]I prefer getting figure competitors around 8-8.5%. Some of the ladies can get down to 7.5%, and I think it’s a little too striated, but it depends on the person. I’ve had competitors come into a show at 9% and do really, really well.
If they’re tall, they tend to read higher, but look leaner. If they’re shorter, they have to read leaner. It’s just what fat looks like stretched over a bigger area. For men’s bodybuilding, it’s about 3%. I usually come in around 3% myself. And that’s with caliper testing, so there’s always some room more interpretation.[/i]" http://figureathlete.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/features/grilling_the_diet_coach
Like others have said, don’t stress about hitting a certain bodyfat percentage. Base your progress and “satisfaction” (or lack thereof) on what you see in the mirror. One guy might look killer at 15%, another at 8%. At the end of the day, for the average guy walking the street, beach, or gym, the number is irrelevant. What you can see is what counts.
[quote]Fuzzyapple wrote:
LankyMofo wrote:
supabeast wrote:
LankyMofo wrote: I might get flamed for this, but does anyone even want to walk around at <5% bodyfat all year long?
There are at least a dozen women at my gym who do, but I’m in Manhattan, so they’re probably actresses or models.
Aren’t girls naturally at a bf level higher than guys because of their, uh, boobies?
I read somewhere that women can lose their menstrual cycle if they have a body fat % less than 10% but can gain the menstrual cycle back if they go back above 10% (again different form women to women).
And X that guy is huge I thought the first pic of him was Rick Ross lol. My guess is he’s 14%-19%?[/quote]
Some can lose it as high as 18% My understanding is that a gradual decrease is better for female health and can keep things functioning at lower percentages. I have no idea what my percentage is (I have 4-5 mm suprailiac skinfold currently) but I have never had any disruption of periods. Generally women need about 10% more body fat than men.
Personally I would never stay at a percentage that caused my period to stop because I thnk that is a sign you’re at a level that’s detrimental to your health. But a competitor obviously would have to weigh that differently and perhaps the short term low levels would have less/no impact on long term health.
One thing about maintaining low bodyfat that concerns me is that if you are suddenly faced with an illness you have little on reserve, especially if you’re appetite or ability to eat is compromised.
Most highly conditionned bodybuilders are somewhere between 3 and 5%. But below a real 6% caliper measures are really unprecise. I once tested at ‘untestable’ (less than 0%) with calipers even though I was around 10lbs away from contest shape!
Someone who dropped down to contest condition can maintain 8-10% year round pretty easily without hurting his gains.
Someone who never dropped below 10% will have a hard time maintaining low levels… so ‘maintainable’ body fat levels is really dependant on the low point you are starting from.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
This guy is doubtfully under 20% but his body doesn’t store fat in that area the way it does in many others. That alone may be why he was able to bulk up and gain that much muscle in the first place as opposed to everyone else who panics and does a strict diet every time they lose an ab.
[/quote]
pffffff
This guy is obviously a metrosexual v-dieter who will only bulk-up as long as he could still see his abs.
If he had any real drive he’d put his abs aside for a while and make some real progress…
