Coach if you could lend your insight or if anyone who give me some feedback on this it would be greatly appreciated.
For the last 4 years I have dropped 110bs and gained 62lbs of muscle and I am finally under 10%-my 7 site is 8.8% but one of my abs on my left side isnt out and I am wondering why that is. I have my 3 on one side and 2 on the other; I can feel my 3rd ab on my left side and how it separates but it just won’t pop. I understand diet and my program is solid because I have dropped bodyfat effectively and gained strength in leaps and bounds but I am wondering if I am lacking hypertrophy in that area but I have good obliques on both sides so it doesn’t make sense to why I wouldn’t have 3 abs on 1 side and not 3 on another.
So I am wondering if anyone has had this happen-sub 10% bodyfat without entire abdominal definition and how they fixed it because it is frustrating to do all the sacrifice of a diet and work so hard the last 4 years and not have the physique you are aiming for.
Not CT, but I think I can help a little here.
First of all, good job. Sounds like you’ve made really good progress.
Second, I wouldn’t trust the 7 site measurement too much. Remember that there is some error due to each site - due to callipers not being 100% accurate, random measurement error, etc. I had the 7-site formula show me that I’m around 8% before when I was clearly above 10%. On the other hand the 4-site formula has less error (due to fewer sites) and I have found it to be more accurate for me, but it completely ignores the lower body. That’s why I usually ask for 8 measurements that cover both formulas and then use the result from 4-site as a rough BF% estimate (remember that even in ideal conditions calliper measurements produce some noticeable error) and just look at the separate skinfolds/skinfold sum for the rest. Remember - it’s all just a rough estimate of what your actual BF% is, so don’t worry about the numbers too much.
As for 3 abs showing on one side and only 2 on the other - most people are not symmetrical. The lower tip of my ribcage on the left side sticks out a little bit, which causes my abs to look different on each side. It also results in my skinfold measurements being noticably different on each side and in some extra hair growth on the protrusion (no idea why though). Some people have one leg slightly shorter than the other, just enough to affect their posture in such a way that their abs won’t look symmetrical unless they put their foot on something. So it’s nothing to worry about too much. Eventually they will show, you might just have to drop a little bit more fat. But considering how well you’ve done so far I doubt that will be a problem.
I have offset abs with my right side being higher then my left, because of this, my lower right side is more visible when I cut down. You might also have a cortisol problem (If I remember right) which can cause extra bodyfat to be stored in the midsection which even though you have low numbers this could still be a problem.
thanks a lot guys-that helps me move forward and just focus on the diet and let the bodyfat just drop. I am always suspicious of bodyfat test anyway because I do store it around the ambilical donut and to the left but the test project single digits which look good on paper but in the mirror don’t mean jack.
I have the same problem dude, I would be able to hold at least a four pack while bulking, but that’s not the case since only one ab on the left shows up, and that can be kinda frustrating. My abs are for sure asymetrical, I don’t think there is much I’ll be able to do about it. It’s just more encouragement to get super ripped one day I guess.
[quote]thicklikeabrick wrote:
thanks a lot guys-that helps me move forward and just focus on the diet and let the bodyfat just drop. I am always suspicious of bodyfat test anyway because I do store it around the ambilical donut and to the left but the test project single digits which look good on paper but in the mirror don’t mean jack.[/quote]
I’ve also dropped around 90-100 lbs and I’m at 12%. Not as lean as you but you must remember loose excess skin will cover areas as well. Don’t over diet when it could be that.
Natural elasticity will only bring the skin back sofar and the fat cells will remain if you gained your weight as a teen. Surgical removal is the only option after that.
Good work on the recomp - a legit 62 pounds of muscle is incredible In 4 years let alone the fat loss.