Ideal Body Fat Percentages

WOW, my competitive bodybuilding friend gets to 3-3.5% for competition and thats only for 1-3 weeks a year or so. Normally, he is at 5% and is totally cut. No expert here but I always remember for active men 10-12% and women 12-15% or so. I currently weigh in at 15% and have a little to loose yet but already seem to think I am getting to thin (in fat) for triathlons and such. I am targetting 10% as my lowest personally, for some reason I think I need the fat for the endurance workouts.

Wow, talk about skin and bones!

That's low - probably too low. How much fat do you get in your daily nutrition. Our sports coaches at the University I work at suggest that an athlete needs at least 20% of their daily calories from fat. (Doesn't have to be bad fat - I have a cholesterol problem (used to) and use flax, omega three (in flax meal as well as fish) - Without more on your daily nutrition it is hard to say what moves you should be making next. If you can get to about 10% at least I would wager that your performance will improve.

How do you find out your body fat?

CV, there are several ways, here are the most common:

1. You can purchase a scale that measures your body fat. I have one made by Tanita, cost was around $60, has settings for 2 people which is handy because you have to enter your gender and height for it to give out the appropriate reading. It works by having small metal contacts under each foot which measures the electrical resistance as it passes through your body. Not to worry, the current is so slight that it's perfectly safe and undetectable when you stand on the scale. That said, the reviews of certain brands have been less than glowing when it comes to the accuracy of the scale. On the other hand, even if the percentage is not super accurate, it is at least repeatable so you can see if you are gaining or losing body fat. You need to track it over time and not be concerned with minor daily fluctuations.

2. Subject yourself to a complete body immersion in a dunk tank. They weigh your body before dunking, and then weigh you on a special scale after you exhale under water. Very accurate, and also very specialized (read "expensive").

3. Skin Caliper measurements. Many doctors offices have them, and you probably can find an inexpensive pair on line, complete with instructions. Like a mini pair of plastic pliers, you gently pinch your fat in several designated places, add up the readings, and get a final percentage.

Max

Edited by max 2004-03-07 11:14 PM

I dont think I want to know my %! I dont think they make %'s that big!!! lol Jack.

I dont think I want to know my %! I dont think they make %'s that big!!! lol Jack.

woopsy.. how'd that happen? I must be enter happy

I get around 25 to 30% of my calories from fat. Thanks

Thanks, had a weight problem in the past, so its emebedded in my head(45lbs off 2 and a half years now), just keep eating till i hit 145lbs.

"Keep eating until I get to 145," That sounds good to me except I would have to find food with negative calories.  I got it, the ice water diet!