Bf% question...

[CMB]

How low do you recommend my bodyfat be when I compete? It is a low level meet in september and im trying to get everything down ahead of time.

Thanks guys.

[auslifta]

as low as you possibly can, should be around 3.5/4% I believe.

[FireGuy]

^^Very few guys are able to get to those numbers unless we are talking pro's or national level competitors. Even then sub 5% is extremely lean. My avi is sitting probably mid to low 6's for reference.

[CMB]

^^Very few guys are able to get to those numbers unless we are talking pro's or national level competitors. Even then sub 5% is extremely lean. My avi is sitting probably mid to low 6's for reference.

Yeah I'm aiming for 5-7%. Going to have to diet hard and train correctly. should be a fun experience.

[MIKE_XXL]

I agree at 8% there is a deffinit ab definition, most guys will compete at 5-6% and with good water manipulation will appear leaner then that...

[sensaispike]

fireguy and mike.... what method do you guys use to test bodyfat?

[MIKE_XXL]

I use electronic calipers, which show me about 3-4% leaner then i actually am...underwater weighting is best wy to g (forgot actual name of it as it late at night lol) but it is expensive...calipers in the right hand will be very acurate, mine ar not it...:-)

[sensaispike]

yea.... i have a extremely experienced trainer who is a pro bodybuilder that dose mine..... i just get annoyed when i post my bodyfat and i have people telling me there is not way its that low.......

[MIKE_XXL]

Keep in mind calipers are often out by 3-4% i know there are every time they tell me how much my BF% is, when they say i am 4% i usually am around 7-8% so keep that in mind as your pro bber is doing yours.

[sensaispike]

in your post above you just said, and i quote "calipers in the right hand will be very accurate"..... see its this kinda of stuff that drives me nuts....

[MIKE_XXL]

I do not know if your BBer friend is good or not, and you said "i just get annoyed when i post my bodyfat and i have people telling me there is not way its that low" to me this would indicate that their ability to get accurate number is questionable...post a picture and what BF% you think you are or were and i can tell you if he does good work or not...there is a big differance between 4% to 6% to 8%...

[sensaispike]

I think there is a little misunderstanding…. I am talking about people saying that without having seen what I look like…. But I will post a picture as soon as I can, it will probably not be until this week end though…. and i know there is a huge difference between 4, 6, and 8%... i have been as high as 12% before.... and i have been as low as 4.5% before (right before a show i was going to do in 2008, but then something personal came up and i could not do the show).... so its not like i have no experience with this..... anyways ill post a pic as soon as i can..... i was not trying to start a argument just express my frustration.....

[FireGuy]

yea.... i have a extremely experienced trainer who is a pro bodybuilder that dose mine..... i just get annoyed when i post my bodyfat and i have people telling me there is not way its that low.......

You have to understand how many people come on here stating they are a certain BF% and then you see a picture and wonder where in the hell they came up with the number. There was a dude not too long ago that got tested hydrostatically and said he had 3 tests all showing him just over 5%. He still had a bit of a gut, not a line of separation in his quads and was smooth as a baby's ass. Probably 13-15%. And I dont think he was lying about the results either I just think many testing methods are flawed. So yes, when you said you were 6.3% and 16 weeks out I am going to want confirmation with a pic. I am not doubting for one minute you were calipered and that was the number they came up with.

As far as testing methods go I prefer calipers and here is why. If you do a 9 site and have an experienced person do them you can get accurate and more importantly consistent results. You can do them more often to chart progress. Most importantly from a bodybuilding perspective we are most concerned with sub-q fat which is the basis of all caliper readings. This gauges the look we are after. Bod-Pods and Hydros can be more accurate but can also be widely inconsistent due to needing to be properly calibrated and a bit more air in your lungs or even having a bit of stomach distention can radically change your readings in the Bod-Pod.

[jtuner77]

I use electronic calipers, which show me about 3-4% leaner then i actually am...underwater weighting is best wy to g (forgot actual name of it as it late at night lol) but it is expensive...calipers in the right hand will be very acurate, mine ar not it...:-)

Hydrostatic testing

[sensaispike]

You have to understand how many people come on here stating they are a certain BF% and then you see a picture and wonder where in the hell they came up with the number. There was a dude not too long ago that got tested hydrostatically and said he had 3 tests all showing him just over 5%. He still had a bit of a gut, not a line of separation in his quads and was smooth as a baby's ass. Probably 13-15%. And I dont think he was lying about the results either I just think many testing methods are flawed. So yes, when you said you were 6.3% and 16 weeks out I am going to want confirmation with a pic. I am not doubting for one minute you were calipered and that was the number they came up with.

As far as testing methods go I prefer calipers and here is why. If you do a 9 site and have an experienced person do them you can get accurate and more importantly consistent results. You can do them more often to chart progress. Most importantly from a bodybuilding perspective we are most concerned with sub-q fat which is the basis of all caliper readings. This gauges the look we are after. Bod-Pods and Hydros can be more accurate but can also be widely inconsistent due to needing to be properly calibrated and a bit more air in your lungs or even having a bit of stomach distention can radically change your readings in the Bod-Pod.

Ok, I see where you are coming from, and like you I mainly have it done so I can track my progress, so consistency is key just like you said. I feel he is accurate, but like I said ill post pictures this weekend. Thanks guys….

[MIKE_XXL]

^^^ i agree with the above statemant and FGs comment, it is a great tool to strack progress. regardless of its accuracy progress will be evident with this or any other method as long as there is consistancy in measrment method.
XXL