body fat levels

[brunette]

since many of us are athletes here, or simply healthier than the status quo, would the accepted bf levels that form the govt consensus not apply to us?

i know the 19-25% is just hogwash for many of us who train, but is there an unacceptable level for us too? what would be ideal? i have always liked the figure 8-10%, but would this be unhealthy?

what is unacceptable to you, who don't compete?

 

[Daisy_Girl]

8-10% BF levels are almost impossible to maintain year round for women. 8-10% is the COMPETING BF% of the figure competitors. Off season, they are likely 4-6% above that. For most women, getting to 8-10% will take A LOT of work. And maintaining it? Very hard.

A "comfortable" BF level is going to vary from person to person. Even the same BF% will look different on every body. If you and I are both 20%, we will look different. This is going to be based on height, weight, muscle/fat distribution and body type.

For ME, I like being around 16%. It takes some work for me to get there, but once there, if I continue to eat clean 80% of the time and train hard, I can maintain it without depriving myself too much. Right now I am unacceptable for ME, probably about 22%.

I think the general health guidelines still apply to everyone, it is just going to matter what is okay for you and your goals.

 

[FigureSkater]

I don't like to go below 18%, which is where I am happy with how both my body and my face look. (The 18-21% range is good for me.) I have high cheekbones (I've been told I look like J-Lo) and if I go lower than that, my face starts to get too bony and gaunt looking and it just doesn't look good. I can also still be a decent C-cup at that percentage...any lower and I feel like boobs are all I'm really losing.

Lowest I've ever been was 14% back when I was 17-18. I got sick all the time, had less energy, and got injured far more easily.

And where I'm at now is just plain too much...but that's ok, it's less than it was 6 wks ago. We all learn from our mistakes/bad habits/laziness.

 

[Lililston]

I have high cheekbones (I've been told I look like J-Lo) and if I go lower than that, my face starts to get too bony and gaunt looking and it just doesn't look good. .

EXAMPLE: Brandy

 

[Daisy_Girl]

EXAMPLE: Brandy

Who? What? Color me confused......

 

[brunette]

^Brandy the singer perhaps?

I'm shocked by the responses so far, i thought they would be lower. 10% does'nt seem so safe now....

 

[Lililston]

^Brandy the singer perhaps?

....

her song- "Talk about our Love" with Kanye West

if you've seen that video, she lost a lot of weight, you could tell, you can see the bones of her chest, and her cheekbones stick out more.

 

[FigureSkater]

These body fat percentage ranges for women are from www.bmi-calculator.com:

Body Fat Percentage Categories

Essential Fat 10-12%
Athletes 14-20%
Fitness 21-24%
Acceptable 25-31%
Obese 32%+

"Fitness" in this case obviously means just being physically fit (for your average non-athlete person), not fitness modeling/competition. Anything below 10% (at least for a long period of time) isn't good for many reasons...but it especially has an effect on your reproductive system.

 

[brunette]

thanks for those figures^^^.....bloody depressing though!

 

[Sassy69]

thanks for those figures^^^.....bloody depressing though!

I just wanted to point out that though bodyfat is a more appropriate way than straight weight to quantify your body, at the end of the day, it' still just a number. Personally I think at the end of the day, its how it all looks on you. And ya'll are HOT!

 

[FigureSkater]

thanks for those figures^^^.....bloody depressing though!

Honestly, looking at pictures of some of the fitness competitors during competition season, and others taken during the off-season, I think they look so much better carrying a little bit more body fat. Much more feminine (and less tanning bed/self tanner orange)!

 

[RottenWillow]

And some other examples of bone face:

Jennifer Anniston...looked much cuter when her face had at least some flesh on it.
Katherine Zeta Jones...... recently got scarey skinny and now her face looks too angular and a bit haggard.


And for 99% of women anything much below 15% produces jutting collarbones, clearly visible ribs and stab-someone-to-death shoulders all of which I think only appeal to those of us with seriously distorted body image.

 

[FigureSkater]

And for 99% of women anything much below 15% produces jutting collarbones, clearly visible ribs and stab-someone-to-death shoulders all of which I think only appeal to those of us with seriously distorted body image.

Calista Flockhart...

I have a (male) friend with seriously distorted views of beauty (had eating disorders himself) who once told me that she would be gorgeous if she'd lose 15 lbs! Um, she only weights what, 20?

I think Davana Medina in the past 2 issues of Oxygen looks absolutely gorgeous. She's fit, but not hugely muscular or extremely cut right now...but she's the perfect combination of feminine and athletic.

 

[brunette]

true true, thanks guys for giving me a wake up call!

brings to mind, Courtney Cox and her gauntness.

 

[velvett]

Personally - 15-20%

I've been above and below and both were less than pleasurable.

Daisy already said it -

A "comfortable" BF level is going to vary from person to person. Even the same BF% will look different on every body. If you and I are both 20%, we will look different. This is going to be based on height, weight, muscle/fat distribution and body type.

I would try and not focus on numbers but focus on how you look and feel. (later on you can note the number at which you felt and looked best)
Also, try to take photos of yourself instead of looking at a mirror. For some reason a photograph gives you a better look at things than a real time reflection. (this goes for anything btw, not just a glimpse of yourself.)