How lean can you get w/o AS?

[flexed1]

Without a doubt yes. I have seen folks below 6 (with calipers) who are natural. steriods make you're body vascular and hard but cardio and diet remove and reduce bodyfat. I htink you would need the thermos to speed the system and cardio much harder than if you where on gear. i have competed natural at 6% but I have also competed at under 3 % not natural . (again with calipers)

 

[bigmag]

My best friend just competed in a BB show at 2%....and he's all natural....no shit....and I totally respect him for it.

 

[latona]

thanks guys. that's really encouraging.

HappyScrappy, thanks for the details of your diet. I'm trying to keep my calories around 3000-3500, but i haven't been very consistent. your diet looks like it is pretty easy to follow (especially the weekend part), so I think I'm going to give it a shot. I guess this means no more sushi nights, though.

 

[Veni-Vidi-Vici]

There are lots of athletes that are well below 10% BF without using gear. Wrestlers in particular are often around 5-6% BF during the season. It takes a very disciplined diet and busting your ass. So is it possible to get below 10%BF with out gear....yes. Is it easy? No. V3

 

[absolute hardgainer]

I am at 8%, without even trying to loose weight or fat.
However before working out I was only at 11%-12% anyway, I am naturally very skinny, ectomorphic.
On the other hand it took me a lot of hard work to put on 45lb of LBM.

hardgainer (!)

 

[HappyScrappy]

thanks guys. that's really encouraging.

HappyScrappy, thanks for the details of your diet. I'm trying to keep my calories around 3000-3500, but i haven't been very consistent. your diet looks like it is pretty easy to follow (especially the weekend part), so I think I'm going to give it a shot. I guess this means no more sushi nights, though.

the diet is incredibly easy and it at least feels like I'm getting results (my tanita would never lie to me and it says I'm down 3% - but I hadn't checked in a while I don't think since I'd been too busy with work to obsess over it).
as for no sushi - fuck that - what do you think I'm eating - brown rice, veggies, and tuna - the only difference with sushi is it costs a lot more and sometimes has raw fish.
or we could always do the guacamole burger

seriously though - one cheat meal in the week isn't going to fuck it up. I've read over and over and certainly feel that my body agrees that 1) if you have one big meal where you indulge all of the cals and fat aren't going to get absorbed from it, but it is instead a consistent diet like that where your body can adapt to absorbing it all, and 2) if you have the little cheat meals occassionally - it helps you stay strong in willpower the rest of the time.
or at least that's how I justify it.

and it is cheap as hell - I was spending $10 a day for lunching out at work everyday, and now I spend about $20-50 a week on food (not counting protein and ice cream).

I still want to add a banana to the oatmeal in the morning and one whole grapefruit somewhere in there.

then I'll be happy with this diet for awhile.

 

[Maximum Intensity]

I have measured out in the high 3% and low 4% prior to competitions. Granted there is a margin of error there but I am all natural and tend to be in top condition when I compete. Yes you tend to lose some muscle, but if you guage it properly and make adjustments on a weekly basis, you can prevent some of that muscle loss from occuring.

 

[HeavyDutyGuy]

Have you heard of the book "Ripped"????

Clarence Bass got down to about 2.4% without roids.