Body fat %...?

[Elle]

I was just wondering...what is everybody's goal body fat %? I'm not talking competition, but if you wanna share that stat be my guest.
Right now, I'm a shade over 17%...next goal is to be under 15% in the next 2-3 weeks. I'm starting to see abs peeking through, but I want more!!!! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I've always wanted to be at 12% body fat but I found that I have to be almost constantly hungry just to hold 15%!! /forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif And I just can't live the rest of my life that way, being hungry all the time, not to mention the reduced calories negatively affect my speed skating. My body seems to be comfortable right around 18% cause that's always where I end back up at when I take my calories back to maintenance level. I really liked the way I looked at 15% but my body just doesn't like it, I have to constantly fight it to stay that way. I'd like to cut back down to 15% for the summer but at the same time, I don't want my speed skating to suffer, so it may or may not be possible. Darn female genetics! /forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I'd just love to have my 6 pack back for the summer! Gosh I got all kinds of comments pretty often. I got asked how I got my abs, A LOT! Of course they all assumed I do thousands of situps or crunches, ha ha, if only it were THAT easy! Anyway, right now at 18% I mainly just have the 3 vertical lines that show without flexing. And in the mornings (when I'm dehydrated) I can still make out the top 4 but a few hours after I've been awake, it's pretty much back to the 3 vertical lines. /forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif http://www.plauder-smilies.de/bawling.gif

[BB1]

Short term goal to go from 28% to 18% by my 30th /forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif birthday which is Mar 31. I think this is realistic or at least I hope it is.

[Elle]

I lost about 2.5% each month...I think your goal is totally reasonable.

Go for it!

[sicily1962]

I'm at (as of the 12th) 10.5%, but i have a comp in 2wks..then another 2wks after that.
My trainer and i spoke and he's going to rewrite my nutrition so i can maintain 15% thru Xmas and then drop down into the single digits for a March 22nd comp.

for the most part, when not competing, i maintain at about 17%. It works for me.
Statistics show the average college student is 19-25%....I don't think i'm doing so bad... /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Good luck with all of your goals! You'll do great!
ciao,
margie

[Vero]

can some of you give me some tips on how to reduce body fat? I don't know much about any of this but I want to loose as much body fat as i can I don't have much time to prepare meals so do you have any suggestions meal plans that I can follow. I'd really appreciate it if you help me. thanks

[sicily1962]

One thing to remember when reducing bodyfat is this:
You didn't gain it overnight and you will not lose it overnight.

To lose bodyfat the key is to either reduce your calories or up your intensity in the gym...or a combo of both ~ a split.

If you normally maintain your weight at say, 2000 calories a day, then to begin reducing you would need to cut an additional 200-500 calories a day from your daily intake through either reducing your food intake by that much or by working a bit harder in the gym or a little of both.

I would begin w/ a 200 calorie reduction at first. In some cases 500 cals may be too drastic a reduction to begin with. You can work up to that as you become accustom to the cycle.
You want to shock the system, not paralyze it. You still need the energy to complete your workouts and still feel like a whole person.

You may want to give HIT cardio a try or even say cut an extra serving of a high starch food from your diet.

Remember, it takes 3500 calories to make a lb.
A safe goal is at least 1lb a week.
A slow reduction will keep the bodyfat off. If you lose too quickly, you'll be more apt to gain the weight back and maybe then some.

Hope this helps and good luck.
Ciao,
Margie

[tiger1]

I'm at around 18% but need to get down some more for a may show. My first one

[Cristy]

Well you folks must look awesome w/ percentages ranging in the teens! I'm at 20% and I know it's hanging in the thighs! I know I can't spot reduce, but I am going to work harder on my diet. I know it's the key to getting the fat to melt away! I'm happy with how I look now, but I'd like to push myself a little further to see what I'm capable of! I have been getting comments on my arms lately and that's VERY motivating! Yippee!!!! All that food I'm eating is paying off! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Elle]

I must be back up to 20%...I am dreading sunday...still need to find those darn calipers!

[lifterchick]

<blockquote><font class="small">Posted by: ***********:</font><hr> I've always wanted to be at 12% body fat but I found that I have to be almost constantly hungry just to hold 15%!!<hr /></blockquote>

That is so depressing! Please say it isn't so!! My goal at 5'5 1/2" is 15%, but I definitely cannot live my life hungry. It lasts about a week and then I just have to EAT everything in sight! Kinda counterproductive, lol! Right now I'm at about 20%, up from 17-18% a few months ago. Like I said, my goal is 15% since I've never had the competition bug, just like the look of muscles and sexy curves!
Lifterchick

<blockquote><font class="small">Posted by: lifterchick:</font><hr> <blockquote><font class="small">Posted by: ***********:</font><hr> I've always wanted to be at 12% body fat but I found that I have to be almost constantly hungry just to hold 15%!!<hr /></blockquote>

That is so depressing! Please say it isn't so!! My goal at 5'5 1/2" is 15%, but I definitely cannot live my life hungry. It lasts about a week and then I just have to EAT everything in sight! Kinda counterproductive, lol! Right now I'm at about 20%, up from 17-18% a few months ago. Like I said, my goal is 15% since I've never had the competition bug, just like the look of muscles and sexy curves!
Lifterchick <hr /></blockquote>

Well, that's just me, hopefully that won't be the case for you. It depends a lot on your genetics. Also, I'm on the birth control pill and that certainly can't be helping matters since I'm giving my body extra estrogen all the time. I know of other females (on another board) who consistently hold 15% year round. I don't know how difficult that is for them but I just know it's difficult for me. I just find it difficult to enjoy life if I want to stay at 15%. 17% seems to be the leanest I can maintain without being SUPER DUPER strict on my diet. But it's still a heck of a lot stricter than your normal, non-bodybuilder type person. For an example of how I eat just to maintain at 17%, you're welcome to look thru my fitday journal at: http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=***********