Percent Body Fat
97
Member
723 days
Brad Nicholson posted 1 year ago.
i am 5'9 or so and 150pds. i have no idea even what my body fat may be.
64
Member
1735 days
Donnermann posted 1 year ago.
You can have it checked at some gyms. I am a pharmacy student and I have that kind of equipment at my disposal :)
342
Member
528 days
groovyjen posted 1 year ago.
I'm too cheap to pay to find out. Sufficient to say that I needn't worry about dropping below that 8 % threshold. : )
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
25
Member
497 days
Landyachtz posted 1 year ago.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but don't some pro's go as low as 5%?
64
Member
1735 days
Donnermann posted 1 year ago.
From a health standpoint 5% can be a little dangerous. The body doesn't secrete chemical messengers properly along with a few other complications.
64
Member
1735 days
Donnermann posted 1 year ago.
From a health standpoint 5% can be a little dangerous. The body doesn't secrete chemical messengers properly along with a few other complications.
64
Member
1735 days
Donnermann posted 1 year ago.
From a health standpoint 5% can be a little dangerous. The body doesn't secrete chemical messengers properly along with a few other complications.
5
Member
382 days
roberthnichol posted 1 year ago.
I've been as low as 3% and fully agree that it isnt healthy. Do not misunderstand me to say that i am currently anywhere near that number now. 10 years ago i was swimming 8hrs a day and couldnt eat enough to sustain my weight. From what the nutritionists i saw at the time were saying, you should be no lower than 5 or 6% but are better off in the low single digit range.
713
Member
668 days
jhudalla posted 1 year ago.
You mean low double digit range? Look at some of them dudes on the TDF, they must be around the 3-5% range. Gawd daymn.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
98
Member
469 days
336
Member
430 days
lala2021 posted 1 year ago.
3%??? Thats like prison camp thin right? I like for my man to have a little meat on his bones!
5
Member
382 days
roberthnichol posted 1 year ago.
somewhere around 8-11% is best for overall health. I'm waiting on an email back from a cardiologist friend who i also a runner. Should provide more "professional" insight.
i was 5'11 and 115lbs to give you perspective on what 3% looks like on a guy. It's not a good situation. Michael Phelps was likely around 3-5% despite eating 10-12,000 calories daily.
564
Member
677 days
xc800runner posted 1 year ago.
I was 3.6 when running the 1500 in college - 6'2", 153 lbs. Back up to a "healthy" 5.8 at the moment (measured using the water displacement/weight method). The little hand-held meters at the gym or the body fat scales for home use are grossly inaccurate. Usually by about 2-3% fat (but at 4% body fat, if it reads 7, you're looking at a 75% error). It depends too much on other factors like hydration.
The climbers in the pro ranks are the ones around 3-5%. Boonen, Hushovd, and the like are probably closer to 9-10%. They can get away with it as they can push ~2000 W in a finishing sprint after spending 5 hours as pack fill.
5783
Member
2081 days
beads1985 posted 1 year ago.
I am 5'9" and about 170 lbs.
I range between 7 and 9%
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
6
Member
674 days
tiger10champ posted 1 year ago.
My roomate is a wreslter for the U of MN and is currently at 3.1%. He does not look unhealthy at all as he is 6'2" and wrestling at the 197 weight class.
However I've always heard the 8% number was a good place to be at.
5783
Member
2081 days
beads1985 posted 1 year ago.
TriSooner wrote:
Pics or it didn't happen.
And, I am a snappy dresser too!
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
370
Member
427 days
Gsal posted 1 year ago.
I'm at around 5%. I would not say that my body fat percentage reflects my abilities as an endurance athlete because it simply shows that I am more muscle than anything else. Right now I'm around 6'1 and 140, which I have to admit is a little too skinny (cross country season). But once xc ends i'll take some weight gainer and get to around 150 with maybe 6%. That's my ideal race weight.
"You can never be too rich or too skinny."
-My doctor
709
Member
523 days
jonovision_man posted 1 year ago.
Donnermann wrote:
Hey I was wondering if anyone had information on what a healthy percent body fat is for endurance athletes. The minimum anyone should be is around 8% but I'm sure it must be higher for endurance athletes. I am at 13% and I weight 185lbs and would like to cut a few pounds. Any thoughts?
I'm around where you are - I'm 180lbs and 6'0". I'm not exactly sure what my body fat is at, definitely double digits though.
Trying to get down to the mid-160's before race season, which I assume will be <10% body fat. My wife objects, says I'll be "too skinny", lol. :)
jono
755
Member
911 days
Socket posted 1 year ago.
At 6' and 170 I was pretty comfortable all last season. I don't know if I'd feel good being much lighter than that.
9
Member
1194 days
badgnus posted 1 year ago.
Donnermann wrote:
Hey I was wondering if anyone had information on what a healthy percent body fat is for endurance athletes. The minimum anyone should be is around 8% but I'm sure it must be higher for endurance athletes. I am at 13% and I weight 185lbs and would like to cut a few pounds. Any thoughts?
Although I can appreciate all the anecdotal responses, here is the scoop. We all have what is called essential body fat. Essential fat is stored in small amounts in bone marrow, organs, the central nervous system and muscles, and is needed for the normal, healthy functioning of all these body systems. For men this number is approx 3% and for women it is approx 13%. These numbers are approximations because everyone is different and reacts differently. For women, going below this number means possibly having female issues as well as bone density issues. Going to low can also mean a decrement to performance as well as intolerance to cold. Remember this is highly individual and what is good for me may not be good for you.
As endurance athletes, fat is a great source of energy (9 cals/gram) so I would be happy to trade a few fat percentage points for some high energy fuel. That being said, it is hard, as some of you know, to keep body fat up during training, especially as volume and intensity increase.
So to answer your question there is no "healthy" percentage. You will know by feel what is good for you.
Gary Lavin, BS, CSCS, USAT II
www.tothemaxfit.com
1041
Member
839 days
TryScott posted 1 year ago.
badgnus wrote:
Donnermann wrote:Hey I was wondering if anyone had information on what a healthy percent body fat is for endurance athletes. The minimum anyone should be is around 8% but I'm sure it must be higher for endurance athletes. I am at 13% and I weight 185lbs and would like to cut a few pounds. Any thoughts?Although I can appreciate all the anecdotal responses, here is the scoop. We all have what is called essential body fat. Essential fat is stored in small amounts in bone marrow, organs, the central nervous system and muscles, and is needed for the normal, healthy functioning of all these body systems. For men this number is approx 3% and for women it is approx 13%. These numbers are approximations because everyone is different and reacts differently. For women, going below this number means possibly having female issues as well as bone density issues. Going to low can also mean a decrement to performance as well as intolerance to cold. Remember this is highly individual and what is good for me may not be good for you.
As endurance athletes, fat is a great source of energy (9 cals/gram) so I would be happy to trade a few fat percentage points for some high energy fuel. That being said, it is hard, as some of you know, to keep body fat up during training, especially as volume and intensity increase.
So to answer your question there is no "healthy" percentage. You will know by feel what is good for you.
Gary Lavin, BS, CSCS, USAT II
www.tothemaxfit.com
You explained it so well. I'm surprised that nobody compared this to one of the "What should my heart rate be?" questions. Everyone is different.
The only thing I didn't understand about what badgnus said is "That being said, it is hard, as some of you know, to keep body fat up during training, especially as volume and intensity increase." Maybe you have never heard of a sweet flavored frozen food containing cream or butterfat and usually eggs, also know as ice cream.
Hey I was wondering if anyone had information on what a healthy percent body fat is for endurance athletes. The minimum anyone should be is around 8% but I'm sure it must be higher for endurance athletes. I am at 13% and I weight 185lbs and would like to cut a few pounds. Any thoughts?