Body fat percentage for women?

jemhh

Sued0nim wrote: »

purple18194 wrote: »

Sued0nim wrote: »

purple18194 wrote: »

I'm at 14.4% right now and I feel probably the healthiest I've ever felt for what that's worth

Do you know what that BF looks like on a woman? That's close to essential fat levels. I think you might have misunderstood, believed the wrong kind of estimate or have serious body issues

stelloian wrote: »

I am looking to set goals that are realistic and healthy. I am curious what others consider a healthy body fat percentage.
I currently just measured 18.9 % but I have about 10-15 lbs left to lose.
In my old athletic days, I was sub 12% but had issues with my cycle as a result (lack of a cycle). I don't want to be unhealthy, but I do want to have a good body composition.

What is a good % for women in your opinion?

I would doubt, if that is a current avatar, that you are sub 25% tbh

Wow, this is an incredibly rude response. Yes, I know what 14% BF looks like on a woman, I did not misunderstand as I have my measurements done by a professional, and no, I don't have serious body issues. But I'm glad you can tell all of that from my avatar. Dang.

There is nothing rude in being objective - there is a lot of misunderstanding on how Body Fat %ages work and differ between the genders.

To confirm, the around 25% estimate was visual and regarding OP, hence why it was directly under quoting her post - it's within a good BF % range for a woman, and can be close to lean dependent on age.

14% BF, which is what you said you were, dependent on frame and musculature will tend to show vascularity and musculature because it is extremely low for women (in the underfat region)

there are lots of different photos online re body fat - and of course they all differ based on genetic physique and training. I've always felt this one is representative



but there's the one above and this one



and millions more

In the past I didn't like the picture charts but I've changed my mind and have come to appreciate both of those because of the body shape differences. I'm around 25-26% and apple/rulerish shaped (apple when overweight, ruler when at a healthy weight.) If I combine the two women in that range in my mind, I can see how I compare.

3dogsrunning

jemhh wrote: »

Sued0nim wrote: »

purple18194 wrote: »

Sued0nim wrote: »

purple18194 wrote: »

I'm at 14.4% right now and I feel probably the healthiest I've ever felt for what that's worth

Do you know what that BF looks like on a woman? That's close to essential fat levels. I think you might have misunderstood, believed the wrong kind of estimate or have serious body issues

stelloian wrote: »

I am looking to set goals that are realistic and healthy. I am curious what others consider a healthy body fat percentage.
I currently just measured 18.9 % but I have about 10-15 lbs left to lose.
In my old athletic days, I was sub 12% but had issues with my cycle as a result (lack of a cycle). I don't want to be unhealthy, but I do want to have a good body composition.

What is a good % for women in your opinion?

I would doubt, if that is a current avatar, that you are sub 25% tbh

Wow, this is an incredibly rude response. Yes, I know what 14% BF looks like on a woman, I did not misunderstand as I have my measurements done by a professional, and no, I don't have serious body issues. But I'm glad you can tell all of that from my avatar. Dang.

There is nothing rude in being objective - there is a lot of misunderstanding on how Body Fat %ages work and differ between the genders.

To confirm, the around 25% estimate was visual and regarding OP, hence why it was directly under quoting her post - it's within a good BF % range for a woman, and can be close to lean dependent on age.

14% BF, which is what you said you were, dependent on frame and musculature will tend to show vascularity and musculature because it is extremely low for women (in the underfat region)

there are lots of different photos online re body fat - and of course they all differ based on genetic physique and training. I've always felt this one is representative



but there's the one above and this one



and millions more

In the past I didn't like the picture charts but I've changed my mind and have come to appreciate both of those because of the body shape differences. I'm around 25-26% and apple/rulerish shaped (apple when overweight, ruler when at a healthy weight.) If I combine the two women in that range in my mind, I can see how I compare.

The only thing thing I wonder about those charts is we see the athletic 14% BF, but I am not sure what 14% BF looks on someone who has less muscle.

queenliz99

3dogsrunning wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

Sued0nim wrote: »

purple18194 wrote: »

Sued0nim wrote: »

purple18194 wrote: »

I'm at 14.4% right now and I feel probably the healthiest I've ever felt for what that's worth

Do you know what that BF looks like on a woman? That's close to essential fat levels. I think you might have misunderstood, believed the wrong kind of estimate or have serious body issues

stelloian wrote: »

I am looking to set goals that are realistic and healthy. I am curious what others consider a healthy body fat percentage.
I currently just measured 18.9 % but I have about 10-15 lbs left to lose.
In my old athletic days, I was sub 12% but had issues with my cycle as a result (lack of a cycle). I don't want to be unhealthy, but I do want to have a good body composition.

What is a good % for women in your opinion?

I would doubt, if that is a current avatar, that you are sub 25% tbh

Wow, this is an incredibly rude response. Yes, I know what 14% BF looks like on a woman, I did not misunderstand as I have my measurements done by a professional, and no, I don't have serious body issues. But I'm glad you can tell all of that from my avatar. Dang.

There is nothing rude in being objective - there is a lot of misunderstanding on how Body Fat %ages work and differ between the genders.

To confirm, the around 25% estimate was visual and regarding OP, hence why it was directly under quoting her post - it's within a good BF % range for a woman, and can be close to lean dependent on age.

14% BF, which is what you said you were, dependent on frame and musculature will tend to show vascularity and musculature because it is extremely low for women (in the underfat region)

there are lots of different photos online re body fat - and of course they all differ based on genetic physique and training. I've always felt this one is representative



but there's the one above and this one



and millions more

In the past I didn't like the picture charts but I've changed my mind and have come to appreciate both of those because of the body shape differences. I'm around 25-26% and apple/rulerish shaped (apple when overweight, ruler when at a healthy weight.) If I combine the two women in that range in my mind, I can see how I compare.

The only thing thing I wonder about those charts is we see the athletic 14% BF, but I am not sure what 14% BF looks on someone who has less muscle.

I am not sure how accurate this pic is.

3dogsrunning

Thanks

purple18194

"There is nothing rude in being objective - there is a lot of misunderstanding on how Body Fat %ages work and differ between the genders."




Being objective is not rude, no. But your wording and tone were. I "must have misunderstood" or have "serious body issues." No.

Sued0nim

purple18194 wrote: »

"There is nothing rude in being objective - there is a lot of misunderstanding on how Body Fat %ages work and differ between the genders."




Being objective is not rude, no. But your wording and tone were. I "must have misunderstood" or have "serious body issues." No.

Apologies if I caused offence. Your profile photos, before you closed it, certainly looked healthy IIRC

I think this is a decent article http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/body_fat_categories.htm

"THE ULTRA LEAN CATEGORY
Then you have the ultra lean category, represented by 5-8% body fat for males and 15-18% body fat for females. This is typically where fitness and bodybuilding competitors are coming in, so muscle definition will be at its highest."


"RISKY STAGE
Finally there is the risky stage; less than 5% body fat for males and less than 15% body fat for females. At this point the individual is setting themselves up for a number of negative health consequences and could even risk death by staying at these extremely low levels for an extended period of time. In females, reproduction often ceases when body fat is at this level, setting you up for problems down the road."

So women, who are not competition ready, talking about holding 14% BF is somewhat concerning to me