Reasonable body fat percentage goal?

steebsthegreat

As of today I'm 5'8", 156.6 pounds, and have 27% body fat.

Overall I think I wanna shoot for 150lbs by the end of the year (ultimately 140) but I was wondering what a reasonable percent body fat might be. The trainer at the gym who checked my percent body fat said 27% is a bit high but I don't know if he said that because it's true or because he wants me to sign up for personal training!

What's a reasonable goal?

Athena98501

As of today I'm 5'8", 156.6 pounds, and have 27% body fat.

Overall I think I wanna shoot for 150lbs by the end of the year (ultimately 140) but I was wondering what a reasonable percent body fat might be. The trainer at the gym who checked my percent body fat said 27% is a bit high but I don't know if he said that because it's true or because he wants me to sign up for personal training!

What's a reasonable goal?

I'm curious where you came up with 140. You'd have to lose quite a bit of lean mass to get there if you're at 27% at 156.6. I'd be aiming for 150, if I were you. Healthy body fat for a female is 20-25%. How was the 27% calculated?

Aaron_K123

As of today I'm 5'8", 156.6 pounds, and have 27% body fat.

Overall I think I wanna shoot for 150lbs by the end of the year (ultimately 140) but I was wondering what a reasonable percent body fat might be. The trainer at the gym who checked my percent body fat said 27% is a bit high but I don't know if he said that because it's true or because he wants me to sign up for personal training!

What's a reasonable goal?

27% for a woman is on the "bit high" side however the vast majority of bodyfat measures have errors that exceed 2% by a good amount so first I'd ask how they measured your bodyfat exactly.

A "healthy" range of bodyfat for a woman is somewhere in the 20-25% range. 18% is fairly lean and 15% is athletic. Below that you are basically trying to compete in a bodybuilding contest or you are unhealthy.

If your measure was accurate and you are 156.6 pounds and 27% bodyfat that would mean your body is 42.2 pounds fat and 114.4 pounds lean mass. To drop to say 22% bodyfat if you didn't lose lean mass would mean losing 10 pounds to weigh 146.7 pounds.

22% would be in the middle of healthy. 140 pounds would put you at 19% which would get you more in the lean range.

chriscolh

It's so funny you just asked this - I was just looking at some info about the same thing. I found a website that has some pictures of women (and men) at different body fat percentages, charts, etc. It gave me a little to think about, and something to connect to visually. Here it is: http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/

For me, personally, I think I'm going to shoot for 25% bf, then re-evaluate from there.

Good luck to you as you set your goals!

PunkyDucky

Why go by a specific number?

Just look in the mirror..if you don't like what you see keep lifting/logging calories..if you are content then who cares about the %

pita7317

I am 5'7. Age 55. Current weight 145. Goal 138-140.
My current body fat % is 26.7.
For my age, I would like to see that drop to 24.5-25.5.