23% body fat @ 182, will I see abs if I cut down to 160 lbs?

him103
him103 Posts: 12 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I posted a few pictures on bodybuilding on June 8th and was told I am around 23% bodyfat. I have been cutting for over 60 days and its not difficult anymore but I would like to get more of a grasp on the end date for my goal. I am hoping to see my abs by my early September.

Current stats:
Height : 5' 9 - 5' 10
Lowest weight measured this week: 176.8
Weight measured this morning: 177.2
Goal: Defined abs

Measurements:
Arm - 14
Neck - 15.5
Waist - 33
hips - 38.5

Strength Stats:
Bench press - 190 x 3
Squats - 185 x 3 (dropped from 225x 5 since my cut)
Deadlift - 225 x 1 (dropped from 245 x 5 since my cut)
Overhead Press - 125 x 3
Pendlay Row - 125 x 5

Current macros:
1700 calories
140 g protein
50 g fat
170 g carbs

Replies

  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    This is just math. 23% bodyfat at 182 means you have (0.23×182)=42 pounds fat which puts your lean mass at 140 pounds. Abs usually start being defined at 8-10% bodyfat which would be 152-154 pounds. 160 pounds would be 13% so no you won't see abs then. Also this assumes you are doing a slow enough cut that you lose no lean mass. If you do lose lesn mass then you'd have to drop even lower in overall weight.

    I'd guess abs just before 150 pounds.
  • him103
    him103 Posts: 12 Member
    I meant at what body weight would I start seeing some abs. I know defined will take longer. I just want to see them for the first time and it would probably give me more motivation to continue on if I do.
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    Can you link to the bb thread or post your pics here?
  • tiggsnanny
    tiggsnanny Posts: 366 Member
    How do I work out my body fat please? i've been here a while, but I get so confused with all the info (stroke survivor) that's my excuse anyway haha many thanks
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I posted a few pictures on bodybuilding on June 8th and was told I am around 23% bodyfat. I have been cutting for over 60 days and its not difficult anymore but I would like to get more of a grasp on the end date for my goal. I am hoping to see my abs by my early September.

    Current stats:
    Height : 5' 9 - 5' 10
    Lowest weight measured this week: 176.8
    Weight measured this morning: 177.2
    Goal: Defined abs

    Measurements:
    Arm - 14
    Neck - 15.5
    Waist - 33
    hips - 38.5

    Strength Stats:
    Bench press - 190 x 3
    Squats - 185 x 3 (dropped from 225x 5 since my cut)
    Deadlift - 225 x 1 (dropped from 245 x 5 since my cut)
    Overhead Press - 125 x 3
    Pendlay Row - 125 x 5

    Current macros:
    1700 calories
    140 g protein
    50 g fat
    170 g carbs

    This is entirely secondary to your question about abs but I'd be curious as to the rate which you are losing weight and also your total training experience (how long have you been benching/squatting/pulling)? That's a pretty significant loss of strength and I'd consider examining why that's happening.
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    I agree with side steel. If you have lost that much strength during your cut it is safe to say you have lost muscle right along with it. You should be doing everything you can, to at the very least, maintain the weight on the bar during a cut. Along with plenty of protein this is what is going to signal your body to hold on to the muscle and burn fat for energy.

    To answer your original question. I am 5' 9", 157 pounds, and around 13% BF. I can see the outline of my abs but I probably have about 8 pounds or so left to lose which would put me around 10%, and 150 or so. I stopped worrying about my actual weight a long time ago and just use the scale to make sure that I am progressing in the right direction. So no, at 160 you probably won't be where you want to be but you'll be close.

    I would start focusing more on the strength loss issue though, because the more muscle you lose means you are going to have to regain that when you decide it's time to bulk back up and you are going to regain some fat in the process and the viscous cycle will just repeat itself.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    As far as abs go that's really going to vary quite a bit from person to person. I tend to see some sign of abs at fairly high bodyfat% compared to most people.

    I just took this now and I would estimate I'm at around 13% bodyfat. 5'11 and 187-188lbs currently. at 15-16% I can still see the top set of abs fairly clearly, but I get significantly more fat accumulation around the lower abs and especially on my sides. For the record, this is under very strong lighting conditions as well, and that makes a considerable difference.

    63uo40.png


    From person to person whether or not you can see your abs and how "crisp" they are at a given body-fat% is going to vary a fair amount. Some people need to get close to the 10% mark to really get abs to come in and some people are going to start seeing them at a much higher bodyfat %.

    There's also a fair amount of difference in terms of what people "think" is a 6 pack. Some people get the outline of some abs and think they are shredded and other people think a 6 pack means you're just skinless and can see abs while relaxed/etc.
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    other people think a 6 pack means you're just skinless and can see abs while relaxed/etc.
    My goal is to have separation while relaxed ... I've had 'da pack' when I flex before, but just haven't been disciplined enough to cut down that little extra bit. :)
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    other people think a 6 pack means you're just skinless and can see abs while relaxed/etc.
    My goal is to have separation while relaxed ... I've had 'da pack' when I flex before, but just haven't been disciplined enough to cut down that little extra bit. :)

    Honestly I'd have to go so far as to check competition-lean bodybuilders to see if they even get lean enough to have abs in a relaxed state. I'd suspect it either doesn't happen, or is quite rare, but I could be wrong on that. Pure speculation on my part.
  • him103
    him103 Posts: 12 Member
    I posted a few pictures on bodybuilding on June 8th and was told I am around 23% bodyfat. I have been cutting for over 60 days and its not difficult anymore but I would like to get more of a grasp on the end date for my goal. I am hoping to see my abs by my early September.

    Current stats:
    Height : 5' 9 - 5' 10
    Lowest weight measured this week: 176.8
    Weight measured this morning: 177.2
    Goal: Defined abs

    Measurements:
    Arm - 14
    Neck - 15.5
    Waist - 33
    hips - 38.5

    Strength Stats:
    Bench press - 190 x 3
    Squats - 185 x 3 (dropped from 225x 5 since my cut)
    Deadlift - 225 x 1 (dropped from 245 x 5 since my cut)
    Overhead Press - 125 x 3
    Pendlay Row - 125 x 5

    Current macros:
    1700 calories
    140 g protein
    50 g fat
    170 g carbs

    This is entirely secondary to your question about abs but I'd be curious as to the rate which you are losing weight and also your total training experience (how long have you been benching/squatting/pulling)? That's a pretty significant loss of strength and I'd consider examining why that's happening.

    Roughly about 1.5 ~ 2 lbs a week. I lost strength on my squat and deadlift but got stronger on my other lifts. I just dont have the energy to squat heavier or deadlift heavier.

    I started squatting, deadlifting, rows, and OHP during Feburary. I benched for a few years on and off. I didn't do a specific program till February when I got tired of not really gaining anything.
  • Chevy_Quest
    Chevy_Quest Posts: 2,012 Member
    Great reference post.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    maybe i'm missing something, but i don't see stats for your ab workouts. even if you lose body fat, in order to show off your abs, they'll need muscle.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    other people think a 6 pack means you're just skinless and can see abs while relaxed/etc.
    My goal is to have separation while relaxed ... I've had 'da pack' when I flex before, but just haven't been disciplined enough to cut down that little extra bit. :)

    Honestly I'd have to go so far as to check competition-lean bodybuilders to see if they even get lean enough to have abs in a relaxed state. I'd suspect it either doesn't happen, or is quite rare, but I could be wrong on that. Pure speculation on my part.

    Agree with this. I'm not there yet but currently around 8% and I have similar definition to the pic you posted when relaxed. Soon the skinless look will be there :laugh:

    OP: I really think this is a how long is a piece of string question as it really is individual. Some people store a lot of fat on the stomach and because of this are going to be a lot lighter/lower BF% before there abs are visible.

    My recommendation is to keep on keeping on. At your height, I wouldn't drop below 75kg or so. (especially because your lifts have already dropped) From there, you could maintain for a while and work on regaining the strength. I've found personally that focusing on gym performance and gaining strength has helped aesthetics.

    And get you squat and DL up higher proportionately than your bench!
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  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    maybe i'm missing something, but i don't see stats for your ab workouts. even if you lose body fat, in order to show off your abs, they'll need muscle.

    He said he deadlifts. More core in deadlifts than in crunches.
  • him103
    him103 Posts: 12 Member
    maybe i'm missing something, but i don't see stats for your ab workouts. even if you lose body fat, in order to show off your abs, they'll need muscle.
    You don't need to do ab exercises in order to have defined abs. Many people do no direct ab work but do have a strong focus on compound lifts.

    OP, a link to the bb post please. Also, if there was a strong consensus of your current bf% over there I don't see much changing here.

    http://i59.tinypic.com/sl67hf.jpg



    I couldn't find the original link. This is the best photo I can take now till tomorrow when I can find someone to take front/back photos for me. Disregard the horrible sunburns that I have :(
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    maybe i'm missing something, but i don't see stats for your ab workouts. even if you lose body fat, in order to show off your abs, they'll need muscle.
    You don't need to do ab exercises in order to have defined abs. Many people do no direct ab work but do have a strong focus on compound lifts.

    OP, a link to the bb post please. Also, if there was a strong consensus of your current bf% over there I don't see much changing here.

    sl67hf.jpg

    I couldn't find the original link. This is the best photo I can take now till tomorrow when I can find someone to take front/back photos for me. Disregard the horrible sunburns that I have :(

    FIFY

    ETA: sort of fixed, I can't resize the image
  • him103
    him103 Posts: 12 Member
    Yea I tried to link it but the image came out weird so I just changed it to a link instead.
  • him103
    him103 Posts: 12 Member
    Is 23% bodyfat accurate for the picture?
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  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    @him103:
    Based on that pic I wouldn't cut any more weight --- I'd keep eating and lifting and building dem mussels up.

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