body fat %

lin7604

ok, my goal is 128 ish, i am 5ft 2 inches and a med build. I started out at 29. something % for body fat and i now am 27.something %... what do you think is a good % of body fat for somemone around 128 lbs. Just trying to see what is normal fo rthat height and weight, so i can set a goal.

Devlyn_P

Hi, with the information of 128lbs @ 5"2 the average "normal" BF% is between 15-25%. If you are searching for tone ie. abs you would need to drop down to 15% and less.

Source: http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/bmi-calculator.html

Jennical

Bump..

adalychee

I'm not a fitness trainer and this certainly depends on the individual (for example, breasts are in large part composed of fatty tissue), but from what I've heard through my training, going much below 15% body fat isn't advisable for females. Since body fat is a percentage of your total weight, it doesn't depend so much on your height - a woman who's 5'1" with 18% body fat will proportionally look the same as one who is 5'11".

According to the American Council on Exercise, the normal body-fat percentage categories are:
Essential Fat: 10-13% (if you go below this, you will get sick)
Serious Athletes: 14-20%
**Fitness: 21-24%**
**Average: 25-31%**
Obese: 32%+

Ideal body fat also depends on age - here's a table showing ideal body fat vs. age: http://www.builtlean.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Ideal-Body-Fat-Percentage-Chart3.jpg
(so, for example, if you're between 31 and 35, you'd strive for a BF% between 21-31%)

You can very roughly estimate your "ideal" body weight by the following formula. It basically calculates your "Lean Body Mass" (the muscles, bones, etc.) and then adds your desired percentage of body fat (probably in the "Fitness" or "Average" categories unless you're a marathon runner or something:
Ideal Body Weight = [Your Body Weight – [Your Body Weight x ((1.20 × BMI) + (0.23 × Age) − 5.4)]]/(1- Desired Body Fat Percentage)

adalychee

Also, it looks like vynvyn gave the statistic that he/she did based on male recommended body fat percentages. Females biologically have more body fat, so I'd recommend not striving for this number - it would be very unhealthy.

lin7604

thx for that! i will stick to a 25% goal! i had heard somewhere that 22% is the ideal % for women not to go under.....but i know i will struggle to get that, so i will opt for 25%... not too far off i'm at 27. something right now... i will be happy with that! a little more work i need to do but hopefully some day i will get there...

your quote "Ideal body fat also depends on age - here's a table showing ideal body fat vs. age: http://www.builtlean.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Ideal-Body-Fat-Percentage-Chart3.jpg
(so, for example, if you're between 31 and 35, you'd strive for a BF% between 21-31%) "

hit the right age bracket i am 35, will be 36 in sept...

mandylooo

Also, it looks like vynvyn gave the statistic that he/she did based on male recommended body fat percentages. Females biologically have more body fat, so I'd recommend not striving for this number - it would be very unhealthy.

Just going to second that. You should get definition somewhere below 22% depending on how your fat is distributed. 25% is a fine target to aim for.

lin7604

thx. i think once i can get to 25% then i will re *kitten* it and see how much more i want to go if any. i do want to look a bit more toned but nothing major..