Body Fat Percent

mtfr810

I've been using MFP and my Fitbit to loose a little over 35 pounds since the start of the year. I started out around 35% body fat and am down by a little more than 11%. I'm pretty pleased with my overall results. I'm about 5'7" and am a male. I'm curious what others might think is a realistic goal for a 43 year old male to obtain. I set my goal at 20% and am thinking that's way to high at this point. I'm about 30 days into P90X "lean" too.

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JenMc14

Why don't you get to 20% and see how you feel? Looking at some charts online (which have to be right because you can't lie on the internet!), 20% is smack dab is in the middle of the healthy range for a male, 18% being the low end, 24% being the high. Another chart that includes age has 20% being just inbetween lean and average. This is the site I looked at: http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/ It also h as visual representation, which I find helpful.

FP4HSharon

What body fat percentages people recommend really vary from expert to expert. However, Covert Baily ("Fit or Fat") is one of the foremost experts & here's what he says for percentages for men:

55% - Fattest Man He Ever Tested
23% - Average American Man
18% - Healthy Normal for Oriental* Men
15% - Healthy Normal for Caucasian* Men
12% - Healthy Normal for Black* Men
3-12% - Top Male Athletes (shouldn't go lower than this)
1% - Lowest Man He Ever Tested

*Racial Differences due to differences in bone densities.

But he also said to people trying to get to a top athlete level, that "if your body stubbornly remains at 18-25% for women/12-18% for men, in spite of exercising 3-6 hrs/week & eating a low fat, high-fiber diet, then maybe it is trying to tell you something. Maybe it's saying, 'Hey, I'm doing just fine. Don't mess with me!'"

The American Council on Exercise provides the following ranges for MALE body fat %:

26% & Higher - Overweight
18-25% - Acceptable
14-17% - Fitness
6-13% - Athletes
2-4% - Essential Fat (Shouldn't go lower than this)

FP4HSharon

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WOMEN FOR ANY FEMALE POSTERS INTERESTED:

Covert Bailey's ("Fit or Fat") Recommendations

68% - Fattest Woman He's Tested
32% - Average American Woman
25% - Healthy Normal for Oriental* Woman
22% - Healthy Normal for Caucasian* Woman
19% - Healthy Normal for Black* Woman
10-18% - Top Women Athletes
6% - Lowest Woman He's Tested

*Racial Differences due to bone density differences in different races.


American Council on Exercise Recommendations for Women:

32% - Overweight
25-31% - Acceptable
21-24% - Fitness
14-20% - Athletes
10-12% - Essential Fat

SemperAnticus1643

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WOMEN FOR ANY FEMALE POSTERS INTERESTED:

Covert Bailey's ("Fit or Fat") Recommendations

68% - Fattest Woman He's Tested
32% - Average American Woman
25% - Healthy Normal for Oriental* Woman
22% - Healthy Normal for Caucasian* Woman
19% - Healthy Normal for Black* Woman
10-18% - Top Women Athletes
6% - Lowest Woman He's Tested

*Racial Differences due to bone density differences in different races.


American Council on Exercise Recommendations for Women:

32% - Overweight
25-31% - Acceptable
21-24% - Fitness
14-20% - Athletes
10-12% - Essential Fat

What's the healthy normal for a Native American woman? Probably closest to what it is for Oriental women?

FP4HSharon

Well, just thinking about the average body frames of the different ones given (at a healthy weight), I think I'd lean more towards using the Caucasian numbers for Native Americans. But I'm no expert & the bone density of the different races may not have anything to do w/frame. He only gives those 3 options in the book I have.

mtfr810

Thanks for your input... very helpful!

Shawshankcan

When you get to 20, set a new goal of 15. I know a guy who was in his 50s who dropped from around 30 to about 12. Put in the time, put in the dedication and move forward.

cwolfman13

My initial goal was right around 20%...I'm 21.3 right now and already know I want to get it lower. I'm shooting for around 15% now...which means an additional 14 or so Lbs of fat need to come off.