Low Bf% & still have a stomach.. Anyone else?

BodyFreak
BodyFreak Posts: 68
in Fitness and Exercise
Im 5'10' 195lb at 12% body fat and still have a stomach that sticks out. Anyone else have this problem? Im guessing its just the way my body carries my fat.
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Replies

  • babyblake11
    babyblake11 Posts: 1,107 Member
    12% is regular and healthy for a male.
    saying that. to get lean for a guy would be less that 10%. but its completely your choice.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    What was your method of measurement? Some have a much higher margin of errors than others
  • PriceK01
    PriceK01 Posts: 834 Member
    Is it a beer belly? Don't laugh, but my 6'2" son was getting one and he's just under 140lbs :o
  • BodyFreak
    BodyFreak Posts: 68
    I know its a healthy body fat percentage to be in but from what i see from everything online people who have 10-15% bf all have flat stomachs still and i used calipers. Machines to calculate bf% doesnt work for me since im a bodybuilder
  • BodyFreak
    BodyFreak Posts: 68
    lmao no it isnt a beer belly
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Can you be more specific? Did you do a single-point (suprailiac) test? A multipoint test? If the latter, did the person taking the measurements have experience? Calipers have to be in very experienced hands and a multi-point test must be done to get anything close to accurate results.

    Case in point - if do the single suprailiac measurement, I'm about 6mm, which comes to 10.5%. I'm sure a hell not 10.5% BF. More like 14% or so.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Machines to calculate bf% doesnt work for me since im a bodybuilder

    I assume you mean bioelectrical impedance machines like scales or the hand-held omron. Those don't work for anybody.

    A machine like the Bod Pod or a dexa scan or hydrostatic testing would give you pretty meaningful results.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    12% at 195 lbs at your height doesn't match your picture, IMO.

    I agree with Taso that whatever method you're using to calculate is not very accurate.
  • n0ob
    n0ob Posts: 2,390 Member
    Not really...
  • BodyFreak
    BodyFreak Posts: 68
    I did 3 spots with the calipers

    chest 10mm
    abs 25mm
    thigh 9mm

    I guess its just the way my body carries my fat which is mostly arouns the waist.
    The other measurement where they attach the stickhy things to your foot and hand which im sure works for people who are just trying to lose weight but since i have a good amount of muscle on my body it throws the machine off because the muscles hold more water which confuses the machine thinking its fat.
  • BodyFreak
    BodyFreak Posts: 68
    12% at 195 lbs at your height doesn't match your picture, IMO.

    I agree with Taso that whatever method you're using to calculate is not very accurate.

    What do you mean it doesnt match my picture?
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    12% at 195 lbs at your height doesn't match your picture, IMO.

    I agree with Taso that whatever method you're using to calculate is not very accurate.

    What do you mean it doesnt match my picture?
    He means that number seems too low.


    He's not being insulting. Just pointing out that you need to try a more accurate method for calculating BF%.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Just go get a bodpod test done.

    Or just come up with a guesstimate visually. http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages
    It's going to be just as good or better than what you're getting measuring yourself with calipers
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    It will come off eventually with a small/moderate deficit. Sounds like you're already doing what you need to do- just gotta have a little more patience.
  • BodyFreak
    BodyFreak Posts: 68
    12% at 195 lbs at your height doesn't match your picture, IMO.

    I agree with Taso that whatever method you're using to calculate is not very accurate.

    What do you mean it doesnt match my picture?
    He means that number seems too low.




    He's not being insulting. Just pointing out that you need to try a more accurate method for calculating BF%.


    Any suggestions?

    And that picture was taken awhile ago
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Any suggestions?

    sometimes i get the feeling i'm being ignored. :ohwell:
  • BlackStarDeceiver
    BlackStarDeceiver Posts: 590 Member
    work your obliques
  • BodyFreak
    BodyFreak Posts: 68
    Any suggestions?

    sometimes i get the feeling i'm being ignored. :ohwell:

    Sorry man lol Great suggestions i appreciate the feedback! I was just looking at the website you sent me solid info there
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    12% at 195 lbs at your height doesn't match your picture, IMO.

    I agree with Taso that whatever method you're using to calculate is not very accurate.

    What do you mean it doesnt match my picture?

    Fair question. I actually wrote a longer post originally but it looked kinda gay so I deleted most of it.

    I'm not saying you aren't in very good shape. It's that 195 with 20% BF at a height of 5'10 would be a big guy. 195 at 16% at your height would be a huge guy. 195 at 12% BF at your height would be a monster. You're in shape, but you ain't no monster. You could sell me on 16-17% tho. But if you were really at 12%, you'd be posting shots of your abs, not "Where My Abs At?" posts.

    None of this is meant to be a shot at you. It's more a shot at whatever measurement method you're choosing.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    If your stomach sticks out, you still have excess fat there, irrespective of what your actual BF% is. Eat at a small caloric deficit, strength train, get enough protein and be patient.

    ETA: when I say strength train, I mean a progressive loading routine that includes compound lifts.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member

    Any suggestions?


    Yeah. Just work out. Who cares what your BF% actually is, anyway? Look in the mirror and keep working out and making calorie/exercise adjustments until you like what you see. The number doesn't mean a damn thing.
  • PriceK01
    PriceK01 Posts: 834 Member
    lmao no it isnt a beer belly

    I said don't laugh :D
  • BodyFreak
    BodyFreak Posts: 68
    12% at 195 lbs at your height doesn't match your picture, IMO.

    I agree with Taso that whatever method you're using to calculate is not very accurate.

    What do you mean it doesnt match my picture?

    Fair question. I actually wrote a longer post originally but it looked kinda gay so I deleted most of it.

    I'm not saying you aren't in very good shape. It's that 195 with 20% BF at a height of 5'10 would be a big guy. 195 at 16% at your height would be a huge guy. 195 at 12% BF at your height would be a monster. You're in shape, but you ain't no monster. You could sell me on 16-17% tho. But if you were really at 12%, you'd be posting shots of your abs, not "Where My Abs At?" posts.

    None of this is meant to be a shot at you. It's more a shot at whatever measurement method you're choosing.

    Yeah i see your point and to comment on your last feedback i usually don't care about numbers but once and awhile its nice to know your measurements. I guess ill just keep taps in the mirror then and try not to gain to much before cutting season comes around. Thanx bro
  • bdamaster60
    bdamaster60 Posts: 595 Member
    Tbh 12% isn't that low. sorry to be blunt but I saw the title and I was thinking 8 - 10% then that would be weird.
  • passmetheducksauce
    passmetheducksauce Posts: 211 Member
    i agree with a few people on here. 7-9% bf will have your abs showing. 12% isnt going to show abs on men. work out your obliques more and your lower abs.
  • bdamaster60
    bdamaster60 Posts: 595 Member
    i agree with a few people on here. 7-9% bf will have your abs showing. 12% isnt going to show abs on men. work out your obliques more and your lower abs.

    Agreed. Except if he's at 12% working his obliques I would not recommend unless you want to have a wider set of hips. Ab exercises and isolations are not what get you chiseled abs, reducing your body fat does.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    i agree with a few people on here. 7-9% bf will have your abs showing. 12% isnt going to show abs on men. work out your obliques more and your lower abs.

    He's not talking about abs showing. He's saying he still has a bit of a gut. That shouldn't be the case at 12%
  • bdamaster60
    bdamaster60 Posts: 595 Member

    He's not talking about abs showing. He's saying he still has a bit of a gut. That shouldn't be the case at 12%

    Everyone's different, my guess is he's off my a few percent. And i've seen kids in africa who are at least 5 percent body fat as they look like skeletons but still have protruding bellies.
  • blackmagic10
    blackmagic10 Posts: 335 Member
    12% at 195 lbs at your height doesn't match your picture, IMO.

    I agree with Taso that whatever method you're using to calculate is not very accurate.

    What do you mean it doesnt match my picture?

    Fair question. I actually wrote a longer post originally but it looked kinda gay so I deleted most of it.

    I'm not saying you aren't in very good shape. It's that 195 with 20% BF at a height of 5'10 would be a big guy. 195 at 16% at your height would be a huge guy. 195 at 12% BF at your height would be a monster. You're in shape, but you ain't no monster. You could sell me on 16-17% tho. But if you were really at 12%, you'd be posting shots of your abs, not "Where My Abs At?" posts.

    None of this is meant to be a shot at you. It's more a shot at whatever measurement method you're choosing.
    shots of my abs son haha
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member

    He's not talking about abs showing. He's saying he still has a bit of a gut. That shouldn't be the case at 12%

    Everyone's different, my guess is he's off my a few percent. And i've seen kids in africa who are at least 5 percent body fat as they look like skeletons but still have protruding bellies.

    Those kids are suffering from extreme malnutrition FFS
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002571/
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwashiorkor

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