People with low body fat %, how clean do you eat?

Lifting_Knitter
Lifting_Knitter Posts: 1,025 Member
in Food and Nutrition
This is a question for people who have low body fat percentage: how clean do you eat? I know that abs are made in the kitchen, etc. and I do lift heavy things multiple times a week. Since I started to lift with my trainer, I have lost 1.3% in body fat. I am trying to eat cleaner and I actually feel better and my digestion has been so much better. But I am not going to lie, I do give into temptation sometimes. It is totally my fault that I do it, nobody else to blame but me. Do I need to eat 100% clean to keep seeing results? Do you have your temptations that you give into sometimes? I want this to be sustainable and I am trying to be realistic which is why I am asking.

Replies

  • scarrie2
    scarrie2 Posts: 80 Member
    I'm curious, too :)
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,224 Member
    I think you'll find it's the amount of food that dictates body fat.....:wink:
  • ArielWillowtree
    ArielWillowtree Posts: 7
    what range do you consider low? Male or female?
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I'm around 12-13% currently, cutting down to about the 9-10% range which would be considered "beach lean" for the most part, and lean relative the general population (certainly nowhere near the leanness of competitors/etc). But I think it's "lean" as it pertains to your question.

    I eat a mixture of nutrient dense foods and some "unclean" foods.

    I also do not believe that "cleanness" is a factor in body composition. That's going to primarily be dictated by energy balance and macronutrient composition.
  • Hendrix7
    Hendrix7 Posts: 1,903 Member
    Do I need to eat 100% clean to keep seeing results?

    no
  • Griffin220x
    Griffin220x Posts: 399
    I'm 9-10% and will be cutting down to 7-8 By the end of April. Take a look at my diet. I don't eat what some would deem "Clean". Then again I don't advocate terms like clean, dirty, and junk.

    I eat towards my fitness goal and it has been working. Clean/dirty, never heard of such a thing.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937860-how-to-lose-fat-for-newbs

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/941846-how-to-lose-fat-for-noobs-part-2-long-version
  • pg3ibew
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    I am between 9-11 percent body fat according to the machine they use at LA Fitness. I am not sure how accurate it is, but I do it once a week.

    As far as eating clean or dirty. I eat what ever I want. I stay within my calorie goals.
  • emcwilli
    emcwilli Posts: 63 Member
    impressive.
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    do you need to be 100% clean? no - being obsessive isn't going to give you markedly better results.

    however, I truly don't believe that when we're talking about 10% bf and lower that it's a simple cal in/cal out equation anymore. I've eaten about 3000 cal/day for a year with some points taking it to 3,500. I put on muscle mass, and dropped body fat dong it. now in the last couple months or so I messed around with my macros and took my carbs and protein down and bumped up my fat. in those couple months my weight has stayed about the same, but my body fat % has dropped. The total caloric intake hasn't changed.

    once we start talking about sub 10% - i think what you eat starts mattering a whole lot more.
  • Bakkasan
    Bakkasan Posts: 1,027 Member
    I think you'll find it's the amount of food that dictates body fat.....:wink:

    You wish that were the case, but there are plenty of people who eat like horses and never get fat and the other way around. Just because it's always CI/CO does not mean everyone plays with the same amount of calories in their bucket.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I got to 12% before I was injured. I eat very dirty. I'll be back there in a month or so.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    I think you'll find it's the amount of food that dictates body fat.....:wink:

    You wish that were the case, but there are plenty of people who eat like horses and never get fat and the other way around. Just because it's always CI/CO does not mean everyone plays with the same amount of calories in their bucket.

    Wait. Wut?

    You still need to be at a deficit for YOU. Of course different people have different needs. A 60 YO grandma and a 23 YO male carpenter - yeah. 1400 cals or 3800 cals.
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    I got to 12% before I was injured. I eat very dirty. I'll be back there in a month or so.

    psh that **** aint elite
  • Lifting_Knitter
    Lifting_Knitter Posts: 1,025 Member
    I am so glad by everyones responses, like I said, I am trying to keep this acheiveable and knowing that everyone eats a variety of different foods, 'clean or dirty' and still are able to acheive it makes me happy. Gives me hope. :)

    At 5'4 and in the middle 120s, you can see it on me and I really want to get lower then 22.7%.
  • HMVOL7409
    HMVOL7409 Posts: 1,588 Member
    I am between 14-15% and I eat a ton of food daily and no I do not eat strictly clean. I still enjoy pizza weekly among other things. Now, do I have a ripped 6 pack? No, not my goal. However the cleaner I do eat, the more definition I have; I just choose not to live that way day in and day out.
  • Griffin220x
    Griffin220x Posts: 399
    do you need to be 100% clean? no - being obsessive isn't going to give you markedly better results.

    however, I truly don't believe that when we're talking about 10% bf and lower that it's a simple cal in/cal out equation anymore. I've eaten about 3000 cal/day for a year with some points taking it to 3,500. I put on muscle mass, and dropped body fat dong it. now in the last couple months or so I messed around with my macros and took my carbs and protein down and bumped up my fat. in those couple months my weight has stayed about the same, but my body fat % has dropped. The total caloric intake hasn't changed.

    once we start talking about sub 10% - i think what you eat starts mattering a whole lot more.

    ^^Me and many others have shattered that theory. GLHF

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=129247741&page=1
  • Lifting_Knitter
    Lifting_Knitter Posts: 1,025 Member
    do you need to be 100% clean? no - being obsessive isn't going to give you markedly better results.

    however, I truly don't believe that when we're talking about 10% bf and lower that it's a simple cal in/cal out equation anymore. I've eaten about 3000 cal/day for a year with some points taking it to 3,500. I put on muscle mass, and dropped body fat dong it. now in the last couple months or so I messed around with my macros and took my carbs and protein down and bumped up my fat. in those couple months my weight has stayed about the same, but my body fat % has dropped. The total caloric intake hasn't changed.

    once we start talking about sub 10% - i think what you eat starts mattering a whole lot more.

    ^^Me and many others have shattered that theory. GLHF

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=129247741&page=1

    So do you need to eat at a deficiet then?
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    do you need to be 100% clean? no - being obsessive isn't going to give you markedly better results.

    however, I truly don't believe that when we're talking about 10% bf and lower that it's a simple cal in/cal out equation anymore. I've eaten about 3000 cal/day for a year with some points taking it to 3,500. I put on muscle mass, and dropped body fat dong it. now in the last couple months or so I messed around with my macros and took my carbs and protein down and bumped up my fat. in those couple months my weight has stayed about the same, but my body fat % has dropped. The total caloric intake hasn't changed.

    once we start talking about sub 10% - i think what you eat starts mattering a whole lot more.

    ^^Me and many others have shattered that theory. GLHF

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=129247741&page=1

    yeah dude i'm not talking about losing weight - i'm talking about losing FAT while building/maintaining muscle.

    doing it your way means you have to be continuously either bulking or cutting - gaining and losing. that seems kind of ridiculous don't you think?
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    do you need to be 100% clean? no - being obsessive isn't going to give you markedly better results.

    however, I truly don't believe that when we're talking about 10% bf and lower that it's a simple cal in/cal out equation anymore. I've eaten about 3000 cal/day for a year with some points taking it to 3,500. I put on muscle mass, and dropped body fat dong it. now in the last couple months or so I messed around with my macros and took my carbs and protein down and bumped up my fat. in those couple months my weight has stayed about the same, but my body fat % has dropped. The total caloric intake hasn't changed.

    once we start talking about sub 10% - i think what you eat starts mattering a whole lot more.

    ^^Me and many others have shattered that theory. GLHF

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=129247741&page=1

    So do you need to eat at a deficiet then?

    to lose weight, yes.

    to lose body fat, no.
  • Griffin220x
    Griffin220x Posts: 399
    do you need to be 100% clean? no - being obsessive isn't going to give you markedly better results.

    however, I truly don't believe that when we're talking about 10% bf and lower that it's a simple cal in/cal out equation anymore. I've eaten about 3000 cal/day for a year with some points taking it to 3,500. I put on muscle mass, and dropped body fat dong it. now in the last couple months or so I messed around with my macros and took my carbs and protein down and bumped up my fat. in those couple months my weight has stayed about the same, but my body fat % has dropped. The total caloric intake hasn't changed.

    once we start talking about sub 10% - i think what you eat starts mattering a whole lot more.

    ^^Me and many others have shattered that theory. GLHF

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=129247741&page=1

    yeah dude i'm not talking about losing weight - i'm talking about losing FAT while building/maintaining muscle.

    doing it your way means you have to be continuously either bulking or cutting - gaining and losing. that seems kind of ridiculous don't you think?

    You apparently did not look at my link. It is a guide for losing "fat" Not Weight. I have retained my strength and mass, While losing my FAT. Don't sound like a know it all, its not becoming of you. I know the difference between losing fat and weight.

    No I do not think bulking and cutting phases are ridiculous.
  • Lifting_Knitter
    Lifting_Knitter Posts: 1,025 Member
    do you need to be 100% clean? no - being obsessive isn't going to give you markedly better results.

    however, I truly don't believe that when we're talking about 10% bf and lower that it's a simple cal in/cal out equation anymore. I've eaten about 3000 cal/day for a year with some points taking it to 3,500. I put on muscle mass, and dropped body fat dong it. now in the last couple months or so I messed around with my macros and took my carbs and protein down and bumped up my fat. in those couple months my weight has stayed about the same, but my body fat % has dropped. The total caloric intake hasn't changed.

    once we start talking about sub 10% - i think what you eat starts mattering a whole lot more.

    ^^Me and many others have shattered that theory. GLHF

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=129247741&page=1

    So do you need to eat at a deficiet then?

    to lose weight, yes.

    to lose body fat, no.

    Okay, I am not trying to lose weight, only body fat percentage. Did cardio to lose my weight and lost a lot of my lean muscle.
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    do you need to be 100% clean? no - being obsessive isn't going to give you markedly better results.

    however, I truly don't believe that when we're talking about 10% bf and lower that it's a simple cal in/cal out equation anymore. I've eaten about 3000 cal/day for a year with some points taking it to 3,500. I put on muscle mass, and dropped body fat dong it. now in the last couple months or so I messed around with my macros and took my carbs and protein down and bumped up my fat. in those couple months my weight has stayed about the same, but my body fat % has dropped. The total caloric intake hasn't changed.

    once we start talking about sub 10% - i think what you eat starts mattering a whole lot more.

    ^^Me and many others have shattered that theory. GLHF

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=129247741&page=1

    So do you need to eat at a deficiet then?

    to lose weight, yes.

    to lose body fat, no.

    Okay, I am not trying to lose weight, only body fat percentage. Did cardio to lose my weight and lost a lot of my lean muscle.

    keep a little cardio in there for good measure, but do some good resistance work a few days a week and eat at right about your TDEE. do that, and you'll build muscle which will lower your BF%
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    Do I need to eat 100% clean to keep seeing results?
    NO. Eating clean as much as possible is a must but fat loss/gain is all about the total calorie consumption.
    Do you have your temptations that you give into sometimes? I want this to be sustainable and I am trying to be realistic which is why I am asking.
    ABSOLUTELY

    Moreover don't forget that genetics also play a part coz there are people born with ultra fast metabolisms (aka the naturally skinny people) while there are those who are born with more fat cells and are more prone to obesity.
  • Lifting_Knitter
    Lifting_Knitter Posts: 1,025 Member
    do you need to be 100% clean? no - being obsessive isn't going to give you markedly better results.

    however, I truly don't believe that when we're talking about 10% bf and lower that it's a simple cal in/cal out equation anymore. I've eaten about 3000 cal/day for a year with some points taking it to 3,500. I put on muscle mass, and dropped body fat dong it. now in the last couple months or so I messed around with my macros and took my carbs and protein down and bumped up my fat. in those couple months my weight has stayed about the same, but my body fat % has dropped. The total caloric intake hasn't changed.

    once we start talking about sub 10% - i think what you eat starts mattering a whole lot more.

    ^^Me and many others have shattered that theory. GLHF

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=129247741&page=1

    So do you need to eat at a deficiet then?

    to lose weight, yes.

    to lose body fat, no.

    Okay, I am not trying to lose weight, only body fat percentage. Did cardio to lose my weight and lost a lot of my lean muscle.

    keep a little cardio in there for good measure, but do some good resistance work a few days a week and eat at right about your TDEE. do that, and you'll build muscle which will lower your BF%

    I run and do isolation exercises keeping around 2-3 days in between muscle groups. Chest, legs, core, back, shoulders, tri and biceps. I will just keep doing what I am doing then and have my treats. :D thanks everyone!
  • rogerbosch
    rogerbosch Posts: 343 Member
    Great post. I'm at 11/12 % and don't eat clean, although I try to avoid McDonalds and stuff (doesn't always work with a family with boy 4 yrs old lol)… I do eat a lot of chicken and not so many carbs, but I believe it's really more about the numbers in and out than the quality of food. Reading all the other comments here just confirmed that.
  • victoriannsays
    victoriannsays Posts: 568 Member
    I eat a mixture of all kinds of foods. I had a chicken salad for lunch and pizza for dinner. nomnom

    It hasn't made any difference for me so far. Body fat is coming off.. regardless of what I eat at this point.
  • mareeee1234
    mareeee1234 Posts: 674 Member
    Bump

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