Is Being Really Lean Really Worth It?
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These articles tend to get misused. Of course body composition is not synonymous with overall health, and of course there is a point where very low body compositions become suboptimal for overall health. But that really doesn't apply to 99% of the population. Nobody with a 25% body composition should be worrying about losing too much weight and becoming unhealthy unless they have an eating disorder.0
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I don't think it is.
My natural body fat is 30% and if I go below it, it's a stressor and I feel awful.0 -
I found this article that I thought was really interesting and I just thought I'd share it with everyone. What are your thoughts on it?
http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=is_being_really_lean_really_worth_it
I enjoyed it! Thanks for posting. :flowerforyou:
I am at 38% BF right now and working to get down to about 30%. I have had several people tell me that I should go down to 20%, but that isn't currently a goal for me. I am much less concerned with looks than I am with how I fell. I was about 30% body fat as a teenager and I loved my body (had beautiful legs and arms) and always had a ton of energy. I am naturally muscular with a wide-set bone structure, so 140ish pounds would be the lowest I would want to weigh. My goal is to maintain my LBM, which is roughly 125 pounds. If I maintain my muscles while losing fat, I expect to be about 160ish when I begin long-term maintenance. So I set my weight goal at 170 and figure I'll rework the math when I reach that point. Twenty-eight pounds to go and they are coming off so much more slowly now than they did in the beginning. :grumble:0 -
In for the excuse making that these articles inevitably inspire. Sure, I agree that you don't need to have super low BF percentage, but if you're currently at 30% then this article doesn't apply to you.
30% is not unhealthy for a woman. It's a reasonable place to stop losing fat. Not everyone is looking for extreme leanness, which is kind of the point here.
I didn't say 30% is unhealthy for a woman, but to start using terms like "really lean" or "shredded," as this article does, at that body fat percentage is ludicrous. Before someone starts talking about whether they should get "really lean" they should at least be "lean." My point is to take one step at a time, and avoid getting ahead of oneself.
^^ The 30% woman is what my body looked like when I was at 30% BF. (Though my boobs weren't that big since I was still just a teenager. lol) Bone structure can make a difference in how the fat is distributed, but for most women, 30% is lean.0 -
^^ The 30% woman is what my body looked like when I was at 30% BF. (Though my boobs weren't that big since I was still just a teenager. lol) Bone structure can make a difference in how the fat is distributed, but for most women, 30% is lean.
O.o
I think you are confusing "not fat" with "lean". I don't know any women that would be labeled "lean" at 30%BF (healthy: yes, hot: yes, lean: no).
Anyway, I found the article to be filled with long winded opinions and not a lot of real intellectual content. Anyone can "write" on the internet.0 -
... ok. Have fun with your quest for extreme leanness.I looked and felt fat as hell at 30% body fat, and I had high cholesterol and elevated BP to boot. At 25%, the medical issues were non-existent, but I still looked mushy and felt awful about how I looked.
Some women are comfortable at that level of body fat, but for the rest of us, it is unreasonable to say that's a reasonable place to stop losing.
Eh, extreme leanness for women is normally classified as 15% and under. I don't even consider myself as "extremely" lean at 17%. I too wasn't where I wanted to be at 25%, but my goals were slightly different as figure competitions were my end goal.
Just because one does not feel fit at 25%, does not mean they are necessarily going for "extreme" leanness. It's a bit of a generalization.0 -
^^ The 30% woman is what my body looked like when I was at 30% BF. (Though my boobs weren't that big since I was still just a teenager. lol) Bone structure can make a difference in how the fat is distributed, but for most women, 30% is lean.
O.o
I think you are confusing "not fat" with "lean". I don't know any women that would be labeled "lean" at 30%BF (healthy: yes, hot: yes, lean: no).
Anyway, I found the article to be filled with long winded opinions and not a lot of real intellectual content. Anyone can "write" on the internet.
Or maybe you are confusing "skinny" with "lean." Most medical professionals would agree that 30% BF is healthy, and that skinny is not. Believe what you want, and do what you want with your own body. Your choice.
I've done my own research and will do what I like with my own body. :flowerforyou:0 -
In for the excuse making that these articles inevitably inspire. Sure, I agree that you don't need to have super low BF percentage, but if you're currently at 30% then this article doesn't apply to you.
30% is not unhealthy for a woman. It's a reasonable place to stop losing fat. Not everyone is looking for extreme leanness, which is kind of the point here.
I looked and felt fat as hell at 30% body fat, and I had high cholesterol and elevated BP to boot. At 25%, the medical issues were non-existent, but I still looked mushy and felt awful about how I looked.
Some women are comfortable at that level of body fat, but for the rest of us, it is unreasonable to say that's a reasonable place to stop losing.
... ok. Have fun with your quest for extreme leanness.20%-30% is not extreme leanness by any stretch of the imagination. [/b]I hope you are not implying that it is.[/b]
Now, please elaborate on what exactly in my statement got even close to implying that 20-30% is "extreme leanness".
20-30% is average for women, not extreme at all. I would say that over 35% is getting to be too much and less than 15% is getting to be too little. (with a few people on each extreme that carry it well due to their particular bone structure)0 -
20-30% is average for women, not extreme at all. I would say that over 35% is getting to be too much and less than 15% is getting to be too little. (with a few people on each extreme that carry it well due to their particular bone structure)
no-30% it is what we have now ACCEPTED as average.
30 % is in no way shape or form lean. not in the least.... all it qualifies as is "not fat"- and I am seriously not convined that it is even that.
it is in no way- shape or form- lean. or trim.0 -
20-30% is average for women, not extreme at all. I would say that over 35% is getting to be too much and less than 15% is getting to be too little. (with a few people on each extreme that carry it well due to their particular bone structure)
no-30% it is what we have now ACCEPTED as average.
30 % is in no way shape or form lean. not in the least.... all it qualifies as is "not fat"- and I am seriously not convined that it is even that.
it is in no way- shape or form- lean. or trim.
You have a different definition than I do for lean. *shrugs*
"Not fat" = lean0 -
yes, its amazing. I love being veiny. Quad veins and back abs ftw!0
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You have a different definition than I do for lean. *shrugs*
"Not fat" = lean
Well at least you acknowledge that you are making up your own definitions. To the fitness world, I'm pretty sure the standard definition of lean is low body fat with good amount of muscle.0 -
20-30% is average for women, not extreme at all. I would say that over 35% is getting to be too much and less than 15% is getting to be too little. (with a few people on each extreme that carry it well due to their particular bone structure)
no-30% it is what we have now ACCEPTED as average.
30 % is in no way shape or form lean. not in the least.... all it qualifies as is "not fat"- and I am seriously not convined that it is even that.
it is in no way- shape or form- lean. or trim.
You have a different definition than I do for lean. *shrugs*
"Not fat" = lean
I would agree with Mavd... that's nice you acknowledged you are doing what you want as far as terms.
But I have NEVER been fat.... ever... and I have never considered myself lean... I still don't - and I lost 15 lbs- and have half visible abs.. still wouldn't consider myself lean.
Not fat- does not mean you are lean.
I am lean-er than i was- but I would definitely not consider myself lean.0 -
20-30% is average for women, not extreme at all. I would say that over 35% is getting to be too much and less than 15% is getting to be too little. (with a few people on each extreme that carry it well due to their particular bone structure)
no-30% it is what we have now ACCEPTED as average.
30 % is in no way shape or form lean. not in the least.... all it qualifies as is "not fat"- and I am seriously not convined that it is even that.
it is in no way- shape or form- lean. or trim.
You have a different definition than I do for lean. *shrugs*
"Not fat" = lean
I would agree with Mavd... that's nice you acknowledged you are doing what you want as far as terms.
But I have NEVER been fat.... ever... and I have never considered myself lean... I still don't - and I lost 15 lbs- and have half visible abs.. still wouldn't consider myself lean.
Not fat- does not mean you are lean.
I am lean-er than i was- but I would definitely not consider myself lean.
From your pic, you look lean to me. I figure if it isn't fat, then it's lean. That goes for people as well as meats at the butcher. :laugh:0 -
LOL I can see how that simplifies it.
Thank you by the way
still work to do- but my back is probably my best cut feature LOL. Everything else needs major improvement!!! more cutting.. le-sigh.
But really it isn't so simple- the term skinny fat exists for a reason. Because there are plenty of people out there who are not fat- or may even be considered skinny- but have pretty much zero muscle - when you look at them they look... squishy.
Some people are okay with that. I personally am not... I hate that feeling- I am much happier being "hard" or firm- I would actually take being heavier/bigger and more muscular- over being a smaller- and completely un-muscled version of me. That is just ick- not my thing.
But yeah- in the fitness world there is a definite difference. It isn't right or wrong- it just is. if that makes sense.0 -
The leaner I have gotten, the better I felt. I was 12% @ 153 lbs at my leanest so far, but didn't really have enough muscle to be aesthetic any lower. Currently around 13-14% @ 159. Ultimate goal is 173-175 lbs @ 8% bf, and I have zero doubt that it will be worth it when I get there.0
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If the topic is the articles, the "very lean" they're discussing is sub-8% for men and sub-15% for women. AKA getting very close to essential body fat.
If people want to make up random definitions of "very lean", it doesn't really relate to this subject. Falls under the general "do I want to bother with trying to see some abs definition, because I can blood test healthy without that" sort of topic.
Edit: First article really fudges on this concept, and "really lean" ends up as a proxy for anything related to weight loss. Second article has the clarity on actually being very lean.0 -
LOL I can see how that simplifies it.
Thank you by the way still work to do- but my back is probably my best cut feature LOL. Everything else needs major improvement!!! more cutting.. le-sigh.
But really it isn't so simple- the term skinny fat exists for a reason. Because there are plenty of people out there who are not fat- or may even be considered skinny- but have pretty much zero muscle - when you look at them they look... squishy.
Some people are okay with that. I personally am not... I hate that feeling- I am much happier being "hard" or firm- I would actually take being heavier/bigger and more muscular- over being a smaller- and completely un-muscled version of me. That is just ick- not my thing.
But yeah- in the fitness world there is a definite difference. It isn't right or wrong- it just is. if that makes sense.
Yes, that makes sense. I know there are quite a few things said in the fitness world that wouldn't fly outside of the gym. :laugh:
And there are just as many fitness terms that I accidentally mention to my husband or a friend and they are like WTH did are you talking about!
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Yes, that makes sense. I know there are quite a few things said in the fitness world that wouldn't fly outside of the gym. :laugh:
And there are just as many fitness terms that I accidentally mention to my husband or a friend and they are like WTH did are you talking about!
yeah boyfriend dearest is like- why do you even do that... I'm like...
<looks at me>
looks at him
<looks at me>
looks at him
give him the strong side eye like why do you think- because I look amazing and you still don't. He doesn't appreciate my brand of "helpful"
no worries- I have fitness friends for that- if he asks questions for real I help as best I can- but his sarcastic tone about "why would you ever want to do that" isn't appreciated and I make it very clear I look amazing and he doesn't.... I'm a 'itach I know.
lol ah yes- le fitness world- it's a special place for sure. LMAO0
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