Acceptable Body Fat %

auticus
auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
edited November 11 in Chit-Chat
What is your goal body fat % that you are trying to reach?

What do you find acceptable in general % wise?

I'm currenly at 22% body fat per the army standards (weight coupled with neck measurement and waist measurement and height). I have heard and seen a lot of commentary on if men can't see their abs that they are "fat & nasty". (a man generally starts seeing abs at around 15-16% body fat)

My goal is 20% Though I may reconfigure that to a lower number, though 20% is where I was upon graduating from basic training years and years ago.
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Replies

  • PepeGreggerton
    PepeGreggerton Posts: 986 Member
    Acceptable to whom?
  • CanuckLove
    CanuckLove Posts: 673 Member
    I'm getting a body comp test tonight to find out what my BF% is.. I'm scared lol
  • PepeGreggerton
    PepeGreggerton Posts: 986 Member
    I'm getting a body comp test tonight to find out what my BF% is.. I'm scared lol

    Pfft you rock Jae. No worries.
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    Acceptable to whomever answers. I'm interested in seeing what people find to be acceptable and at what level on average people see it as not acceptable.
  • PepeGreggerton
    PepeGreggerton Posts: 986 Member
    Acceptable to whomever answers. I'm interested in seeing what people find to be acceptable and at what level on average people see it as not acceptable.

    Ahh well my personal goal is between 14-17% which is considered fit.
  • DL121004
    DL121004 Posts: 214 Member
    Interesting you post this, as I was just going to start a thread.

    Here's an image of males at different levels of body fat %.

    body-fat-levels-men1.jpg

    And one for females.

    body-fat-levels-women21.jpg

    Here's a chart of body fat % for males and females.

    body-fat-percentages.jpg

    Edit: I started at 20, am at 14.5 (both by Tanita) and am thinking of 10%-12%.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    My goal is 18% body fat. I'm currently 31%, but I started at 42%.
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member

    What do you find acceptable in general % wise?

    I think anywhere from 12 - 20% is workable and manageable on a day to day level.

    I think I am about 18% or so at the mo but haven't checked in yonks. Would mind getting back down to 15% or so but not fussed really.
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    I was at the 35% mark for so long that I thought 20% would be a good target. Turns out not so much. I'm probably going to shoot for 15 or so as well ultimately. I'm hoping to pull to 20% by the end of April. That still leaves a lot of room for improvement.
  • Iris1415
    Iris1415 Posts: 21 Member
    What I would like to know is how you measure your body fat % yourself? Wouldn't you have to go to a doctor frequently to know the changes in that?
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    my goal is to maintain a BF% of 8-10%.

    All of the estimators I have done have me in the 9-13% range now, (I think I am in the 11-13% range)
  • jdavison91
    jdavison91 Posts: 50
    Acceptable to whomever answers. I'm interested in seeing what people find to be acceptable and at what level on average people see it as not acceptable.

    Ahh well my personal goal is between 14-17% which is considered fit.

    ^^ this, for me too. I am currently between 18-20% depending on what method I use to measure
  • niightwind
    niightwind Posts: 81
    I'm currently at 27% body fat. I guess my goal is between 21%-24%
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I was thinking 18-20% but I just got tested this morning and it said 19%. I'm not sure I believe that. But either way I still have more fat than I'd like (on my thighs). I think my new goal is just going to be to look better naked.
  • shedoos
    shedoos Posts: 446 Member
    I had a Bod Pod test last night - I'm at 18.6%. I am happy with that BUT...

    I'd like to get to 16-17% just not sure I can actually do it.
  • hedgiie
    hedgiie Posts: 1,226 Member
    my target is 12%, the reason being is that I like to play sports like basketball, tennis, soccer. i think 12% is an athletic level of fat which will contribute to agility
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    I started at... (this is INSANE, btw) FIFTY SIX PERCENT. Yes, more than half of me was fat!

    I'm around 22% and I'm good with that, although I certainly wouldn't complain about another % or two since I want to be the most fit, healthy me I can be.
  • Justjoshin
    Justjoshin Posts: 999 Member
    I'm looking for <7%.

    Nothing more will be acceptable to me.
  • niightwind
    niightwind Posts: 81
    I started at... (this is INSANE, btw) FIFTY SIX PERCENT. Yes, more than half of me was fat!

    I'm around 22% and I'm good with that, although I certainly wouldn't complain about another % or two since I want to be the most fit, healthy me I can be.

    Wow that's amazing! Congrats on losing that much.
  • EatClenTrenHard
    EatClenTrenHard Posts: 339 Member
    8%, 170lbs.
    2 more years of hard work for it
  • Buckeyt
    Buckeyt Posts: 473 Member
    Sometime in April after I finish my first round of P90X2, I plan to get dunked and get a more accurate BF% than I'm getting with Calipers now.

    Would like to be sub 10%. Calipers have me around 8% which I just can't be right.

    Tim
  • Quickster34
    Quickster34 Posts: 209 Member
    at about 11% now, going to get back to my peak again by june at about 7% which is sprint shape , can't wait!
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I'm looking for <7%.

    Nothing more will be acceptable to me.

    Has anyone ever told you you're bat *kitten* crazy?? :-P

    Oh, and I'd like to lick you soon.
  • lauehorn
    lauehorn Posts: 183
    Interesting you post this, as I was just going to start a thread.

    Here's an image of males at different levels of body fat %.

    body-fat-levels-men1.jpg

    And one for females.

    body-fat-levels-women21.jpg

    Here's a chart of body fat % for males and females.

    body-fat-percentages.jpg

    Edit: I started at 20, am at 14.5 (both by Tanita) and am thinking of 10%-12%.
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    Interesting you post this, as I was just going to start a thread.

    Here's an image of males at different levels of body fat %.

    body-fat-levels-men1.jpg

    And one for females.

    body-fat-levels-women21.jpg

    Here's a chart of body fat % for males and females.

    body-fat-percentages.jpg

    Edit: I started at 20, am at 14.5 (both by Tanita) and am thinking of 10%-12%.
    Had to add this - I don't believe that those women's thighs aren't touching, especially at 45%. Mine still touch (barely, but they do) and I am at 22%.
  • rammsteinsoldier
    rammsteinsoldier Posts: 1,552 Member
    My goal is 18%. I want definition but I do want to keep my curves
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Interesting you post this, as I was just going to start a thread.

    Here's an image of males at different levels of body fat %.

    body-fat-levels-men1.jpg

    And one for females.

    body-fat-levels-women21.jpg

    Here's a chart of body fat % for males and females.

    body-fat-percentages.jpg

    Edit: I started at 20, am at 14.5 (both by Tanita) and am thinking of 10%-12%.
    Had to add this - I don't believe that those women's thighs aren't touching, especially at 45%. Mine still touch (barely, but they do) and I am at 22%.

    The thighs touching has more to do with hip and joint alignment then with the amount of fat one has. That being said at that level of fat you would think anyone's would touch, but it could be that they are standing with their feet further apart ???
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    Had to add this - I don't believe that those women's thighs aren't touching, especially at 45%. Mine still touch (barely, but they do) and I am at 22%.

    The thighs touching has more to do with hip and joint alignment then with the amount of fat one has. That being said at that level of fat you would think anyone's would touch, but it could be that they are standing with their feet further apart ???

    I know. I was just thinking it was funny because I swear when I had 56% body fat, my thighs touched all the way down to my knees lol
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    It is seeming more and more that <15 and being athletic is the acceptable body fat percentage of people. Part ii of my journey is about to begin in a couple months.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Interesting you post this, as I was just going to start a thread.

    Here's an image of males at different levels of body fat %.

    body-fat-levels-men1.jpg

    And one for females.

    body-fat-levels-women21.jpg

    Here's a chart of body fat % for males and females.

    body-fat-percentages.jpg

    Edit: I started at 20, am at 14.5 (both by Tanita) and am thinking of 10%-12%.
    Had to add this - I don't believe that those women's thighs aren't touching, especially at 45%. Mine still touch (barely, but they do) and I am at 22%.

    The thighs touching has more to do with hip and joint alignment then with the amount of fat one has. That being said at that level of fat you would think anyone's would touch, but it could be that they are standing with their feet further apart ???

    My thighs touched when I was 95lbs and 18 years old... it's not necessarily a fat thing.
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