% BF for competition

Princessvespa · 03-03-2007, 02:22 PM

I am just starting to think about competing in the future (figure) and was wondering what average competition bodyfat % is?

sixzebra · 03-03-2007, 09:05 PM

i'm not sure what the avg was, but at my last figure comp, i was at around 7-7.5%. i plan on going into my next figure show at 6-6.5%. But i need to get that low so my legs will come in. some girls don't need to go that low as they look great at 8-9% and even higher. I look terrible in a suit at 9%. some of it has to do with genetics.

daviess · 03-04-2007, 01:52 AM

i was just recently looking into this as well.

and from what i have read so far, it also verys from competition to competition. some judges in one, may of course be scoring different compared to others. i was thinking about just phoning the person putting it on, and see what they say. i have read in one article, here on bb.com, some look from 10-12% even.

Beefcake Girl · 03-05-2007, 05:23 PM

I have done quite a few shows and I have never tested my body fat. My trainer knows how close I am to stage ready just by seeing me...and besides that is what counts. The judges don't care about BF...and what looks good on one person looks bad on another. Some girls look better softer some are better leaner. The idea is just to be conditioned all over...from the front and most importantly the back. Most judges will tell you they don't even begin judging til the girls turn around. They want to see a nice high, tight booty and nice tight hamstrings...that is usually the biggest indicator of conditioning

And of course you generally want nice full round muscles with separation but not striation...excessive vascularity is also frowned upon. I have a few friends who get so lean that they have veins showing in their abs...they have to smooth out a little before the stage in order to place better...so there is such a thing as being too lean for some people!

gfundaro · 03-05-2007, 09:37 PM

I'm shooting for 12% for my first show because I want to have ample time to lose the BF, and I don't want to shock my body too much. Plus, I'm doing 3 shows in 3 consecutive months (if all goes as planned) so I'll be improving between each one. Figure is a bit different from bodybuilding from what I've seen, and from what my sensei has told me (she's been a bodybuildier for 17 years now) bodybuilders generally drop more fat than figure competitors. But like everyone's been saying, I think it's all in how you carry it. I've seen other people with the same body fat as I have and they look very different from me.

Nancypro · 03-05-2007, 10:08 PM

18 years competing, not once have I tested my bodyfat. Not saying, don't do it, I just have not done it.

sprinter_n70 · 03-05-2007, 10:46 PM

can anyone tell me how to kn0w a persons bodyfat percentage.?

robes1 · 03-06-2007, 07:01 AM

Wow, I am learning so much. Thought this might help you out too. I was confused about this until I read this thread. I am looking to compete as well in about 6 months for the first time. I had a 7 point body fat analysis yesterday and I came in at 10.6% which I thought was absolutely absurd and incorrect because my lower body is no where near competition ready, looks like crap. I think for myself to look great down there, I have to drop at least 3% more. It is probably not really accurate either because the 7 points to not take into account the buttocks which is where ALL of my fat is. Here is my advice, don't be so concerned with the numbers, use them to gage fat loss and muscle gain, but as far as using them as a measurment to compete, I think you can only gage that by the way you look, this is just my belief. I know even with a supposed body fat for myself of 10.6, I still have much more work to do in order to be ready.

audioescape · 03-11-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprinter_n70

can anyone tell me how to kn0w a persons bodyfat percentage.?

Ask the instructors in your gym to run a body fat % test on you. There's different ways to do this. One of the most popular ones is using "fat calipers", they'll grab your fat and calculate how much is it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancypro

18 years competing, not once have I tested my bodyfat. Not saying, don't do it, I just have not done it.

wow.
Well, since you're competing it is obviously low.

I think some of us should stop worrying that much about numbers and start letting the mirror show the results.

BigStew · 03-13-2007, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancypro

18 years competing, not once have I tested my bodyfat. Not saying, don't do it, I just have not done it.

Listen to the pro. Last time I checked they look at you in a suit. NO one care what your body fat is. Judge yourself with a mirror I promise it will keep you sane

Italianangel · 03-13-2007, 07:47 PM

The body fat can vary in range but from each federation too.
You are looking at tighter body fat levels for NPC, IFBB and the orgs under them at amatuer levels as well as wnbf where as for WNSO and MS. Fitness org, it can be a tad higher or very again depending on who is next to you and the judges. The orgs are trying to nail this down a tad but I know at cbbf and ifbb the figure and fitness are very similar in bodyfat levels, closer to 6-9%.
Linda