on/off season % body fat of the pros?

[jf1]

i am sure this has been asked before, but what range do the pros allow their body fat % to fluctuate between off season and contests?

how low do they go for a contest and how high is too high in the off season?

[mark118]

I would rate Jay and Dex among the best at maintaining a low BF during the off season... and people like Trey among the worst. I have no actual numbers for you but even then the figures u hear have to be taken with a pinch of salt.

[the-craig]

Apparently couple Olympias ago Jay Cutler had his down to 3% but who knows.

[wlf.vik83]

i am sure this has been asked before, but what range do the pros allow their body fat % to fluctuate between off season and contests?

how low do they go for a contest and how high is too high in the off season?

For men, 2-4% body fat is essential, 6-13% is an athletic body fat range, 14-17% is considered a 'fit' range, and 18-25% is acceptable. Anything above 26% for men is considered obese.
Source: http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightloss/a/bodyfat.htm

So I guess that an elite bodybuilder's body fat is in the4-5% range. Im just guessing.
Can a competing bodybuilder like adam247 or Matty or Goddess let us know for sure?

[mark118]

Just used the search and a thread on this subject made a year ago this month!

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...ght=off+season

Talks for 2 pages... so hopefully will provide a lil insight

[adam247]

It depends on how you are measuring the body fat:
1.There is total body fat
2.There is sub q body fat

As bodybuilders are only concerned with sub q body fat this is the one that should be measured . As fat in the mitochondria of the muscle cell with be a positive to a bodybuilder giving the muscle a fuller look.


Bodybuilder are normally between 2% - 6 % sub q body fat on stage


Here is a guy who gets under 2% and is natural:

[jf1]

For men, 2-4% body fat is essential, 6-13% is an athletic body fat range, 14-17% is considered a 'fit' range, and 18-25% is acceptable. Anything above 26% for men is considered obese.
Source: http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightloss/a/bodyfat.htm

So I guess that an elite bodybuilder's body fat is in the4-5% range. Im just guessing.
Can a competing bodybuilder like adam247 or Matty or Goddess let us know for sure?

excellent!
thats sort of what i am looking for; i have a 'body-fat scale' and am currently bulking...but dont want to go overboard!

[siersy]

excellent!
thats sort of what i am looking for; i have a 'body-fat scale' and am currently bulking...but dont want to go overboard!

the bodyfat scale will always be wrong. its based around a very innaccurate measurement.

but on a serious note a true 5% is very low.

your always gonna get the cocky **** spinners like flex wheeler saying they were 0% bodyfat

[J_Bo]

the bodyfat scale will always be wrong. its based around a very innaccurate measurement.

but on a serious note a true 5% is very low.

your always gonna get the cocky **** spinners like flex wheeler saying they were 0% bodyfat

Yep. When I bought my scale I read the instructions and they said that muscle causes the scale to be inaccurate. And the more muscle you have, the more inaccurate it is. It would probably read ronnie coleman in contest shape at 20% bf....at least

[adam247]

Yep. When I bought my scale I read the instructions and they said that muscle causes the scale to be inaccurate. And the more muscle you have, the more inaccurate it is. It would probably read ronnie coleman in contest shape at 20% bf....at least

Yes as muscles and organs store body fat as well as joints. The more well trained an athlete the better the muscle cell becomes at storing fat for immediate energy.

[Flex500]

the bodyfat scale will always be wrong. its based around a very innaccurate measurement.

but on a serious note a true 5% is very low.

your always gonna get the cocky **** spinners like flex wheeler saying they were 0% bodyfat

no kidding people just don't understand that. Actual 5% bf is scary low. I mean that is ridiculously low. Most bbers will have abs, veins all over and look lean as hell between 10-12% bf.

[adam247]

again there are 2 types of body fat , it depends which one you are on about!
sub Q body fat or total body fat.

As bodybuilders it makes sense that you worry about sub q body fat which can get really low.

[Flex500]

again there are 2 types of body fat , it depends which one you are on about!
sub Q body fat or total body fat.

As bodybuilders it makes sense that you worry about sub q body fat which can get really low.

very true. But I'm making a general comment about total bf%. Such as when you get underwater weighed and you find out total fat, all fat.

Of course you are correct, 100%. But either way if your body contains a total bf% of 5% that is very low.

[Patmuscled!]

2%-5% is the range needed for competing bodybuilders who want to get noticed on stage. This range is definitely dangerous to maintain on a daily basis. Try to maintain a 2% bodyfat in a month and it can kill you.

[adam247]

very true. But I'm making a general comment about total bf%. Such as when you get underwater weighed and you find out total fat, all fat.

Of course you are correct, 100%. But either way if your body contains a total bf% of 5% that is very low.

But having 5% total bf would be a negative trait for appearance on stage , yes it would be low, but it would mean the muscles would be depleted and joints would be at a higher risk of injury. Actually 5% total body fat would be dangerously low.
A good bodybuilder would have low sub Q body fat while maintaining a lot higher total body fat.