Bodyfat question?

[goldenerafan]

Hey everyone, this may be a stupid question but is it possible to calculate how much muscle ones frame would require to maintain 9-10% bodyfat?

[SuffolkPunch]

Hey everyone, this may be a stupid question but is it possible to calculate how much muscle ones frame would require to maintain 9-10% bodyfat?

No because you don't need a certain amount of muscle.

You can have 10% bodyfat with a low or a high amount of muscle

It's literally = 100 * fat mass / total body mass

[goldenerafan]

No because you don't need a certain amount of muscle.

You can have 10% bodyfat with a low or a high amount of muscle

It's literally = 100 * fat mass / total body mass

Hi SuffolkPunch, but doesn't muscle help burn fat? I am pointing to muscle's rich mitochondria that helps beta oxidation. I know this is not guaranteed and fat loss is not linear but just mentioning it is one of its functions no?

[SuffolkPunch]

Hi SuffolkPunch, but doesn't muscle help burn fat? I am pointing to muscle's rich mitochondria that helps beta oxidation. I know this is not guaranteed and fat loss is not linear but just mentioning it is one of its functions no?

The more muscle tissue you have, the higher your RMR will be (although it doesn't make as much of a difference as some might think).

However, if you have little muscle, you can still lose bodyfat - you will just have to keep calories lower than someone with more muscle.

Usually we discourage people from doing this because their end goal is to look good - and that doesn't happen just by losing fat, you need muscle too.

[goldenerafan]

The more muscle tissue you have, the higher your RMR will be (although it doesn't make as much of a difference as some might think).

However, if you have little muscle, you can still lose bodyfat - you will just have to keep calories lower than someone with more muscle.

Usually we discourage people from doing this because their end goal is to look good - and that doesn't happen just by losing fat, you need muscle too.

I agree in that in order to lose excess weight one MUST eat less or train more and there are many factors for why some individuals can be lean despite having low muscle mass. I guess we can't determine how effective one's metabolism will be when it comes to burning fat with adding a certain amount of muscle added to their frame just because their are SO many variables that effect that process. Also as this is not always a direct relationship. Just because there is muscle the body will not automatically lose fat. Correct?

Also while we are on the subject of muscle mass, rather than make another thread, do you feel that dietary protein should be based on total body mass, lean body mass and why?

[SuffolkPunch]

Fat loss is a simple matter of net calorie deficit irrespective of muscle mass.

Protein intake is mostly guesswork based on the results of studies that showed what doses had an effect on improving hypertrophy (or muscle retention).

The numbers we talk about re not intended to be precise more like generous over-estimates. I would only make the distinction between absolute body mass and lean body mass for someone who is very fat - for example, they don't need to be eating 250g of protein...