precontest BF %

[SweatMachine]

at 7 weeks out what BF % should you be at? ...just an approximation.......

[Kidrok (Hop)]

Personally I would want to be 7 or less.

[homonunculus]

Sounds about right - at 7%, you've got around (roughly) 6-10lb (dep., on weight) to lose to get SHREDDED.

Still, I'd use the mirror though. Def. have a six-pack, with veins starting to show on the abs. Slight feathering of the lats. Pecs striated. Legs vascular and starting to show where glutes will be striated. Deep cuts on triceps and calves. Delt looking pretty crisp. Hamstrings starting to come in....

Post 'em if ya got 'em, oh Sweatmeister!

-Randy

[SweatMachine]

I'll be doing that soon,,,,

[Ken Skip Hill]

Thing is, it depends on what bodyfat reading you are using and how accurate it is. At a true 7% you are pretty fucking tight. Now, an average caliper reading of 7%, I could live with. A true 7%? Hell no. It would be too much of a chore to balance muscle mass loss with bodyfat loss for the next 7 weeks.

I am pretty tight at just under 8 weeks right now. I am having a DEXA scan done tomorrow, again, to see where it says I am with bodyfat. I have to drop another 8-9 pounds of bodyfat to make the cut off but I am not sure that I have that much left. It will be interesting to see what the DEXA says.

Skip

[EPU]

Yo skip, i'm using the bodpod (www.bodpod.com) to track my bf % as i prepare for two major national quals this september. How does the DEXA compare with under water bf testing and bodpod (if you know)?

[homonunculus]

Skip,

Not following - are you saying you'd like to be less than 7% at 7 weeks out, or that being at 7% that far out means you'll be too lean too long and risk losing too much muscle...

EPU,

I would go with DEXA over UWW (under water) and Bod Pod, if you really want an accurate measure. DEXA works on different principles than UWW or the BP.

If you do the bod pod, ask them what equation they are using to convert body density to body fat and if it is appropriate for highly muscular athletes.

Frankly, I would not consider the bodpod value accurate (for you), but just a relative way to see how fat vs. muscle loss is going along.

The mirror is MUCH more valuable.

-Randy

[Trulyhuge]

Mirror is definately the true indicator IMO.

TH

[EPU]

Thanx Randy. I'll keep your comments in mind.

[Ken Skip Hill]

Originally posted by homonunculus
[B]Skip,

Not following - are you saying you'd like to be less than 7% at 7 weeks out, or that being at 7% that far out means you'll be too lean too long and risk losing too much muscle...

You aren't following me because I cannot articulate my thoughts very well. LOL When I say I am not that bright, I truly mean it.

I am saying that if you get a read of 7% at 7 weeks out on something like a DEXA, you are pretty fucking low on bodyfat. If you get a read of 7% from something like calipers or BEI or something similar, you aren't anywhere near as lean. Being too lean, too far out will make it difficult to stay in an anabolic state as timing of meals, calories, etc, becomes even more crucial.

I could probably do it and you probably could, also. However, I think most guys would risk losing muscle mass if they were a true 7% as far out as 7 weeks.

Just my opinion........

Skip

[homonunculus]

I gotcha Skip. And screw the "I'm not bright" sh*t. I think you just think faster than you type. LOL

Now, you haven't had me do a 7 site skinfold (J & P) on ya - I'm reknowned for getting a bit old honker of a skinfold (consistently and according to protocol, of course) at every site. If I nail ya at 7%, you probably look like Andreas Munzer 1 week out... LOL.

As far as Sweaty goes, its an interesting call. He wants to be ready for his first "warm-up" show, so if he is too lean, too soon, and loses some size, he has time to make it back up before the big show (like 7 or 8 weeks later, Sweat?). Since he hasn't been this lean in a long time, it seems worth the risk of seeing how his body reacts (the purpose of the warm-up show that is so far out) and perhaps losing some muscle being too lean too soon.

Would be nice to know for the 2nd show that he CAN / HAS gotten the type of conditioning he wants to have. Shit, just the reduction in stress could bring him in a few lb's heavier the 2nd time.

-R

[SweatMachine]

Well this has been an interesting thread.... at 7.5 weeks out I measured 7.3% on a 8 point caliper test. Since I changed my carb rotation shit has started happening nicely. AT the end of my last low carb cycle I weighed 237, then 24hrs after a 12hr carb load I weighed 244. My quads arent hard yet but they are getting lines and angles coming out, some vascularity is coming out in them too. Abs are hardening by the day. I still have thick skin around the back of my waist. Im at the end of my low carb cycle for this week, so Im about to weigh and do BF measure. Im not harping on BF or weight, but I like to keep tabs on the change in body weight between depletion/load cycles. I want to take some pics, but things keep looking better everyday so I keep putting it off one day at a time. I'll get some up soon......thanks for the input guys!

[midwtchamp]

I dont actually do my body fat per se.....I just taking reading on calipers...abs, thighs and obliques. I know what i need to be at X number of weeks to come in tight as hell also I use the mirror and scale a little bit up until 4 week out and then it is calipers and mirror try to stay off scale....

[Ken Skip Hill]

SM - It sounds to me that you are just fine for 7 weeks out, bro. I wouldn't let up too much but 7 weeks is a good amount of time.

Keep us posted.

Skip

[SweatMachine]

I'll do that Skip..
Today the head started F'ing with me ... I suddenly looked very small in the mirror to myself..

This is a joy sometimes huh?