Thread: ? Female bodyfat ?

If your cycles are normal, then what you have is fine for the off-season. If you have any kind of menstrual problems, then you will want to go a little higher.

For competition, natural women generally aim for around 6-8%. However, I don't believe there are any women who can sustain this for more than brief periods without effects, possibly permanent ones, on hormone function, fertility and bone density.

I completly agree with Akateros. Its best to make sure that your mentrual cycles are normal
. at very low bodyfats, sometimes woman experience an absense of them. However some people just normally have lower bf%. myself, I maintain at 14% or somewhat less(my setpoint). others are higher. For someone at your age, just dont be concerned on getting to extremly low bodyfats. did you diet down to that level? or is that where you are normally with no effort of dieting?

ALSO one thing I wanted to say... I admire your inspiration at your age being involved in bodybuilding. I too began young(15, Im 19 now). Weight training was one of the best things that happened to me. I wish you the best of luck with your goals.

wow! thats low bf% for a girl...if you are naturally like that
if you dieted down then thats still good

btw im a 16 year old guy, so ya know...
lol just kidding

Originally posted by myCATpowerlifts
wow! thats low bf% for a girl...

True

Too low for a newbie and a non competitor.

16 years old and female too...that's an amazingly low bf%.

that is very low... how about some other stats? like Height, weight, etc...

I wouldn't say I'm a total NEWBIE. I have been reading bodybuilding magazines since I was 13, and have been working our religiously for the past 3 years as well with a personal trainer. I don't know whether that % is natural because this is the first time I've had it checked. I really want to compete, but it's so hard trying to find a junior female bodybuilding/ figure competition (I CAN'T DO FITNESS FOR MY LIFE). I am 5"7.5 and 115 lbs.

Originally posted by jaim91
I wouldn't say I'm a total NEWBIE.

Exactly

Wow, 5"7.5 and 115. That's low too.

If you want to compete. You better stack some muscle on

If you are serious about competing at some point you can check out www.wnso.com. There is quite a bit of information on the site and links for Canadian competitions. I didn't see any age restrictions either but you can at least contact them. You could also track down some competitors and contact them through their own websites. Generally speaking they are usually pretty helpful to beginners.

Originally posted by BabsieGirl
If you want to compete. You better stack some muscle on

I agree. You have plenty of time though. At the age of 16 you have plenty of years to build a great physique

However, there is a competition that's starting April 17th in Connecicut. I think it's being put on by the NPC. So, really, I have until April 16th. I was told though that 6-9 % BF is good. At 11%, aren't I ok to maintain? I eat according to the meal plans I find on here. Never taking in less than 115 g of protein per day. Working out 3-4 times per week (no cardio - don't have a lot of fait to burn anyway). I don't think I've plateaued...but I don't know what else to blame it on.

At sixteen years old, it is more important for you to build bone density than to be a competitive bodybuilder. It is probably not a good idea to drop to non-functional bodyfat levels even for the length of time it takes to compete, at your age.

From now until -- maybe -- your early twenties is the only chance you have to build substantial amounts of bone mass. Don't be concerned about competitive bodyfat levels right now. The question is, do you have normal, regular menstrual cycles? That cycle is essential to bone health in a woman. Do you really want to be squatting heavy some fine day ten years from now, and get a compression fracture of the spine?

And I agree, at your weight and height, you are underweight. You could stand to eat more and put on more mass if you want to compete. You'd be astounded at how little of you there'd be if you dieted down!

Forget about your bodyfat for a year or three. Eat hearty, lift heavy, build bone and muscle.

guys 115 isnt under weight...its light yes but def not underweight

i know a lot of girls age 16 that are about that or a little more
but they most likely have more near 18% bf so

she is good in my opinion
but yea i would wait for competitions tho

Originally posted by myCATpowerlifts
guys 115 isnt under weight...its light yes but def not underweight

i know a lot of girls age 16 that are about that or a little more
but they most likely have more near 18% bf so

she is good in my opinion
but yea i would wait for competitions tho

Are you insane? 5'7" at 115 is definately underweight.

Damn - that's the BW I competed at and I'm 5'1"

carp...my lbm is 113 and I'm 5'2. She's underweight. Needs to add more muscle before doing a show in April. She would look like an extremely skinny person up there.

Originally posted by jaim91
However, there is a competition that's starting April 17th in Connecicut. I think it's being put on by the NPC. So, really, I have until April 16th. I was told though that 6-9 % BF is good. At 11%, aren't I ok to maintain? I eat according to the meal plans I find on here. Never taking in less than 115 g of protein per day. Working out 3-4 times per week (no cardio - don't have a lot of fait to burn anyway). I don't think I've plateaued...but I don't know what else to blame it on.

I'll go ahead and be honest................YOU WILL BE OUT OF YOUR MIND TO COMPETE THIS APRIL IN NPC!!!!!!! if you want to hit the NPC, you better be training for for a LONG time hon. You need to honestly hit those weights and hit them good. I'm about your height and I looked almost dead at 135lbs. You'd be like a walking stick compared to the rest of the girls. I hope you're not thinking you can just slap on some bathing suit either and hit the stage. Figure/Fitness isn't a runway competition hon.

I'm not trying to hurt your feelings or tick you off....I'm trying to help you decide THIS ISN'T THE COMP FOR YOU!!!! If you compete in the NPC, you might as well talk to each promotor and ask if it's pure novice because if it's not novice, you're going to be barking up the wrong tree.....The girls will be nice to you no doubt, but you'll feel (inside) that you've waisted your money and you should've waited.

Do you have a PT? How are you hitting the weights? Whats your max weight? How does your diet look? How do you "know" you're ready to compete in April? Do you have your suit made yet? Do you have your tanning stuff, suit glue, shoes, etcc???? Most importantly, do you know how to pose?

Do you have normal cycles? At that weight and bf %, unless you are genetically an ectomorph, it's hard to think that your cycles are normal.

I competed in NPC in CT and at 5' 9" I came in weighing 132 and I looked very skinny - too skinny. I wasn't too lean but on my frame I needed plenty more muscle.

It's great that you're lean now but if I were you I'd definitely focus on clean healthy eating and basic exercises (for instance when training chest focus mainly on pressing moves not cable crossovers etc) in order to build more muscle.

Don't be discouraged by any means. The fact that you're already in the gym at your age gives you a great head start . Many many successful women competitiors never touched a weight until they were quite a bit older than you.

If you can be patient and focus on building a solid foundation it will serve you well when you are ready to step on stage. You'll get there!

lol maybe your right...
but i know a lot of girls that look good at the w8

but who knows.

They look good at that height and weight as model's on a runway, not in a figure/fitness comp.

My bed doesn´t have the rules of a figure/fitness comp.

I totally agree. Jaim you should be more concerned with eating healthy balanaced diet and letting your body grow now without making complications that could arise later in life. you have sooo much time! take advantage of the oppurtunity of adding muscle mass now in your teens while you are still growing.

just losing BF is not all it takes to compete...you lose the fat to show the muscle underneath...it doesnt matter if you get to 6% if you have nothing to show when you get there (hope that didnt sound harsh)

i think you should pack on some muscle...at least for a year....lift heavy and eat alot of CLEAN calories....then diet down. NPC is tough...most of the girls are on stuff and the ones who arent have been at it for years to get where they are.....you are on the right track and I dont want to discourage you at all...at your age, starting so young you will be great just put in the work now...and show it off later.

Keep your BF high enough to keep a normal mestrual cycle...that is different for everyone...usually it is at least 10%, for most it is around 14%

Originally posted by DrChiro
NPC is tough...most of the girls are on stuff and the ones who arent have been at it for years to get where they are.....you are on the right track and I dont want to discourage you at all...at your age, starting so young you will be great just put in the work now...and show it off later.

Keep your BF high enough to keep a normal mestrual cycle...that is different for everyone...usually it is at least 10%, for most it is around 14%

Exactly!!

Wow....if I had two words to describe this, it would be "reality check": "Do you have a PT? How are you hitting the weights? Whats your max weight? How does your diet look? How do you "know" you're ready to compete in April? Do you have your suit made yet? Do you have your tanning stuff, suit glue, shoes, etcc???? Most importantly, do you know how to pose?"

Holy %*&%....wow...uh...no....to almost all of the above.

I wouldn't compete with other woman as I am only 16, so I wouldn't be in the same class with them anyway. I would have to do a teen figure show, as I stated before, I can't dance and therefore fitness it out of the question. I don't remember what it's called, I know there's a medical term for it, but I remember reading in a Musclemag article that there are people who see themselves as more muscular than they actually are. I think I fit that category. If you want a one day sample of my diet/ training, I would be happy to post it/ send it.

I have to thank all of you for being real with me and saving me from total and utter embarrassment, I didn't realize what I would be going up against....