What is the average recreational bodybuilder's fat%?

AKIRA · 06-26-2006, 03:43 PM

Recreational meaning a man who works out 3-5 days a week for, Id say, 3+ years now, with no cardio. Lets also say he watches somewhat of he eats. For instance, he wont eat grissle off a steak and cut off fatty tissue of a frozen chicken breast, but he wont be counting calories.

Id say this is a typical guy who works out, no? A person who is more than averagely active, but isnt gung-ho on diet.

This is how I was when I first took my Fat %. I am 26 yrs old, 6' and weighed 221lbs. I got a 20%. I found it hard to believe that 1/5th of me was FAT. Its down now, but I never asked, is 20% average?

largepkg · 06-26-2006, 03:50 PM

This is all conjecture obviously but 20% would seem very high to me. The male you're describing is doing more than the average male would IMO. That being the case I would tend to think his BF% would reflect this.

Being the average male BF% is some where around 18-20% I would think this gentleman's % would be around 15%.

**Gazhole** · 06-26-2006, 05:29 PM

Hasnt it gotta be around 10/12% for you abs to be at all visible?

LexusGS · 06-26-2006, 06:34 PM

mine was 8% last time i checked at 178lbs

lnvanry · 06-26-2006, 06:50 PM

I'm 7%-12% year round

**CowPimp** · 06-26-2006, 09:20 PM

Depends on their age. Also depends on how serious they are about getting big. I think like 15-18% is more like it, with 18 really pushing it.

Ironhorse · 06-26-2006, 09:49 PM

I've been lifting for over 25yrs. BF was a big topic years ago when we thought we had to put 30 pounds on in the off season. Mind you, the magazines (hate them) had the bodybuilers on the "split routine" which in english means you train the same body part in the morning for an hour and them two hours after work, then the other half of your body the very next day. No time off except for Sunday. I remember days I couldn't bring my hands up high enough to wash my hair because I was shaking so much. Sometimes I couldn't manage a flight of stairs after a workout on leg day. Mind you, just a half hour ago I was squating 400+. You talk about serious overtraining! Well, after many years even a blind squirel will find a nut and so was my case and point. I keep my body fat at 10 percent, NO higher, and around 3 percent contest time. It really is a lot softer on your organs, fast, and pleasing to the mirror when you can see diet / cadio results in a matter of two weeks instead of two months. We used to take three months to shed the fat, and even then, if you were off by just a little bit it looked like you had a beer gut, vascular or not. I like a very healthy diet, constant blood work, getting laid, oops, and staying within 6-7 percent of contest weight. Another benefit is you can see where you need work. If you x-mas trees in your lower back aren't showing you can work those. If you have 15-18 percent bf there would be no way of knowing which body part was lacking. It's all an illusion. Unless I stand right next to a guy that weighs 50 pounds more than me I acually look bigger. I say stay lean.

AKIRA · 06-27-2006, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by largepkg

This is all conjecture obviously but 20% would seem very high to me. The male you're describing is doing more than the average male would IMO. That being the case I would tend to think his BF% would reflect this.

Being the average male BF% is some where around 18-20% I would think this gentleman's % would be around 15%.

Holy shit, then I guess I am in trouble.

The % I take on myself is done with a skin caliper in all 4 places. If I recall correctly, my subscapular was the highest number, leaving my Iliac crest in 2nd. In any case, when I flex my stomach you can see abs, but not when I am relaxed.

Still though, I cant see myself being 20% fat. Even 18%.

AKIRA · 03-26-2007, 04:10 PM

I still cant believe it.

ReproMan · 03-26-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKIRA

I still cant believe it.

Dude, I'm 18% fat, there's no way you are.

AKIRA · 03-26-2007, 04:18 PM

No, not now, but in that bulk pic I have on Myspace I supposedly was. The test mustve been wrong.

In any case, I was looking at my old posts hoping to find one from 2005, but it only went up to 06-06.

When I found this thread, I noticed not too many people commented. Now, specifically, I want to know what the average bulker's BF % is.

Ive been feeling fat lately.

vortrit · 03-27-2007, 02:42 AM

Mine is usually anywhere from 8 - 11% @188 lbs.

Uthinkso · 03-27-2007, 02:55 AM

Well I'm at 25% last I checked and certainly don't represent average fitness guy that has worked out for three years. I'd say I represent average fitness guy that worked out for a few years then took lay off at Anheiser Busch

(hey if you can't laugh at yourself who can)

Raz · 03-27-2007, 05:40 AM

Chill, Chill, Chilllllll....

I mean your around 221lbs. That's big. Believe me there's a HUGE difference between being 20% bf at 200+lbs than -170lbs.

Mine is now estimated at 19%. But I am 202lbs now, that's roughly 15stone. I want to get upto 16stone before I cut.

I do hate my bf being so darn high but in over a year I added over 4stones to the scales. If I wasn't this fat, I wouldn't be this Big. Simple as.

We have them tested at my college. There was one kid, my age. He was 20% bf so let's say the same as me, DIFFERENCE was he weighed 11 and half stone. That's nearly 3stone less than me. And I looked at the kid and thought come on he doesn't look that bad. If I was him I would want to put on some size, so I thought it aint that bad after all.

06-26-2006, 03:43 PM	#1
AKIRA I am Rollo Tomassee.. Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Outside the box Posts: 8,787 Photos: 3	What is the average recreational bodybuilder's fat%? Recreational meaning a man who works out 3-5 days a week for, Id say, 3+ years now, with no cardio. Lets also say he watches somewhat of he eats. For instance, he wont eat grissle off a steak and cut off fatty tissue of a frozen chicken breast, but he wont be counting calories. Id say this is a typical guy who works out, no? A person who is more than averagely active, but isnt gung-ho on diet. This is how I was when I first took my Fat %. I am 26 yrs old, 6' and weighed 221lbs. I got a 20%. I found it hard to believe that 1/5th of me was FAT. Its down now, but I never asked, is 20% average? 6' 209lbs (8/16) Bench 365 (12/3) Weighted Pullups 80lbs 3x3 (3/19) Squat 370 Deadlift after herniation 385lbs 3x3 (3/17) NASM certified 2/06 Journal

06-26-2006, 05:29 PM	#3
Gazhole iwillmakeyousmelltheglove Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 7,999 Photos: 19	Hasnt it gotta be around 10/12% for you abs to be at all visible? http://sdatrainingprograms.blogspot.com - Updated 13/11/09 ***READ THIS FOR TRAINING INFO:*** http://www.ironmagazineforums.com/training/99879-articles-ironmagazineforums-members.html If you want to win the fight, say "I BELIEVE".

06-26-2006, 09:20 PM	#6
CowPimp Fueled by Testosterone Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 15,615	Depends on their age. Also depends on how serious they are about getting big. I think like 15-18% is more like it, with 18 really pushing it. The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing... Belligerent Bovine badass YouTube Videos

06-26-2006, 09:49 PM	#7
Ironhorse Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 33	Good luck in the long run I've been lifting for over 25yrs. BF was a big topic years ago when we thought we had to put 30 pounds on in the off season. Mind you, the magazines (hate them) had the bodybuilers on the "split routine" which in english means you train the same body part in the morning for an hour and them two hours after work, then the other half of your body the very next day. No time off except for Sunday. I remember days I couldn't bring my hands up high enough to wash my hair because I was shaking so much. Sometimes I couldn't manage a flight of stairs after a workout on leg day. Mind you, just a half hour ago I was squating 400+. You talk about serious overtraining! Well, after many years even a blind squirel will find a nut and so was my case and point. I keep my body fat at 10 percent, NO higher, and around 3 percent contest time. It really is a lot softer on your organs, fast, and pleasing to the mirror when you can see diet / cadio results in a matter of two weeks instead of two months. We used to take three months to shed the fat, and even then, if you were off by just a little bit it looked like you had a beer gut, vascular or not. I like a very healthy diet, constant blood work, getting laid, oops, and staying within 6-7 percent of contest weight. Another benefit is you can see where you need work. If you x-mas trees in your lower back aren't showing you can work those. If you have 15-18 percent bf there would be no way of knowing which body part was lacking. It's all an illusion. Unless I stand right next to a guy that weighs 50 pounds more than me I acually look bigger. I say stay lean. http://www.ironmagazine.com/images/b...usa_banner.jpg

03-26-2007, 04:10 PM	#9
AKIRA I am Rollo Tomassee.. Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Outside the box Posts: 8,787 Photos: 3	I still cant believe it. 6' 209lbs (8/16) Bench 365 (12/3) Weighted Pullups 80lbs 3x3 (3/19) Squat 370 Deadlift after herniation 385lbs 3x3 (3/17) NASM certified 2/06 Journal

06-26-2006, 03:50 PM	#2
largepkg FAT JESUS Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: S FLA Posts: 3,690 Photos: 2	This is all conjecture obviously but 20% would seem very high to me. The male you're describing is doing more than the average male would IMO. That being the case I would tend to think his BF% would reflect this. Being the average male BF% is some where around 18-20% I would think this gentleman's % would be around 15%.

06-26-2006, 06:34 PM	#4
LexusGS 3UZFE Join Date: May 2005 Location: United States Posts: 2,636	mine was 8% last time i checked at 178lbs

06-26-2006, 06:50 PM	#5
lnvanry primeau Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tucson Posts: 3,437 Photos: 16	I'm 7%-12% year round

03-26-2007, 04:18 PM	#11
AKIRA I am Rollo Tomassee.. Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Outside the box Posts: 8,787 Photos: 3	No, not now, but in that bulk pic I have on Myspace I supposedly was. The test mustve been wrong. In any case, I was looking at my old posts hoping to find one from 2005, but it only went up to 06-06. When I found this thread, I noticed not too many people commented. Now, specifically, I want to know what the average bulker's BF % is. Ive been feeling fat lately. 6' 209lbs (8/16) Bench 365 (12/3) Weighted Pullups 80lbs 3x3 (3/19) Squat 370 Deadlift after herniation 385lbs 3x3 (3/17) NASM certified 2/06 Journal

03-27-2007, 02:42 AM	#12
vortrit Bulk. Cut. Repeat. Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 2,647 Photos: 5	Mine is usually anywhere from 8 - 11% @188 lbs. My Journal!

03-27-2007, 02:55 AM	#13
Uthinkso Go on....DO IT!!! Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 1,304 Photos: 3	Well I'm at 25% last I checked and certainly don't represent average fitness guy that has worked out for three years. I'd say I represent average fitness guy that worked out for a few years then took lay off at Anheiser Busch (hey if you can't laugh at yourself who can) I do my best to focus on the task at hand, and give 100% in what I'm doing at the time. Nothing else matters except the task at hand.

03-27-2007, 05:40 AM	#14
Raz Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 515	Chill, Chill, Chilllllll.... I mean your around 221lbs. That's big. Believe me there's a HUGE difference between being 20% bf at 200+lbs than -170lbs. Mine is now estimated at 19%. But I am 202lbs now, that's roughly 15stone. I want to get upto 16stone before I cut. I do hate my bf being so darn high but in over a year I added over 4stones to the scales. If I wasn't this fat, I wouldn't be this Big. Simple as. We have them tested at my college. There was one kid, my age. He was 20% bf so let's say the same as me, DIFFERENCE was he weighed 11 and half stone. That's nearly 3stone less than me. And I looked at the kid and thought come on he doesn't look that bad. If I was him I would want to put on some size, so I thought it aint that bad after all. Cow Pimp - If you don't train your legs you're a dumbfuck. I'm not going to elaborate on why. If it isn't obvious to you, then you deserve the marginal results that you get and hideously unbalanced/injury prone physique that you will build.

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