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Author Topic: Women's bodyfat comparative to men?  (Read 2357 times)
jakkrabbit
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« on: December 18, 2009, 09:36:56 AM »

I was looking at a site http://www.podarco.com/fitness/content/view/65/96/
which shows male bodybuilders how to visually assess their approximate bodyfat level. It was broken down into seven categories, Full House, Hard, Cut, Defined, Ripped, Shredded, and Sliced. Based on the descriptions and pictures provided, I currently fall somewhere between Cut and Hard. I'd like to know what bodyfat level this translates into for a woman, if at this stage a male's bf would be around 13.5 %.
Here's the levels with their descriptions:

Full House

No visible muscle definition and only a hint of separation between major muscle groups if those groups are very large.  Approximate body fat level = Over or near 20% bodyfat

Hard

Some muscle separation appears between delts and upper arm. Abs are still not visible (or at least very difficult to see). Approximate body fat level = 15%

Cut

More muscle separation appears particularly in the chest and back, outline of the abs begins to appear slightly. Approximate bodyfat level = 12%

Defined

Muscle separations get deeper in the arms, chest, legs and back, and abs appear when flexed. Approx. bodyfat level = 10%

Ripped

Abs are clearly visible all the time, vascularity in the arms is prominent, chest and back separation is obvious, and face is starting to appear more angular. This condition can be held indefinitely with the proper nutrition and consistent aerobic activity. Approximate bodyfat level = 7-9%

Shredded

Striations appear in large muscle groups when they are flexed. You may look small in clothes (depending on your overall height & weight), but look amazing when you're shirtless. Vascularity appears in lower abdomen and in the legs. This condition can be held for several days with careful dieting and appropriat nutrition. Competitive bodybuilders often aim for this state for competition day. Approximate bodyfat level = 5-7%

Sliced

Muscles and tendons begin to appear in the face when chewing, striations appear everywhere and vascularity appears everywhere. Bodyfat levels are close to 3% and subcutaneous water levels are near 0. This condition can only be held for a few hours at a time. It's not a healthy condition to stay in due to lower water levels.
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    « Reply #1 on: December 20, 2009, 08:06:27 AM »

    While I like the visual aid that gives people something to compare pictures to body fat percentage, there's something about the general article that I don't quite like. I think it's mostly all the ridiculous knife related terms.  Cheesy Cheesy Cheesy

    But all that aside what I find to be most beneficial is two simple tools. Your eyes and your mirror! I wouldn't concern myself with terms like "sliced up" or "totally pureed" or "razor burned" or even the numbers on the scale. All I personally concern myself is visuals. How do I feel when I look in a mirror? Do I need to cut some more calories and up the cardio? What muscles should I put more focus into?

    By cutting out an obsession with numbers, you really take a lot of stress out of stepping on a scale and being down on yourself when you see that the number went up a couple pounds over the week.

    Remember, results are on your body, not on the scale! Smiley
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    « Reply #2 on: December 20, 2009, 10:12:29 AM »

    i go for Hard + Cut... or all out Hard!  Grin
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    « Reply #3 on: December 22, 2009, 06:29:34 AM »

    Check out this post by Goldie, I don't think it completely answers your question, but maybe it will help:

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/simplemachinesforum/womens-fitness/women%27s-body-fat-percentage-ranges/msg20897/#msg20897
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    « Reply #4 on: December 22, 2009, 11:47:10 PM »

    essential Bf for men is 5% and for women it is 12% so you come in shredded stage. LOL. GREAT.
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    « Reply #5 on: December 23, 2009, 04:42:23 AM »

    Description            Women    Men
    Essential fat    10–12%    2-4%
    Athletes            14–20%    6–13%
    Fitness            21–24%    14–17%
    Acceptable    25–31%    18–26%
    Overweight    32-41%    27-37%
    Obese            42%+    38%+

    While to me 26% body fat (or 31% for a woman) would not be considered "acceptable," it's definitely a normal range in modern western society.
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    « Reply #6 on: December 26, 2009, 12:12:49 PM »

    hmm, i can't decide whether i'm defined, ripped or shredded.  Cheesy

    okay, i don't think i'm shredded, since my lower abs aren't visible, for full 8 pack.  however, sometimes i see vascularity in my lower abdomen, a characteristic of being "shredded."  i'm a little less than defined, but a bit more than ripped.  so i guess i'm somewhere between 8-9%, but it's hard to tell.  when pinched, there is a noticeable layer of fat on glutes and lower abdomen, but i have no fat whatsoever on upper abs, let alone the rest of my body. 
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    « Reply #7 on: February 14, 2010, 03:32:42 AM »

    why is the essential fat in women more than men? :O
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    « Reply #8 on: February 14, 2010, 04:03:28 AM »

    why is the essential fat in women more than men? :O

    Boobs.
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    « Reply #9 on: February 14, 2010, 05:06:41 AM »

    why is the essential fat in women more than men? :O

    Boobs.

    good bye!  Roll Eyes
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    « Reply #10 on: February 14, 2010, 06:36:44 AM »

    Actually, there is very little essential fat in women's breasts.

    Women have a higher percentage of essential body fat in order to get pregnant and have babies. That body fat is necessary to regulate hormones so the woman can get pregnant, maintain the pregnancy, and to produce milk for the infant after it's born.
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    « Reply #11 on: February 15, 2010, 03:51:26 AM »

    but women get pregnant like once or twice in their lifes, they dont really need it do they?
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    « Reply #12 on: February 15, 2010, 08:05:01 AM »

    I know families that have 12 kids...

    However, it's not how often the woman actually becomes pregnant. It's a matter of procreation--continuing the species. Women can become pregnant every month (hence the monthly cycle). So if a woman isn't already pregnant, her body is prepared, each and every month. It's a constant, regular hormonal cycle, and not really a matter of "choice". (As an aside, the way birth control pills work is by tricking a woman's body into believing she is already pregnant!)

    The monthly cycle can be a matter of "choice" if a woman decides to reduce her body fat percentage below about 10%. Then she stops having her monthly cycle, so she can't get pregnant. Reducing her body fat percentage that much stops the hormones that are necessary for ALL aspects of health, not just for becoming pregnant. A proportion of body fat is in the organs (heart, lungs, liver, etc.), bone marrow, and nervous system, so if the body fat percentage is too low, the consequences are death--for men as well as women, but for men it's a much lower percent.

    "...essential fat requirements are < 5% for men and < 8% for women. Normal body functions may be disrupted if body fat falls below the minimum level recommended for men (5%) and women (15%)." Understanding Body Composition

    Also, back before supermarkets, baby formula, and easy access to food, a woman would often breast feed her child for 2-3 years, to ensure the child's nutrition. Having adequate body fat percentage is necessary for a woman's body to make milk. Women's higher body fat percentage enabled them to continue to produce milk for their babies even in times of famine.

    And just FYI, female fitness models (like you see in "Shape" magazine) are generally around 15% body fat. Female bodybuilders are at 8-10% ON COMPETITION DAY, but around 12% is generally considered the lowest for a woman to be healthy.
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    « Reply #13 on: February 15, 2010, 10:28:07 AM »

    Would a woman's body fat % have any effect on the milk produced when breastfeeding?
    Would a female bodybuilder produce low fat milk?
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    « Reply #14 on: February 15, 2010, 11:04:20 AM »

    The mother's body fat % has no effect on the composition of the breast milk. If the mother's body fat % was too low, she'd just not be able to produce enough breast milk for her baby. HOWEVER, her NUTRITION plays an important role in the formation of breast milk. If the mother has inadequate nutrition, then her body will take what it needs from her body to ensure that the milk is nutritious for the baby. So, for instance, if the mother is not getting enough calcium, her body will take calcium from her bones to make sure the baby gets enough in the breast milk. If the mother's malnutrition is long-term (during pregnancy and afterward), then she won't have enough of the essential vitamins in her milk that a baby needs. Breastfeeding: Lifestyle and Mother's Food

    Many things a mother eats and is exposed to will be passed on to the baby in her breast milk. If she's drunk, guess what? Alcohol is passed on through breast milk. So are many medications, chemicals (such as insecticides and fertilizers), caffeine in drinks, and illegal drugs. Nutrition for the Nursing Mother

    "...If human breast milk came stamped with an ingredients label, it might read something like this: 4 percent fat, vitamins A, C, E and K, lactose, essential minerals, growth hormones, proteins, enzymes and antibodies. ...it contains 100 percent of virtually everything a baby needs to survive, plus a solid hedge of extras to help ward off a lifetime of diseases like diabetes and cancer. Breast milk helps disarm salmonella and E. coli. ...Nursing babies suffer from fewer infections, hospitalizations and cases of sudden infant death syndrome." Toxic Breast Milk?

    I doubt a female bodybuilder who is actively in training would be able to get pregnant, unless her body fat % is around at least 12%.
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