A question about body fat percentage

[HarryP]

Hi guys

It's that time of year again, so I'm planning my New Year's Resolutions! One of my goals is to lose some body fat, so I was wondering whether anyone knows what would be a realistic percentage drop by, say, July? I am pre-T but I may have either just started T by then, or have been on it for a couple of months depending what Charing X say in January!

Cheers, Harry 

[Nygeel]

That all depends on your current body fat percentage.

[HarryP]

Ok, last time I checked body fat was 19.2% - so following Christmas, it's probably around 20% by now!

[Nygeel]

Ok, last time I checked body fat was 19.2% - so following Christmas, it's probably around 20% by now!

What percentage do you plan on going down to? Right now, you're at an okay percentage. I guess maybe 1-2% would be semi realistic...depending on how much time you have to devote to that.

[HarryP]

Well, my ultimate goal is to get below 10%, but I know that is a long-term goal which I will need T and gym membership to achieve. I think I could get down to 15% this year though, if I watch my diet, work out 3 times a week and get on T by the summer. I reckon I could get down to 17-18% by the summer, by which time T should be just around the corner and can help me drop the final 2% by next Christmas. Realistic?

[Nygeel]

Well, my ultimate goal is to get below 10%, but I know that is a long-term goal which I will need T and gym membership to achieve. I think I could get down to 15% this year though, if I watch my diet, work out 3 times a week and get on T by the summer. I reckon I could get down to 17-18% by the summer, by which time T should be just around the corner and can help me drop the final 2% by next Christmas. Realistic?

In people who have mostly female hormones, the percentage of essential fat is between 10%-13%. In somebody with mostly male hormones it's 2%-5%. The leanest  male athletes are between 6%-13%. I don't feel as if your goals are realistic unless you 1. know what you're doing. 2. have a whole lot of time to do it and 3. are willing to eat a certain way.

[supremecatoverlord]

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/library/blbodyfatcharts.htm
According to this chart, 18% would still be pretty high for a male body fat percentage, but as long as you're Pre-T, I don't think any of us can rightfully expect you to magically distribute your body fat in a way that suits male levels. Females are prone to having more body fat than men are, so if you start T and you hit the gym, then I'd say your current goal of 15% is more than achievable. My body fat has gone down significantly since I started T because I live a healthy and athletic lifestyle. However, I've heard stories of guys who don't and most of them have put some lovely chub on their abdominal area.
Assuming you have normal female distribution (thighs, hips, butt, and breasts) I'm going to guess that most of your fat is not on your stomach area, but if you don't lose any weight and are already have "a little extra" (and I'm assuming you don't because this chart puts you below the average female range), then T will certainly make that more obvious by moving most that fat to a more centralized area.

I'm currently around 10% body fat though...well, according to my body fat caliper anyway. I don't really know what it was Pre-T, but my body mass was also about 20 pounds less than it is now.

[HarryP]

Cheers Jason, that's helpful  I am indeed pre-T with the fat in all the girly places, but I intend to clean up my diet (it's not bad, just lapsed over the festive season!) and do intense cardio at least twice a week, and weights at least once. I'd like to do more, but I'm getting over RSI so I have to be careful until my muscles get used to it.

[jsorter]

When I was in wrestling in high school/ college, we couldn't go below 8 percent. Otherwise we were considered unhealthy. If I was you I would aim for 10-12 percent.   

[anibioman]

10% is the absolute lowest you can get to.

[dejan160]

Have you tried lipodissolve? I kind of like eating and I get lipodissolve every now and then. I am always in a perfect shape It makes miracles for me.

[HarryP]

No, haven't heard of that, but I take chromium and green tea supps every day and add lots of chilli, cayenne pepper or cinnamon to my food to boost the fat burning. My big weakness is eating too many carbs and not enough protein, so I'm going to try to drink protein shakes as one of my snacks at work instead of eating sandwiches!