How low of bf is to low

karenvictoria

karenvictoria

Cathlete
I have heard mixed messages about what is a healty amount of bf for a women. My bf is 14.3% and I am trying to get it about 13-14%. I feel it shows off my definition more. However I have also heard that women should not let there bf go below 15% for health reasons. My problem lies in this months Oxygen page 67. Monica Brant maintains a bf of 11% off season for the same reason as me( to show muscle definition). Why is it ok for her to keep hers that low but not for an ordinary person like me. I do not want to do anything to jeapordize my health by maintaining a low bf, but I feel I look my best when it is this low. Any opinions on this or any reason to allow my bf to go back up. She says she eats healty fats, lean proteins and all the same things as do I. I just want to know is there a health risk. My friends and I were discussing this and wanted some other opinions or factual info on this. Karen

www.picturetrail.com/karenvictoria
 
A BF% of 6% is required for healthy internal organs. When women allow their bodyfat percentage to drop below 12% (I believe is the number) you can experience amenorrhea (lack of menses), which isnt good. Whether Monica Brant has amenorrhea or not I dont know, but she might. She may also take steroids, which would definitely effect how low her BF% can go. ALso, not without side effects. DO what feels good for you.
 
Man oh man...I have been meaning to tell you how awesome you look! You should be so proud of what you have achieved! You look excellent!

I've stated the facts...now for my opinion...I think your goal is fine! I don't think it is too low. As long as you are eating right and active, don't feel crappy in any way and not doing anything extreme, I say go for it! I know your not, I know you are taking good care of yourself so go for it! I know my definition shows better when I carry a lower bf%. 13-14% is low compared to the average woman but they are munching while you are lifting.

Again, as long as your being healthy about it...why not?! Keep me posted on your progress! I, too, am trying to achieve "off season" bf%'s!;-) }(
 
Oh, I just want my new accu measure to get here soon so I know exactly what mine is. I am not sure if Omron body fat anaylzer is 100% accurate. So in the meantime, I am pinching myself here and there and just trying to guess. LOL

Charlotte~~
 
My bodyfat is very low...I am around 12%, but I've been much lower (when I used to compete). I like being in that range because I feel I look better there. Trust me I can eat and I do eat...I eat a lot more carbs than most, but I think that I'm just fortunate in that regard. I've never had a problem with my menstrual cycle as a result of my low bodyfat.

Another thing is that I am 40 years old and I am not having any more children. I think that if you are younger and are going to have children, you may not want to have your bodyfat that low.

As long as you are eating appropriately and you are healthly you can keep your bodyfat pretty low.

Everyone is different...12% for me looks okay, but someone else could look mal-nourished. You just need to listen to your body and respond accordingly.
 
Thanks for the encouragement ladies. And thanks Sarah for the compliments. I defiently feel great and by having the low bf and seeing the results I feel extremely motivated to get it at 13 to 14. I just didn't want to harm myself in anyway. I actually eat more healthy and more food then ever. I don't feel sluggish and still look forward to all my workouts and pushing them to the max. I don't know if I can achieve 13% but man I find it fun trying. I have so noticed my abs come into view finally and that makes me feel awesome. Karen
 
Thanks that helps me out to. I am not haveing anymore children and I still have my menstral cycle to the day . My doctor did ask me that. So I am glad to have some reassuring replies that I am not hurting anything. Thank you very very much. Karen

ww.picturetrail.com/karenvictoria
 
This brings up an interesting subject for me. I have not had a period in 6 months! I don't think it is because my body fat is too low. Though I have no clue what it is but my guess is (trust me) Not near too low. I figured it was because of the amount I workout. 2-3 hours depending on the day. I also thought maybe perimenopause as I am going to be 46. I just made an appointment with my doctor about this. Does anyone else out there not have any periods anymore?

Terri
 
Just my two cents worth:

In 1998, I was 133 pounds and 5'2" tall, I thought joing WW and following points would help me slim down. I was working out 5-6 days per week some with Cathe, some walking and some biking. I met my goal weight of 121 and maintained at 117-123. I stopped menstruating and had to go to my GYN for hormone therapy to re-start ovulationg. All the while I was eating plenty of healthy food. I was quite skinny IMHO. I felt better gainig some weight back and upping the intensity of my training ( more weights, endurance and strength orientated) My GYN said I didn't have enough body fat to store enough estrogen to ovulate. It was explained to me, that enough body fat is needed to maintain a safe level of estrogen in premenopausal women to insure proper body function, and adequate bone density.

I do not know what that percent body fat number is. I will tell you that the WW leaders I dealt with did not understand why I NEEDED to increase my goal weight and were not good support people.

Currently, I do not weigh myself or measure my body fat percentage. I have measured it a couple of different ways in the past several years. I just go by the fit of my clothes and wheather or not I feel comfortable in a bikini. I am 44 and hope to wear bikinis a very long time. Also, My goals are different now. Yes I want to look great, but I want to live a long time with the same knees and have strong bones, be more flexable and not be so strict that I am miserable. And I plan on doing IMAX workouts for a very long time!

Judy
AKA "Likes2bfit"
sport-smiley-009.gif
http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif
 
Judy,

I'm glad you brought this up because I didn't want to be the first one to mention health issues }(. Women in their 40's need to be very careful of being too lean due to osteoporosis issues :).
 
Judy thank you for the input. I wanted to know what the issuse are concerning low bf and the side effects. Thanks for letting me know some of the side effects you have experienced. I am currently 32 and still menstrate so that is not the issue for me. Although like I said my gyno did question me on that. I have heard many thing about keeping your bf at 15% but were not sure of the reasons for stating that. Thank you for your opinions and about the things you have experienced. Karen
 
Please don't forget...everyone is different. Some people can handle a low bodyfat without issue and others can't. That's just the way it is.

If you have signs of osteoporosis or any other health issue that comes as a result of low bodyfat...then you need to re-consider.

In any situation, you have to see how your body reacts and then respond accordingly.


FITXME
 
FIXME
Good point. The most important issues to pay attention to are the signs and symptoms our bodies give us. They tell us what is going on in subtle ways.
Judy
AKA "Likes2bfit"
sport-smiley-009.gif
http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif
 
This post really scared me...

Gosh osteoporousis is a HUGE threat.. for those of us in our 40s - perhaps I read this wrong but since folks are no longer going to have children - going as low as possible body fat seemed like the goal. Hopefully I read this wrong.
I guess my values are different where my fat% just isn't a priority HEALTH is. Perhaps because a dear friend died of cancer and had some very CLOSE life threatening health issue. Being Healthy is my goal.
 
>Currently, I do not weigh myself or measure my body fat
>percentage. I have measured it a couple of different ways in
>the past several years. I just go by the fit of my clothes
>and wheather or not I feel comfortable in a bikini. I am 44
>and hope to wear bikinis a very long time. Also, My goals are
>different now. Yes I want to look great, but I want to live a
>long time with the same knees and have strong bones, be more
>flexable and not be so strict that I am miserable. And I plan
>on doing IMAX workouts for a very long time!

Judy, you took the words right out of my mouth. I can see some of the muscles in my tummy, and under the right lighting, I can see my quads and hamstrings, things I never saw before when I was only 96 lbs. And that's enough for me. More than anything, I want to be stronger, more flexible (and not just physically:) ), less prone to injury, and happy in my own skin -- scars, cellulite and stretch marks included.:)

Pinky
 
Great reply Pinky. It's so great to see women who are NOT totally obsessing over how we look.

Agree with those of you who say - it's about health, strength, flexibility, less injuries and HAPPY and ACCEPTING of ourselves.

Some great posts admist some VERY SCARY posts :)
 
Great post, Judy. I am starting to appreciate more and more how little weight really means. I was 5'3" and 115 lbs. for a long time, and thought I was just fine until I had my body fat measured and I was told that it was about 28%. If I worked out a lot and had more muscle, my weight would have been low, but I didn't have much muscle and I was actually carrying around too much fat! It seems that body composition is much more important than weight. Now I fight for every ounce of muscle I can get.
 
What is so darn scary about wanting to lower your body fat?! I don't see anything scary in this thread at all! She isn't asking how to starve herself down to a desireable body fat%...all she is doing is making sure her goal is safe and therefore attainable!

Just because there are woman here who do not judge their progress by "how their clothes fit" and "how they feel" does not mean they are obsessing or doing something that is not safe! There has been tons of talk lately about body fat, body fat scales and monitors, calipers and scales. Within ever single one of those posts, some one chimes in with "go by how you feel...judge by how your clothes fit..." I have some startling news for some of you...some of us have much higher goals than fitting into our skinny jeans!

For example...there are tons of us here who want to work out on a regular basis and make sure we are not burning off our own muscle. How can we be sure we are not without a scale and some type of bf% measuring device? Huh? Anyone? There are tons of us who want to make sure we are building muscle on a continuing basis. Again, I ask you how to make sure without the proper tools?

Just because there are women here who haven't different goals and different expectations of themselves doesn't mean it's wrong or scary or unhealthy! She is shooting for a bf% that I have had for years...actually, it is the highest it has been in years for me and I am healthy...actually, I have had 1 cold in about 5 years.

Some one please tell me why these posts are so scary because I am lost.
 
Hey Terri!

Yep...I'm in the same boat. No real period for at least a year. I don't think it is because my BF is too low either. My OBGYN doesn't seem concerned even though I was ALWAYS regular before. She told me it was because I have been on BC pills for so long (and low estrogen at that). But that still seems a little fishy to me (why all of a sudden). I figured it was because of my workout schedule too (2-4 hours per day depending on the day) -- but I worked out like that before and still had a period.

I'm going to a new doctor on Tuesday for some lab work. She wants to rule out early menopause (I'm 33). But I have also experienced huge mood swings, depression, irritability, and hot flashes (basically I can be a crazy bitch sometimes for no apparent reason)...so all of it combined seems to point to something going on with me.

Good luck to you Terri! Let me know what you find out. I'll keep you posted on what my new doc has to say.

Shonie
 
I'm with you Sarah...I think people are reading way too much into this!!!

Bottom line...if you want low bodyfat go for it...if you don't then don't worry about it!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top