XChosen Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 On june 28th I started a new way of life. Not a diet as I don't really believe in half stepping anything. Since I started my new routine I've lost 17lbs. (5ft 7in 180, 34 yrs old) now I'm 163. The weight is coming off easily now and just keeps going down. I am trying to determine what weight will be right in the end. How low can a person safely go with there body fat. I don't much care for what the experts say. Experts are generally full of crap and want everyone to fit in the same class or mold which is just plain ignorant. I have alot of muscle from years of weight training so I don't have to worry about looking scrawny. I think ps. I started TaeKwondo a few weeks ago with my wife and 6 year old son.
SevenStar Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 you'll be fine between 7 and 10%. trying to maintain anything lower than 7 would be murder anyway.
Shorin Ryuu Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 (edited) 3% is the commonly accepted value (for males) as the minimum body fat level that is necessary in order to stay healthy. Few people get to this level, although wrestlers, boxers (I used to be one) and the like often pass this. It is not healthy to do so, as it is necessary to have the fat to pad internal organs (including the brain) and serves other functions to ensure proper workings of the body. You say that experts are generally full of crap on this subject...In that case you have to separate "experts" from experts. It is accepted in medical circles that 3% is the minimum healthy level (as somewhat of a health junkie, a former boxer, and former roommate of a biology major, I've done quite a lot of research on this topic). Now experts on dieting...a lot of them are kind of suspect, if that is what you are referring to... I am naturally around the 4 1/2% body fat level (I was born three months premature), although this dips a little lower from time to time. Part of the reason for this is also because I place a great deal of emphasis on the health content of my food (I don't eat any processed sweets at all or junk food in general). So much of your health has been proven to be weighted more towards diet and lifestyle as opposed to genetics (even though this plays a part as well, it is not anywhere near as important). Your body can tell you if it is too much or not. When I was a boxer, I was around 2% and was miserable. One of the reasons I stopped (plus long term health concerns which make me wish that boxing wasn't a sport for anyone, period) was because of this unhealthy emphasis on cutting weight, although to be honest, there were quite a few of us who decided that they would fight in their own natural weight class. But I digress... Bottom line, don't think about going past the 3% mark. As everyone's body is different, you might want to avoid going past the 5% mark, just to be sure. Either way, don't overdo it. Edited August 16, 2004 by Shorin Ryuu Martial Arts Blog:http://bujutsublogger.blogspot.com/
Vito Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 you can go as low as 4 and be okay, but its damn difficult. 6-10 and youre good to go. "If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared." -Machiavelli
XChosen Posted August 16, 2004 Author Posted August 16, 2004 Shorin Ryuu - Thanks alot for the response. That was basically what I was looking for. 7-10 should be just fine for me. When I reference the shortcomings of the "experts" I refer to those that believe we should all fit into groups and molds and eat a 2000 calorie diet of this or that. I have studied alot on nutrition in planning out how I intend to eat. It's exactly what your doing from what I sounds like. I don't ever intend to go back the way I was eating before. In just this short amount of time I feel much better and I eat far less then what I used to. On a side note my son was born 4 months premature and weight 1lb 1 oz. He is very small and skiny but is in perfect health. The "experts" want to put him on growth hormones because he is below the 5% range for his age. That type of mentality sickens me. Again thanks for the info.
Shorin Ryuu Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 No problem. I'm glad I could help. In terms of pure nutrition information and concerns about healthy living (and aging...I'm far to young to be reading books about aging it seems, but I figure I should start because I'm young, not in spite of it), I'd recommend the Okinawa Program. I don't follow the structured program they have in their book, and some of it seems to be a stretch. However, they have very sound nutrition advice and knowledge in there. Even if you don't follow the program, it has a lot of "good to know" information, in my opinion. Some of it you might know already, but it also goes into the aging process, which you may or may not have studied. Lastly, best of luck to you in your training and your nutritional pursuits (geez, I just made it sound like a hobby). You obviously have the common sense not to get caught in the latest "fad". Quite refreshing, in my opinion... Martial Arts Blog:http://bujutsublogger.blogspot.com/
angelica d Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 What people have been telling you seems fair enough - there's just a few things that I want to add. Your Body Mass Index is a good way to figure out if you're at healthy weight. I know it soesn't take into account different body types/builds, but its quite vague anyway. I'm not certain how you work it out,something about squaring your weight and dividing it by height .... not quite sure but type BMI into google and it should come up - but if its between 19 and 25 you're doing well. Under 15 is dangerously underweight, and over 25 is overweight. Just something that I thought might interest you. Also, although I admire you for sticking to your new lifestyle, as an ex-anorexic I always get worried when people don't have a definite goal! Its all to easy to get carried away and become addicted to losing weight. Remember, everyone has a 'Point-bar weight' - a weight that is healthy for them. As long as you don't dramatically increase or decrease your food intake, you should stay around that certain weight. Just a few things to keep in mind when completely changing your habits! "Weaseling out of things is what separates us from the animals . . . except the weasel."- Homer J Simpson
XChosen Posted August 16, 2004 Author Posted August 16, 2004 Shorin Ryuu - Without realizing it I appear to be on the Okinawa program and didn't realize it. Very interesting stuff, Thanks for the information.
SevenStar Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 3% is the commonly accepted value (for males) as the minimum body fat level that is necessary in order to stay healthy. Few people get to this level, although wrestlers, boxers (I used to be one) and the like often pass this. It is not healthy to do so, as it is necessary to have the fat to pad internal organs (including the brain) and serves other functions to ensure proper workings of the body. pass 3%? I'm not sure about that one... I mean, contest body builders typically only diet down to 3-5 %, and even that is temporary. Unless you're an ectomorph, 3 % is extremely hard to maintain. I don't think anyone has 2%...
XChosen Posted August 16, 2004 Author Posted August 16, 2004 I'm not shooting to compete. I'm just shooting for an above average physical level. It sounds like just below 10 would put me at a very healthy place.
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