Optimal Body Fat % While Gaining Weight

lildog · 10-28-2009, 09:54 PM

I am 5'11, around 168-170. I've been gaining weight for the past 5 months. I started out at 153. My goal is around 185. My body fat % was at 6% now it is 7.5%. My question is while im still trying to gain more should my body fat % go up little more. I know different people will put on muscle and mass differently, but in general what is a good percentage to be around while gaining?

Thanks for any helpful info.

Hocky_Balboa · 10-28-2009, 10:32 PM

You answered your own question: There is no set percentage.

It will go up though, depending on how big a surplus of calories you have.

**XTrainer** · 10-28-2009, 10:45 PM

How are you getting those bodyfat measurements?

48mpg · 10-28-2009, 11:19 PM

^ditto.

at 6 - 7.5% BF, you must be pretty damn ripped, in which case I wouldnt be too concerned with BF% gain just yet.

lildog · 10-28-2009, 11:22 PM

^^^

I had a PT calculate them using a digital instrument meant for that purpose. He put in my weight/height/age and then it read 8.2 % twice, and then he did it with the plastic pincher thing and it read 7.0% and he said that the digital ran high.

lildog · 10-28-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hocky_Balboa

You answered your own question: There is no set percentage.

It will go up though, depending on how big a surplus of calories you have.

I'm not worried about gaining fat, i know i pretty much will, but i was wondering if there is a certain range that is "normal" while gaining a certain percentage of weight.

Thanks.

**XTrainer** · 10-29-2009, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lildog

^^^

I had a PT calculate them using a digital instrument meant for that purpose. He put in my weight/height/age and then it read 8.2 % twice, and then he did it with the plastic pincher thing and it read 7.0% and he said that the digital ran high.

The reason I asked is that the digital devices are notoriously inaccurate (by a lot more than a percentage point or two), and unless this PT really knows what he is doing (most don't), his caliper measurement was probably inaccurate as well. Just out of curiosity, what sites did he use for that the calipers?

On another note, this whole topic is borderline OT. This a is a performance forum: Nominal BF% doesn't mean crap. The question is, are you getting stronger, faster, more enduring, etc.?

Steakeater · 10-29-2009, 07:36 AM

Normal is 10-15.

For a lot of people, Anything under 8 percent and over 17 percent, performance decreases

Monger · 10-29-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steakeater

Normal is 10-15.

For a lot of people, Anything under 8 percent and over 17 percent, performance decreases

I'm not sure that's what he's asking. I think he's asking how much his BF% should go up while trying to reach his goal of 185.

And there's no way anyone can answer that. It would have to do with the size of your caloric surplus, genetics (P-ratio), training experience, training protocols, etc...

The sure bet is that your fat percentage will go up while gaining muscle. The only thing I can say beyond that is if it goes up by an unacceptable rate the only option is to lower your caloric surplus (eat less). If the BF% numbers you gave of where you started and where you at now are anywhere close to being accurate relative to your weight, I'd say you've got pretty damn good genetics for your goals.

Oh, lastly, the closer one gets to their maximum potential the more unfavorable the fat gain to muscle gain gets. So if your BF% went up by 1.5% with the first 15lbs it will mostly likely go up a lot more than 1.5% to reach the last 15lbs.

Capt.Canuck · 10-29-2009, 12:40 PM

6-7.5%? If your body fat is really that low, why are you even worrying about it?

That's bodybuilder competition fat levels, are you really walking around that shredded?

Not to call BS but I've often heard "yeah, my BF was measured at 10%" (which is actually quite low if it's an accurate measurement) from people that are nowhere near that and look like the Pillsbury Doughboy.