what % body fat should i shoot for?

[Nevada Sixx]

hi, i just got back from the gym, i found out i was at 16% body fat.
I'm 6 ft, and 165 pds. Since i still have a small strip of fat around my belt line, i was thinking about shooting for 12%. Are there any guidlines for % body fat to have?

male, 6ft, 165pds...

thanks..

 

[skmcbride]

165lbs, 6 ft and 16% body fat sounds a bit lean to me on muscle mass. I would concentrate on putting on some lean muscle mass via resistance training which will affect your %body fat 2 ways. 1) You will have a greater proportion of lean muscle mass provided weight gain is all muscle. 2) More muscle mass leads to increased energy expenditure thus lowering body fat. Keep in mind the inherent limitations of the numbers you get from a gym. There is some variability in the measurement. Most gyms have electrostatic measurements, which are average on variability. Watch your hydration on these scales. For example: Get body fat % pre-workout, then do a hard cardio workout (I mean hard) with little fluid intake (within reason) and take it again, it will be substantially different. I would recommend pre workout measurement. 12% is a good number to shoot for!
Good Luck, Keith

 

[mgorman]

At 6'- 165, I'd have to say you are probably pretty thin.

I am 6'2" and at 215 lbs feel I need to be back around 200. A goal I hope to attain this spring. A couple of years ago before I married someone who could cook I weighed in at 190 with 6-8% body fat.

 

[slo' mo]

Originally posted by mgorman
<SNIPPED> I weighed in at 190 with 6-8% body fat.

Wouldn't that be in the "I'm so dehydrated my organs are shutting down" zone?

I would think a healthy range would be between 10-14% Were you a bodybuilding fanatic?

 

[mgorman]

As you can see on our web page listed below I am not fat or pudgy but in bicycling, ever pound counts. Some guys spend more on their bikes than thumper owners to get their bikes weight down. I figure a light bike is an failure waiting to happen and I can take more off my body than the bike.

I race kayaks, BMX, MTB's, Road bicycles, scrambles and at that time started doing triathalons.

Since I did my triathalon and quit training for them AND got married, my washboard has since turned into an ironing board, no ripples!!

I am changing that now by diet and upping my training. I joined a road race team to compete in time trials so the fat has to go and I need to get aero or I'll get smoked.
The average weight of the tour De France riders last year was around 150 lbs. The average around here is slightly higher but non the less alot less than me!

 

[Lemonhead]

fat for muscle

Anytime you can swap fat for muscle you are better off. Remember to get lean and then put the muscle on. The body gets confused when you try and grow muscle and lose fat at the same time. Shoot for 8% @ 185#s, I can help you put on 20-pounds of muscle in 12-weeks with 3-workouts a week no longer than 30-minutes at time. The stronger you get the better you look. The stronger you get the more you have to eat. The stronger you get the less you have to workout, ask later I'll explain . No supplements unless you're short on time and here is what I use, I get Designer Protein @ GNC, $30.00 for 40-servings. Mix one C water, one C skim milk, one scoop protein one banana or a cup of any frozen fruit you like and a dash of vanilla blend on high. Approx. 300 calories, 60% carbs, 20% protein, 20% fat