bad to have below 10% body fat

**Exige Jr** · 09-26-2006, 12:07 PM

He is generalising way too much.

I was below that at certain stages and never had a problem. Top Olympic athletes are below that (a lot of them) and dont have any problems. Dont listen to what he says... he is talking bull**** basically.

Just make sure when you do make weight cuts you do it healthily, that is, not starving yourself etc. and then you'll be ok.

**Pork Chop** · 09-26-2006, 12:23 PM

no it's below 6% that you don't want to maintain for any length of time unless you're naturally that lean.

**BigDozer260** · 09-26-2006, 01:13 PM

It is suggested that any athlete not dip below 6%. Between 6-13% is where an athlete should keep himself, female athletes are 14-20%.

**platinummatt!** · 09-26-2006, 01:51 PM

I went down to 5.5% then up to 8 something now Im 11.6%

**The Golden Boy** · 09-27-2006, 08:07 AM

i heard you can only see your abs at 8%.

**PunchDrunk** · 09-27-2006, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by The Golden Boy

i heard you can only see your abs at 8%.

That depends on a lot of things. Like the size of your abs. Where your body has a tendency to store the fat (this is not the same for everybody). How big you are.

Generally, when you hear absolute statements like that, be wary, because things are generally not that simple.

**Ringo** · 09-27-2006, 08:18 AM

I'm naturally very lean. Last time I tested, I was at 4.7% body fat, and I've never tested above 7%. Never had any problems other than just being skinnier than I want to be. But now in boxing, its benefitting me because I'm tall and lean. Typically, the "badness" of low body fat is associated proportionally with how heavy you are.

**Velour** · 09-27-2006, 08:21 AM

Originally posted by platinummatt!

A trainer at my gym said you shouldnt go below 10 % body fat or you start having problems..

ive heard of things like this before but its basically damaging with extended periods of time.
something about people with a little more body fat than normal are at less of a risk for certain problems as they get older, live longer, etc, etc. i dont remember exactly what i read but it was along those lines.

**fraidycat** · 09-27-2006, 10:07 AM

Too little bodyfat and you can have joint problems. The fluid that lubricates your joints and contributes elasticity to your connective tissues, is essentially fat. Some athletes with very low bodyfat have had connective tissue and joint problems.

You're a boxer, not an AF model. Eat smart, work out hard; don't worry about your bodyfat. Your body will do what it's going to do.

bad to have below 10% body fat