about what % do people generally start to see their abs? I'm sure it varies from person to person but I'm at 15.6 right now, do you start to see them at around 10 or what? Thanks.

Varies a bit from person to person I think, but for guys it's around 9-10%. Girls are a bit higher, but I'm not sure exactly. I think 14-15% sounds about right for the ladies.

I've dropped from 20% to 15.6 in 3 months, by eating in a 20% deficit. Is it going to be alot harder to get to 10%?

You betcha. The closer you get, the harder it will get! Like anything though, if you want it bad enough, you'll get there.

Probably. But you won't know until you do it.

Let this warm your face, young man:


LIKE A WARRIOR who WINS THE BATTLES.......

I KNOW THE TASTE OF VICTORY!

Though I went through some nights consumed by the shadows I was crippled emotionally......

Somehow I made it through the heartache

I found my way out of the darkness, Yes I DID--I KEPT MY FAITH---I am not scared.....

Yes I did, I escaped.........

When the river was deep--I DIDNT FALTER
When the mountain is high, I STILL BELIEVED
When the valley was low, IT DID NOT STOP ME.........

I knew you would be waiting for me........> (YOUR GOAL)

==========================================================

Enthusiasm created from the heart is the entire spirit of the matter.
It ignites your whole system so there's no drag, no resistance.

(Chillen)

Let it FLOW!

You have to learn to MASTER yourself, to become the MASTER of Weight Loss or Weight Gain for YOURSELF.


Think of it like putting a jig-saw puzzle together. As the pieces come together it starts to form a picture, with some pieces still missing. However, since you already have some pieces of the puzzle already put together, this will assist you in finishing off your personal product.

The pieces of my puzzle was my diet and training history leading up to nearing 10% BF and the partially completed picture was the knowledge I obtained during this time.

Last year, I battled getting below 10% for 3 months (2 months prior to joining the forum, and one month after joining the forum). The picture that had formed thus far in the journey is I had 4 items in my tool box to begin finishing off the product:

1. Calorie manipulations, 2. Exercise manipulations, 3. Nutrient manipulations, and 4. Finding the correct blend within 1, 2, and 3, and understanding the body's design intention.

I knew without a shadow of doubt, that the answer was in deed among these four items.

I never had to question it. I never had to lose faith in it. All of these items are natural to the body: We have to eat (calories and nutrients), and the body was designed for activity and appropriate stress, and thus the answer IS indeed within.

SO WHEN YOU DO REACH 10%, remember the above…..it will serve you well.

I just had to learn how to "properly manipulate" these to my personal particulars, and figure out the personal puzzle.

After some trial and error, I learned at this time that just blending a combination of 1 and 2 wasn't working to my personal satisfaction, and had to add in a nutrient manipulation to make my body let go of the small pocket of fat I wanted off. To be blunt it was a bastard, took allot of sweat, at times my own blood (training LOL's ), and allot of self determination and discipline. I was working within a Body Fat level that my body coveted and wasn't about to let it go without a battle. I WON. IT LOST. END.

I then went on to a small bulk period and then began to deficit back (and gained an approximate "net" 6 pounds). And, this time getting under 10% was much easier than the first time, and I only had to manipulate 1 and 2 to get the task at hand completed.

There are many personal battles to conquer losing weight, and once you reach 10% the battle may or may not be different then the conquest that brought you to the 10% BF level, if it does, just adjust items 1 through 4 and you will win…….WITHOUT A DOUBT!


ROCK ON!

You always have it within you to conquer all things…….WAKE IT UP, shake, rattle, and roll, baby!


Chillen

I just recently started to learn about calories. I dropped from 20% to about 17% by just eating "better" and working out. But then i stalled and started logging my food and calories and i'm at around 15% in three months. When you talked about macros i'm doing 40% protein, 40% carbs, 20% fat , Any opinions or thoughts on that?
Was 10% bf when you started to see your six pack or was it under? Any advice on the diet is much aprreciated since i'm really just starting to be strict with that. Thanks for the replies.

I am also losing fat right now, and had a few questions:

what is the "healthy" speed at which one should lose weight? I started cutting jan. 22nd and one month after, was 10 pounds lighter but could still lift nearly the same weight I was at before (around 5% less). Im almost positive im at 10% bf because I can clearly see the upper 4 abs, and muscle fibers on my pectorals, shoulders, and starting to see a lot of veins on my forearms, biceps, and where my pants waist sit (between belly button and genital area).

After this I thought I was ahead of schedule so stopped cutting for a little.

Should I stick to losing 1 or 2 pounds per week or what? It would be nice to get to 5-7% body fat and have absolutely NO jigglyness (fat) in my lower abs, just skin

How is the best and most accurate way of measuring your body fat?

There's a number of different ways to measure body fat - i.e skin fold caliper measures, BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance), various circumference measures, etc. - but DEXA ( Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry ) and Hydrostatic ( Underwater ) Weighing are considered to be among the most accurate.

However, it certain respects, it is the relative change in bodyfat over time ( regardless of whatever method you choose to measure it ) that may be the more relevant aspect of bodyfat measurement to focus on.

In any event, if you want to get some ballpark idea of your body fat, you can try this on line calculator......

BBLex - Calculator: Bodyfat calculation by US Navy formula

I'm at 14% I don't have a six pack or anything yet but I can see definition.

My wife likes it LOL

Abs are one of the toughest body parts to get but also the most enjoyable! In order to see your abs not only must your bodyfat be low enough but your abs must be developed enough. If you are just eating at a deficit and not in the gym working out and training correctly and eating right then you will not see your abs. Also the most accurate way to measure your bodyfat is by hydrostatic weighing. Here are a few tips for yall that may help your abs show!
1. Eat lowfat cottage before bedtime. The casein protein in cottage cheese is a very slow digesting protein that will help your body burn fat while you sleep.
2. Drink one glass of hot green tea each day. It helps burn body fat.
3. Do 30 to 45 min. of cardio in the morning on an empty stomach. You will burn 300% more calories.

Enjoy! Any other questions feel free to ask!



Jared
TheFitnessVoice.com

That's all that counts...if she's happy...everybody's happy.

For men it's in the low single digits and for women it's in the teens.

Learn more here Burn Stomach Fat - How to Lose Belly Fat Fast

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Best Ab Exercise Routines to Get a Six Pack or Flat Abs