30/11/2020
- How lean should you be?-
I've had clients asking questions like "ideally how much should I weigh?" Or "how much more weight should I drop(or gain)?"
There are two main issues with this type of question. First off, body weight is equated with body composition. Somebody who is the same height and weight could be a lot leaner or fatter than another with the exact same height and weight. So looking only at the weight is not a great indicator in many cases.
The bigger part of the problem though, is that there is no such thing as how lean you "should" be. Obviously, health is the number one concern. It is not healthy to be obese, no debate there. But at a certain point, is being leaner gonna be any healthier? Beyond health, how lean you want to get is really about what you want, rather than some objective standard of what's ideal.
Take into account the following -
1) Genetics. Some people are genetically prone to be leaner, some aren't. It doesn't mean you can't get or stay lean, but it's going to mean it's harder for some to stay at 10% bodyfat, while others can maintain a low bf% relatively comfortably.
2) Priorities. Sometimes, getting leaner could mean making sacrifices. Whether it be enduring a more restrictive diet and sacrificing social life, or in some cases, it could be sacrificing your strength gains or even impacting your health.
3) Long term vs. short term. Sometimes bodybuilders or fitness models may get extremely lean for a competition or photoshoot, but they don't stay that way year round. Being at an extremely low bodyfat percentage is not healthy for the body. Our body actually needs fat! But sometimes, we may want to get extra lean for a show or a shoot. That doesn't mean we should be obese the rest of the time either. Find out what's a good range for you to maintain in the long term.
Personally, I'm somewhere between the left and the center photo most of the time. It's a state where I can feel relatively healthy, not stress much about food, and feel relatively strong. Photo on the right was when I got a bit leaner for competiting, but definitely wasn't the strongest I've felt.
Find out what works for you, and set your goals accordingly!