P90X

It's not about mathematics, it's about basic physiology. Men generally can't get below 3% before they start impairing essential organ functions. Read these articles: Essential body fat is made up of organs, connective tissue and bone marrow, right? These seem to be rather static, physiologically. So lets make up some numbers. Mr. X just finished maturing (full bone development) and weighs a healthy 150lbs, 15% body fat, 3% of which is essential. Mr. X is tired of being picked on and starts on the Charles Atlas training program. He does very well with the help of his comic book friend, and balloons up to 220lbs with a 2% body fat. The question is, should he be dead? 150lbs * .03 = 4.5 lbs of essential body fat 220lbs * .02 = 4.4 lbs of total body fat So he is border line in trouble. He is also only trying to maintain this level for 5 days. Seems possible. What exactly is basic physiology without math? A collection of rules of thumb?

It's not about mathematics, it's about basic physiology. Men generally can't get below 3% before they start impairing essential organ functions. Read these articles: Essential body fat is made up of organs, connective tissue and bone marrow, right? These seem to be rather static, physiologically. So lets make up some numbers. Mr. X just finished maturing (full bone development) and weighs a healthy 150lbs, 15% body fat, 3% of which is essential. Mr. X is tired of being picked on and starts on the Charles Atlas training program. He does very well with the help of his comic book friend, and balloons up to 220lbs with a 2% body fat. The question is, should he be dead? 150lbs * .03 = 4.5 lbs of essential body fat 220lbs * .02 = 4.4 lbs of total body fat So he is border line in trouble. He is also only trying to maintain this level for 5 days. Seems possible. What exactly is basic physiology without math? A collection of rules of thumb?