P90X

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? Actually, since you are so fond of math, why don't we do the calculations based on an individual of the SAME WEIGHT, since that has a more logical bearing on the debate at hand: 150 * .03=4.5 lbs of essential fat 150 * .02=3.0 lbs of essential fat A loss of 1.5 lbs of fat. Now your 220 lb individual: 220 * .03=6.6lbs of essential fat 220 * .02=4.4 lbs of essential fat A loss of 2.2 lbs of essential fat That is a heck of alot when you are down to essential fat that is being used to protect important physiological functions. I will also add, that it's impossible to be 220 lbs and 3% unless you are using drugs, which takes into account most professional bodybuilders who are not in natural competition. Furthermore, modern day methods of measuring bodyfat all carry a margin of error. So the chances of an individual saying they are 3% when they are in fact 5-6% are quite high. So truly hitting 3% is generally reserved for hardcore competitors with more than one trick up their sleeves. Anyone who has actually attempted to hit single digit bodyfat will tell you that it is a very, very difficult feat, as your hormones go south and your body fights you tooth and nail. There is plenty of information about this in the links I posted, as well as all over the internet if you care to research it further. As far as I am concerned, I have said my peace on the matter.

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? Actually, since you are so fond of math, why don't we do the calculations based on an individual of the SAME WEIGHT, since that has a more logical bearing on the debate at hand: 150 * .03=4.5 lbs of essential fat 150 * .02=3.0 lbs of essential fat A loss of 1.5 lbs of fat. Now your 220 lb individual: 220 * .03=6.6lbs of essential fat 220 * .02=4.4 lbs of essential fat A loss of 2.2 lbs of essential fat That is a heck of alot when you are down to essential fat that is being used to protect important physiological functions. I will also add, that it's impossible to be 220 lbs and 3% unless you are using drugs, which takes into account most professional bodybuilders who are not in natural competition. Furthermore, modern day methods of measuring bodyfat all carry a margin of error. So the chances of an individual saying they are 3% when they are in fact 5-6% are quite high. So truly hitting 3% is generally reserved for hardcore competitors with more than one trick up their sleeves. Anyone who has actually attempted to hit single digit bodyfat will tell you that it is a very, very difficult feat, as your hormones go south and your body fights you tooth and nail. There is plenty of information about this in the links I posted, as well as all over the internet if you care to research it further. As far as I am concerned, I have said my peace on the matter.