Title: The Truth Behind 6% Body Fat for Men – Debunking the Myth
Introduction:
When it comes to body fat percentage for men, there’s a widely circulated belief that 6% body fat is the ideal target. However, the reality is far from what many believe it to be. In this article, we will debunk the myth of 6% body fat and explore the levels of leanness, the importance of aesthetics, and why being lean doesn’t necessarily mean being healthy.
Heading 1: Elite Athletes That Look 6% (But Aren’t)
Many elite athletes may appear to have a body fat percentage of 6%, but the truth is that they are often much higher. Body composition is complex, and factors such as muscle mass and distribution can give the illusion of extreme leanness. So, don’t be fooled by appearances!
Heading 2: Cavaliere Just Doesn’t Have a Clue About Body Fat Percentages
Some fitness “gurus” may claim that 6% body fat is the holy grail, but the reality is that they often lack the proper understanding of body fat percentages. It’s important to be skeptical of such claims and seek reliable and evidence-based information.
Heading 3: There Are Levels To Leanness
When it comes to body fat percentage, there are different levels of leanness. Ranging from essential fat to athletes to fitness enthusiasts, understanding these levels is crucial. It’s unrealistic and unhealthy to aim for 6% body fat when you’re not an elite athlete.
Heading 4: Hypocrisy
Promoting 6% body fat as the ideal for all men is hypocritical, as it fails to recognize individual differences and goals. Everyone’s body is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Embrace your own journey and set realistic goals based on your body type and lifestyle.
Heading 5: Leaner Isn’t Always Better
Just because someone has a lower body fat percentage doesn’t automatically mean they’re healthier or more fit. Health encompasses various aspects, including strength, endurance, and overall well-being. It’s important to focus on overall fitness rather than obsessing over an arbitrary body fat percentage.
Heading 6: Jessie Killing It
Jessie is a prime example of how being lean can be subjective. Some may argue that she should aim for a lower body fat percentage, but she’s already rocking it at around 10%. Remember, beauty and aesthetics are subjective, and feeling confident in your own body is what truly matters.
Heading 7: 10% is Still VERY LEAN
Contrary to popular belief, having a body fat percentage around 10% is still considered very lean. This level of leanness can lead to visible muscle definition and a healthy physique. Don’t get caught up in the chase for an unrealistic number; instead, focus on feeling good and being happy in your own skin.
Heading 8: What Are Words…
Don’t be fooled by numbers and percentages alone. Remember that words like “ideal” and “recommended” are subjective and can vary from person to person. Your body fat percentage should be determined by your own goals, preferences, and most importantly, your overall health.
Heading 9: Being Lean = Looking Big
One misconception often associated with body fat percentage is that being lean automatically means looking bigger. While it’s true that lower body fat can enhance muscle definition, building muscle mass is equally important. Strength training and proper nutrition play a vital role in achieving a muscular physique.
Heading 10: Being Lean Looks Leaner (Water is Wet)
It may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning that being lean naturally makes you look leaner. With less fat covering the muscles, the definition becomes more prominent. However, this doesn’t mean you have to reach an extreme level of leanness to be considered attractive or fit.
Heading 11: This Content Can Be Harmful (I’ve Seen It)
Society’s fixation on achieving an extremely low body fat percentage can lead to unhealthy habits, disordered eating, and negative body image. It’s essential to approach fitness and body composition with a balanced and realistic mindset. Your health and well-being should always be prioritized above reaching a specific body fat percentage.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the notion that 6% body fat is ideal for men is based on misinformation and subjective ideals. Rather than fixating on achieving a specific body fat percentage, focus on overall health, fitness, and feeling confident in your own body. Remember, you are unique, and your journey should reflect that uniqueness.
35 comments
6% bodyfat, let's gooooooooo. Who's with me?
Important Edit: at 2:54 and again later I used a pic of Dwayne Wade by accident instead of Serge Ibaka, as he showed up in the image search. Never edit videos after 11pm after working all day!
However, overall point still stands. Suffice to say, if you image search Serge, he's not 6%.
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Book 3: Resurrecting Your Gains (intermediate/advanced)
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I think you have a good point. However one shouldn’t cut being lean completely. I agree with not being shredded though. To be as lean as Jeff, you have to eat more healthy. Not be a bear mode guy. Rather than having a eating disorder. I agree that 6 percent may be over doing it. And shredded is bad. However Jeff is a physical therapist and eats more healthy. Rather than having a eating disorder. Bear mode isn’t eating healthy. But I digress. Just thought I’d play devils advocate. Remember, a lot of body builders especially unnaturals don’t have a concept of being lean and eating healthy. Jeff seems to however being shredded is not healthy. Bear mode is good for power lifting and I won’t knock it. But certainly lean is better at eating healthy. Perhaps it’d be good to do a bit of both. If one wants to be healthy and be big.
15% should just be the goal
Hi
Great channel. As a new to this female training at home (nearly 59y 5ft 10, 140 pounds) Any idea what sort of body fat I should be aiming for. I am after mainly increasing strength and improving definition but would like to retain soft rounded bits where traditionally females have them?
TIA
That wasn’t even rugby! It was Aussie rules haha
It's completely shocking that he even puts a 1-4% range out there at all. Complete horseshit. Helmet Strebl, who is diced to the gills and essentially that muscle anatomy illustration chart, is not below 4%.
Yes. That was a terrible video he made. Really steering young lifters who don't know better to the wrong path. I think the optimal bodyfat for most natural lifters is not single digits. Most men trying to stay at 8-9% year-round will torpedo their hormones.
Heh, I have vascularity at 25% body fat. Also my top two segments of my abs are now starting to pop out on occasion. When I listened to this video I knew this bit of chum would create a frenzy. I almost want to see what Mr. "If you don't see your abs you're fat" has to say about it.
Dude that squat video Athleen X did… How did he not remove that yet? He tells his followers to do THE EXACT OPPOSITE of an actual squat
Jeff SOLD OUT and his channel has been complete crap since then
I kinda started realizing there was a gap between performance and aesthetics when I looked at Olympic athletes and they all kinda had some fat on them and didn’t look like the fitness models
Jeff Cavalier used to be a ray of sunshine in early youtube fitness days. Legit first guy that I learned about internally rotated shoulders and how to fix them from (back when I was an absolute noob and didn't know where and how to research stuff).
Now, I don't even bother with his videos anymore. Maybe he always was this misinformed, maybe he's going the absolute sell out route. Who knows. But this video was soo fucking stupid. The more he speaks, the more obvious it is how little he knows about so many things.
Athlean X is full of shit with mostly retarded advice
If you believe Jeff cavalier you'd believe his claim of being 5'11" 180lbs and didn't use fake weights when in fact he's 5'8" 155lbs and could barely do any lifting so used fake weights because he's so weakened by constantly starving himself to be shredded.
Who even even learned anything from athlean x
When Surge Ibaka isn’t in optimal photos he becomes Dwayne wade according to this guy😂.
Jeff is going to Hunt you down
I got down around 10% once. Full shredded 6 pack and all. But I couldn’t put on more muscle and was starting to lose strength. 15-20% is a much better place to be.
Well.. The best thing that Jeff could've done for me was mention Mike Mentzer in one of his videos (can't remember which one) and after that I started looking up HIT training and found a wonderful video yours! So gotta thank him for that! 😂
😂😂😂😂 he is clearly not 6%. Like crystal clear.
1:20
Thats not rugby, thats AFL (Australian football). Those guys run miles and miles per game, jump, tackle, and turn on a dime. They are nothing like rugby guys.
Anyone whos been at super low levels of bodyfat know how unathletic it is.
Feel sorry for anyone on the athleanx treadmill, such high levels of cutting must lead to alot of quitting from newbies.
If you get below 10%, I swear you will have the occasional person actually ask if you're alright cos you look a bit ill or starved. Especially if you're not that muscular.
You start to get death face sub 8% too.
Honestly if you're sub 10% year round, you probably have a serious eating disorder as well as body dismorphia. Why are you so lean?
"All of our ideas come from outside of us." Not really. Most of our ideas come from outside of us. Some come from personal experience. Some from personal reflection & consideration etc. Other than that – pretty informative video. 🙂
Jeff Cavalier is either an idiot, or he just makes content that is intentionally controversial just to get views. It is a waste of anyone’s time to watch him either way
“Jeff doesn’t know what a certain body fat percentage looks like” but for some reason you do? Genuinely asking, because you seem pretty confident in your ability to determine what certain body fat percentage looks like.
I remember watching that video. He says the opposite of what you're accusing him of. You're throwing baby punches for views and I guess it's working cause here I am leaving a comment!
Also it's Aussie Rules Football (AFL), not rugby. Very different body types.
Athlean-x looks like that monkey fist guy from kim possible.
I just went from 0.5% to +40 having watched this video
I was once told swimmers and rugby players don't get their physiques from their sports…. They got their sports from their physiques meaning they already had size and strength naturally regardless of training they were born to do it
Cole robinson at snake diet mantains abs year round and lifts. You guys dont listen and instead believe in the mainstrea bs when fasting can make u do it.
People still listen to Jeff Cavalier?
Also unpopular opinion: flat stomachs are better than abs
Every time I see Jeff Cavalier, I want to buy him a cheeseburger
Jeff would look much better if he allowed himself to have a few pies now and again, especially at his age. He puts way too much of a premium on low body fat. He's kinda pushing dudes towards unhealthy patterns and dysmorphia.
Who measured enough people to find that 28% avg? Nah, people self report in surveys. No one tells the objective truth about themselves. Your whole industry is a grift. At least you kinda tell the truth.