Best Fat Burner For Women: Body Composition
Estrogen is what makes you a woman and testosterone is what
makes me a man. Women and men alike have a normal healthy and important
circulating level of both of these hormones. Your estrogen levels are much
higher than the small amount a man would have, and likewise a man's
testosterone level is much higher than your normal health levels.
Gender differences in estrogen and testosterone levels are
what dictate the difference we see in the normal healthy ranges of body
composition between men and women.
The normal body composition range for men is between 10%-20%
bodyfat and for women is 20%-30%.
Critically low bodyfat for men is approximately 3%, whereas
for women critical low is approx 13% (asindicated by the appearance of potentially
dangerous metabolic abnomralities).
Clearly there is a difference in the general normal body
composition of men vs women.
A man can be at or below 10% bodyfat and look healthy and
lean. A women achieving this level of bodyfat would actually look abnormal, sickly,
and if enough muscle mass is on her body she will look overly masculine.
In my experience working with many different women I've
found that a lower bodyfat limit of
approximately 16% - 18% is as low as most women will ever
want to go and still maintain a feminine look. Anything below 20% is considered
‘athletic/elite‘ for women. To contrast this with men, a bodyfat % of approx 8-10%
would be necessary for a man to be viewed as athletic/elite.
These body composition differences are due to the effect
testosterone and estrogen have on our ability to store and bum fat. This is
totally normal and no reason for ooncem, it's simply why you are shaped like a woman
and I am not. The take home message is not to compare your bodyfat percentage
to that of a man (if you're thinking in terms of bodyfat at all).
Your target healthy range is between 20%-30%. Most of our
BURNS transfomration contest winners arrive at their best figure anywhere
between 18%-22%. Your specific best/happiest/healthiest look will be unique to
you. We cannot predict with certainty what your bodyfat % will be when you
arrive at the look you are happiest with, but my guess is it will be somewhere
close the range of 18-22%. This is important: The goal is not 0% bodyfat, nor
is it to reach a predetermined level of bodyfat because you think this is the
number you should have. The goal is to create a body you love and are proud of.
Mostly likely this will end up somewhere around the range of 18-22% bodyfat.
Let's do a brief summary of the gender differences we've
talked about so far.
1. We know that you have more estrogen and less testosterone
than men. lt's what makes you a woman, and it also determines what your lower
healthy bodyfat range will be.
2. You generally have less lean body mass than a man and
therefore do not bum as many calories on a daily basis
3. Because of point 1 and 2 men can generally eat more
calories than women and maintain a
somewhat leaner body
The next important gender difference when it comes to fat
loss pertains to the honnone leptin.
Best Fat Burner For Women: Body Composition
