Heavier or leaner?

[Bast000]

would you rather be 200lbs at 20% body fat OR 175lbs at 3% body fat?

discuss

[Hedgehog]

would you rather be 200lbs at 20% body fat OR 175lbs at 3% body fat?

discuss

175 lbs at 3%. Very hard to get to that level of condition.

A nice condition for the summer is approx 10ish I gather, the abs are clearly visible and whatnot.

-Hedge

Regardless, it's time for you to bulk up mate, you got the tools, just put them to work FFS.

[Bast000]

175 lbs at 3%. Very hard to get to that level of condition.

A nice condition for the summer is approx 10ish I gather, the abs are clearly visible and whatnot.

-Hedge

Regardless, it's time for you to bulk up mate, you got the tools, just put them to work FFS.

I choose to stay lean.   No need to bulk up to gain muscle.  Right now I am dieting.   I gained 20lb since the summer.  I allowed myself to eat more just because I wanted to take a break, but for me it's ideal to only fluctuate by 10 (after you account for some water weight).

Muscle isn't gained fast, if you 'bulk' you just put on unnecessary fat.

[pobrecito]

It should be 235 @ 20% or 175 @ 3%

I would rather be 200 @ 10%

Big enough to look like a bodybuilder in clothes, but still lean enough to look good.

[MisterMagoo]

um, 200lb at 20% bodyfat is 160 lean pounds. 175 at 3% bodyfat is 169.75 lean pounds. so situation B is 34 pounds of less fat and 10 pounds of more muscle. i can't imagine who would POSSIBLY choose 200 at 20%.

[Bast000]

It should be 235 @ 20% or 175 @ 3%

I would rather be 200 @ 10%

Big enough to look like a bodybuilder in clothes, but still lean enough to look good.

No because 235lbs at 20% body fat is significantly more muscle than 175lbs at 3%.

[Bast000]

um, 200lb at 20% bodyfat is 160 lean pounds. 175 at 3% bodyfat is 169.75 lean pounds. so situation B is 34 pounds of less fat and 10 pounds of more muscle. i can't imagine who would POSSIBLY choose 200 at 20%.

Some people would just because they think that 175lbs is small to weigh.

200 at 15% to 175% at 3% would be the same amount of muscle.  Which would you choose from the two?

[alexxx]

I am 220 at under 10% bodyfat and I eat full meals.

[pobrecito]

Bast, which was your favorite pro-hormone?

[MisterMagoo]

No because 235lbs at 20% body fat is significantly more muscle than 175lbs at 3%.

well yeah, that's why it would work. no sane person would want more fat on them without any more muscle. but if the question is between 250 pounds at 20% bf or 185 at 5% bf, now that's a good question to ask. some wouldn't want to be that heavy and that fat, some would prefer that as opposed to being so slender despite being lean, you dig?

[The True Adonis]

171 lbs at 3 %   

[Bear]

haha Mr Magoo reveals the truthe. Leaner is probably better anyway, fat bodybuilders give us a bad name. Powerlifting is obviously a different story though...

[EL Mariachi]

I am 220 at under 10% bodyfat and I eat full meals.

220, in your dreams, pedro

[MisterMagoo]

Some people would just because they think that 175lbs is small to weigh.

200 at 15% to 175% at 3% would be the same amount of muscle.  Which would you choose from the two?

i think most rational people would pick the lower bodyfat if the amount of muscle is the same.

you can build a hierarchy in terms of what aspect of bodybuilding is the easiest. putting on fat is the easiest, losing fat is the second easiest, losing fat while holding onto muscle is the second hardest, adding muscle without adding fat is the hardest.

someone 175 at 3% bf could easily pig out and shoot to 200 without risking an ounce of lost muscle tissue (i'd ever say it'd be impossible to do so without ADDING muscle). but that guy at 200 @ 15% will have a much harder time trimming down while maintaining muscle.

[Bast000]

i think most rational people would pick the lower bodyfat if the amount of muscle is the same.

you can build a hierarchy in terms of what aspect of bodybuilding is the easiest. putting on fat is the easiest, losing fat is the second easiest, losing fat while holding onto muscle is the second hardest, adding muscle without adding fat is the hardest.

someone 175 at 3% bf could easily pig out and shoot to 200 without risking an ounce of lost muscle tissue (i'd ever say it'd be impossible to do so without ADDING muscle). but that guy at 200 @ 15% will have a much harder time trimming down while maintaining muscle.

Many people aren't rational though.  They are insecure about weighing less and feel smaller.

[MisterMagoo]

Many people aren't rational though.  They are insecure about weighing less and feel smaller.

that's very true. however i'd be willing to bet it's a mental thing, and as long as they realized it was the same amount of muscle and only less fat then they'd all choose the same.

the better question is between a fatter, but more heavily muscled physique versus a leaner but less built one. would you sacrifice definition and shape for size and strength or the other way around?

[Bast000]

that's very true. however i'd be willing to bet it's a mental thing, and as long as they realized it was the same amount of muscle and only less fat then they'd all choose the same.

the better question is between a fatter, but more heavily muscled physique versus a leaner but less built one. would you sacrifice definition and shape for size and strength or the other way around?

being leaner is my first priority.

[Playboy]

would you rather be 200lbs at 20% body fat OR 175lbs at 3% body fat?

discuss

I would rather be in the middle....probably 185lbs @ 8% bodyfat.

PB

[sinbad]

would you rather be 200lbs at 20% body fat OR 175lbs at 3% body fat?

discuss

I struggle with the same question, I decided to so call bulk a little while back, I was just going to increase calories and eat more junk food. I didn't really like it, so now I am eating cleaner, but still eating a little more junk food. I am having a problem with candy bars tho, they have them at Kroger for 4 for a dollar and I can't seem to not buy some when I am in there. I am going to try and stay relatively lean for now and maybe get really lean some time in the summer.

[Buttsuck]

Many people aren't rational though.  They are insecure about weighing less and feel smaller.

Very true, which is why people walk around at 40% bf or more.

[Palpatine Q]

171 lbs at 3 %   

3 percent what.............muscle?

[Dingleberry]

as big as I possibly can without looking like a fatass.

[Tapeworm]

i think most rational people would pick the lower bodyfat if the amount of muscle is the same.

you can build a hierarchy in terms of what aspect of bodybuilding is the easiest. putting on fat is the easiest, losing fat is the second easiest, losing fat while holding onto muscle is the second hardest, adding muscle without adding fat is the hardest.

someone 175 at 3% bf could easily pig out and shoot to 200 without risking an ounce of lost muscle tissue (i'd ever say it'd be impossible to do so without ADDING muscle). but that guy at 200 @ 15% will have a much harder time trimming down while maintaining muscle.

Yes.

Bast, it's best to stay lean for short guys.  Put on even a few pounds of fat and you risk looking stumpy.