Why do people always underestimate their bf%?

[Deicide]

I used to do it too, until getbig taught me the truth. Anyone have any theories?

[Stormspirit]

same reason people like TA overestimate bf% I guess

[Awesomo]

because most people are fat

[Euro-monster]

I used to do it too, until getbig taught me the truth. Anyone have any theories?

Because nobody wants to say their fat?

[Deicide]

same reason people like TA overestimate bf% I guess

Read what wavelength wrote about the after pics where you said he was 8%. I was being generous with 15%....

[Earl1972]

every guy wants to think he is more muscular than he really is

when you bust your ass for an entire year putting on 30 lbs or so, it sucks to think that maybe 5 lbs at most is muscle

body fat tests aren't accurate

most guys with 18% bodyfat claim to be 11%, this causes everybody else to think they might be leaner than they really are

E

[wavelength]

every guy wants to think he is more muscular than he really is

when you bust your ass for an entire year putting on 30 lbs or so, it sucks to think that maybe 5 lbs at most is muscle

body fat tests aren't accurate

most guys with 18% bodyfat claim to be 11%, this causes everybody else to think they might be leaner than they really are

E

A lesson learned by everyone on the first serious cut.

[Deicide]

every guy wants to think he is more muscular than he really is

when you bust your ass for an entire year putting on 30 lbs or so, it sucks to think that maybe 5 lbs at most is muscle

body fat tests aren't accurate

most guys with 18% bodyfat claim to be 11%, this causes everybody else to think they might be leaner than they really are

E

Yup.

[Deicide]

A lesson learned by everyone on the first serious cut.

Am I going to look like a skeleton man?

[Hereford]

I'm sitting at 1-3.25%

I am actually -3.8% bf.

You get skinnier when you simply walk by me...

[Palpatine Q]

who cares

[johnnynoname]

who cares

my sentiment exactly

[The Master]

who cares

People that = into bodybuilding + wanting to diet correctly to lose fat?

[evandatp]

It's similar to the question: Why do naturals always overestimate their ability to synthesize protein & the amount of volume and/or intensity they can recover from?

[BB]

the amount of volume and/or intensity they can recover from?

Secretly, no one wants to admit they're a pussy in the gym. Mostly they go one of two ways-

a) They think "Kazmaier, Arnold, the Bulgarians, etc.......... were beasts in the gym, if they can handle it, so can I" .

b) They latch on to Mentzer style HIT or Hardgainer philosophies- "I'm overtrained and just not good enough".

On the body fat thing, some folks are just liars, others simply don't have an honest idea what a real 5-8% bodyfat looks like. You really have to look at a few honest photos and tests before you get a feel for it.   

[Stavios]

you realise your true bf% when you take a picture !!!

sometimes you think you are lean, then you take a pic and your skin looks thick.
that's because it's still thick 

[Red Hook]

My body fat scale seems pretty accurate and keeps my ego in check

what is  odd is that most people that claim 12% are really 18%

[Stavios]

My body fat scale seems pretty accurate and keeps my ego in check

what is  odd is that most people that claim 12% are really 18%

18%bf is pretty fucking fat tho

you don't see your abs at 18%

usually when people say they are 12%bf, they still see their abs

[johnnynoname]

the mirror> any number you get from bf caliper

then again, that is coming from me who both looks amazing (from the neck down) and has a low BF % as well