The final formula to end the debate on the natural limit!

[Method101]

Your height in CM minus 100 = the amount of KGs you can weigh at 5-6% bodyfat drug free.

In my case I'm 188cm tall, so I will be able to be 88kgs at 5% bodyfat as a natural limit that's 194lbs.

I didn't come up with it, I read it on Lyle McDonald's website. Apparently a diet guru Martin Berkhan came up with it but this sounds 100% accurate to me judging from my own personal experience getting as lean as I could I stopped at 180lbs but could have gone abit lower, So I still have room for about 20lbs more muscle before I'm done.


They should use this formula on every competitor in natural bodybuilding competitions and not waste time with drug tests.

[Nether Animal]

At least I'd still be over 200lbs.

[Dr Dutch]

At least I'd still be over 200lbs.

Does that include the boobs in your avatar ??

[Thin Lizzy]

For those who believe they can add 20lbs of lean muscle, natty, explain where it would go.

The quads are the biggest muscle group. How much can you add to them?

IMO, a true natty can add about 5lbs, total, of lean muscle. Sorry.

[Hulkotron]

IMO, a true natty can add about 5lbs, total, of lean muscle. Sorry.

Sound a bit low but I wouldn't be surprised if you're pretty close here.

Muscle is around 1.06 kg/L in density so 5 lbs would be a little over two liters of muscle.

That's two full Nalgene bottles and change of pure lean muscle.  That's a lot of muscle.

[calfzilla]

At least I'd still be over 200lbs.

Dang you must be tall.

At 6'2 it only allowed me 184 lbs 

[Lustral]

I have a massive head (literally and metaphorically) ....this equation is obviously bullshit.

[calfzilla]

I have a massive head (literally and metaphorically) ....this equation is obviously bullshit.

Hi navy Mike.

[OB1]

Hi navy Mike.

 

[Nether Animal]

Dang you must be tall.

At 6'2 it only allowed me 184 lbs  

Hmm, sure you did it right? I'm 75.5 inches tall (6'3.5''): 192cm - 100 = 92cm so 92kg, which is just a hair over 200lbs.

[Davidtheman100]

You can add more than 5 lbs of muscle naturally lmao easily I don't believe in natural training but it's a fact that you can

[Thin Lizzy]

You can add more than 5 lbs of muscle naturally lmao easily I don't believe in natural training but it's a fact that you can

MMA has exposed the bodybuilding myth of natural muscle gains, by showing what a 6'2" functional athlete looks like. He tends to weigh 185. A natty Phil Heath would be fighting at 170, if not 155.

[OB1]

You cannot gain much muscle natural if shredded (in the single digits).
If you train natural muscle comes with fat.
They go hand in hand so to speak.
Cut fat=cut muscle.

[Davidtheman100]

You cannot gain much muscle natural if shredded (in the single digits).
If you train natural muscle comes with fat.
They go hand in hand so to speak.
Cut fat=cut muscle.

yes you can...if you're 5'8" 140 shredded at 20 years old you still have some growing you can do naturally even in single digits...someone ripped 160 at 5'8" naturally will appeal to large crowds with his shirt off in this modern day America....not to a seasoned lifter and not with his shirt on...but shirt off if he's training all body parts he's sub 8% and 160lbs 5'8"

[Method101]

MMA has exposed the bodybuilding myth of natural muscle gains, by showing what a 6'2" functional athlete looks like. He tends to weigh 185. A natty Phil Heath would be fighting at 170, if not 155.

But a lot of MMA guys are on gear, Alistair Overeem for example.


Alistair = 196cm tall but weighed 112kg with abs, let's say he needs to lose another 5kgs to be 5% bodyfat then he's still 11kgs over the natural limit! 25lbs solid muscle over the natural limit!

I read that Alistair since testing positive for juice now cut his weight down to 95kg, which is  just within the natural limit for him  

[Method101]

MMA has exposed the bodybuilding myth of natural muscle gains, by showing what a 6'2" functional athlete looks like. He tends to weigh 185. A natty Phil Heath would be fighting at 170, if not 155.

Phil is 175cm tall, 75kg = 165lbs Natural Limit for him at 5% bodyfat but on stage he weighs a whopping 250 lbs at 5%....

So he has 95lbs solid muscle more than the natural limit.. holy fuck!.

JUICE is just the finishing touch though guys lol!

[Tennisballz]

Start at 5'9 163lbs.  Every inch up or down in height add or subtract 7 pounds.  That formula is just about spot on and is for a lifter with good genetics.  The elites may be able to gain more but it won't be much.  This is show ready condition(5-7%).

[Julio Ceasar]

You cannot gain much muscle natural if shredded (in the single digits).
If you train natural muscle comes with fat.
They go hand in hand so to speak.
Cut fat=cut muscle.

Muscles come with fat??? U mean fooling yourself that u get muscles when u gain weight? And then complain about loosing musclemass on diet haha!

Fucking classic! 

[Thin Lizzy]

Muscles come with fat??? U mean fooling yourself that u get muscles when u gain weight? And then complain about loosing musclemass on diet haha!

Fucking classic! 

It's more a matter of fat being mistaken for muscle.

When you go from 12% to 20%bf, your measurements will increase, as fat is stored pretty much everywhere on the body. Sure, your arms will get bigger, but so will your waist and your face.

[che]

For those who believe they can add 20lbs of lean muscle, natty, explain where it would go.

The quads are the biggest muscle group. How much can you add to them?

IMO, a true natty can add about 5lbs, total, of lean muscle. Sorry.

[OB1]

Muscles come with fat??? U mean fooling yourself that u get muscles when u gain weight? And then complain about loosing musclemass on diet haha!

Fucking classic! 

Not quite.
My english isn't that good.
Maybe the other way around.
Whatever.
 

[6 Reps]

Check this intersting site out.  It bases maximum natural potential on wrist size, ankle size, and desired bodyfat.

http://www.weightrainer.net/index.html                                                                                      

[Papper]

That formula is actually bullshit. I would look Insane at 82 kg 5 percent.

With fat it's totally plausible but a truly cut up physique of even 7 percent would have a hard time breaching 80 kg naturally at 182 cm. At least for me

And one mans limit is not the same as another

[polychronopolous]

MMA has exposed the bodybuilding myth of natural muscle gains, by showing what a 6'2" functional athlete looks like. He tends to weigh 185. A natty Phil Heath would be fighting at 170, if not 155.

Half those guys are on juice anyways per Victor Conte interview.

[Henda]

Haha at methadone101 claiming 180lbs, he's lucky if he breaks 100lbs