Ideal Body Fat % for tournament players.

J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Is there any reason to carry a bit of bodyfat more than the healthy mimimum?

I really hate having any excess fat on me, and plan to knock off the 5lb or so I am carrying to bring me to what I consider the healthy minimum. Just wanted to make sure there was no reason that I shouldn't.

J
 
W

WBF

Hall of Fame
I would say enough to be healthy, but definately very low. Whenever I have extra baggage I feel like Lurch stumbling about the court. Not sure what numbers mean what though :p
 
Rickson

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
J011yroger said:
Is there any reason to carry a bit of bodyfat more than the healthy mimimum?

I really hate having any excess fat on me, and plan to knock off the 5lb or so I am carrying to bring me to what I consider the healthy minimum. Just wanted to make sure there was no reason that I shouldn't.

J
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised at how low pro bodybuilders get their bodyfat at the actual shows. You don't need to carry around much bf at all. What's your height and weight?
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
I'm on or below 6% body fat. Ever since I bought that weight scale, I check my body fat 2-3 times a week at work just to make sure I'm in shape.
 
Rickson

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
soyizgood said:
I'm on or below 6% body fat. Ever since I bought that weight scale, I check my body fat 2-3 times a week at work just to make sure I'm in shape.
Click to expand...

Soy, you do know those scales are far from accurate, don't you? If you really want to get your bf checked, go to a facility where they have underwater weighing. You literally get weighed underwater so you have to let out as much air as you can. If you weigh 140 lbs. on land and weigh 125 lbs. underwater, you're carrying 15 lbs. of bodyfat. This is considered the most accurate bf test.
 
hewittfan3

hewittfan3

Rookie
I have 12% body fat and i think thats pretty good. I couldnt imagine being much skinnier. I would definitely not want to be below 10%
 
Rickson

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
J011yroger said:
6'3" 165-170

J
Click to expand...

You don't need to drop any bodyweight, but you can still lower your bf by "tightening up". I weighed 180 and started lifting vigorously. My bw didn't change at all, but my pants got loose on me. The weight stayed the same, but my bf went down and that's what I wanted. Maybe I can trade you workout tips for those second serve tips.
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Working with an ATP tour fitness trainer and spending a solid 10 hours a week in the gym. So I have that part covered.

Just wondering what the ideal BF% for a serious tourney player was since I was worried that what I consider ideal would be a little low from a performance stand point.

J
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
Apparently 3% is required for healthy brain function. Any extra is useless in terms of performance. My best has been 4% and I felt fantastic, although I looked like some dental floss.

You've got some work to do fatty!! :)
 
W

WBF

Hall of Fame
J011yroger said:
Working with an ATP tour fitness trainer and spending a solid 10 hours a week in the gym. So I have that part covered.

Just wondering what the ideal BF% for a serious tourney player was since I was worried that what I consider ideal would be a little low from a performance stand point.

J
Click to expand...

j0lly: At the tournament we both played in when most of the good players took their shirts off on court it was... Intimidating. I didn't see any fat. At all. I used the locker room ;)

But... crap. I would imagine you are the same way if you're 6'3" and 165-170... I'm a good 185-190 at 6'. Eek!
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Moz said:
Apparently 3% is required for healthy brain function. Any extra is useless in terms of performance. My best has been 4% and I felt fantastic, although I looked like some dental floss.

You've got some work to do fatty!! :)
Click to expand...

haha, the actual % is a guess.

I can now just start to see vascularity in abdomen, and striation in delts.

I was probably around 4% just before I started playing again. 6'3" 155lbs, felt awesome, and that is the % I want to be at again, just with a little more muscle, maybe 165-170lb 5-6% for something maintainable.

Wont need to actually work at it, as soon as the outdoor season comes and I can put in 20 hours a week on court. It is just a question of how much to eat.

Only think I was concerned about was that I would need a bit of fat for playing 2 matches per day several days in a row.

But if I am constantly eating little bits throughout the day putting in as much as I put out (Wait! That doesn't sound right!) then I am good right?

Come summertime I will be beating those over 30 and under 18 girls off with a stick.

J
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
WBF said:
j0lly: At the tournament we both played in when most of the good players took their shirts off on court it was... Intimidating. I didn't see any fat. At all. I used the locker room ;)

But... crap. I would imagine you are the same way if you're 6'3" and 165-170... I'm a good 185-190 at 6'. Eek!
Click to expand...

I posted pics in the your picture section.

Shirtless ones will have to wait until the summer, because the glare from my whiteness would destroy the sensor in my digital camera.

J
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
J011yroger said:
haha, the actual % is a guess.

I can now just start to see vascularity in abdomen, and striation in delts.

I was probably around 4% just before I started playing again. 6'3" 155lbs, felt awesome, and that is the % I want to be at again, just with a little more muscle, maybe 165-170lb 5-6% for something maintainable.

Wont need to actually work at it, as soon as the outdoor season comes and I can put in 20 hours a week on court. It is just a question of how much to eat.

Only think I was concerned about was that I would need a bit of fat for playing 2 matches per day several days in a row.

But if I am constantly eating little bits throughout the day putting in as much as I put out (Wait! That doesn't sound right!) then I am good right?

Come summertime I will be beating those over 30 and under 18 girls off with a stick.

J
Click to expand...

Ha ha, watch out for the over 30's! I had a little bit of trouble with some over 70's last year - bloody nymphos at that age.

The only time you are likely to start needing fat for energy is running a marathon. I believe your body will burn carbs by preference and is only able to switch to fat with lower intensity aerobic exercise. You will easily be able to keep the carbs topped up in tennis.

In short - don't worry about low body fat leading to lower performance, but do worry about older spinsters.
 
Rickson

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
Can you give us a breakdown of your diet, Jo11y? This is a good way to evaluate. Try to throw in your portion size and calorie count if you know.
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Moz said:
Ha ha, watch out for the over 30's! I had a little bit of trouble with some over 70's last year - bloody nymphos at that age.

The only time you are likely to start needing fat for energy is running a marathon. I believe your body will burn carbs by preference and is only able to switch to fat with lower intensity aerobic exercise. You will easily be able to keep the carbs topped up in tennis.

In short - don't worry about low body fat leading to lower performance, but do worry about older spinsters.
Click to expand...

Life of a tennis player. Nobody in my age group wants anything to do with me, and everyone above and below I can't keep away from.

J
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Rickson said:
Can you give us a breakdown of your diet, Jo11y? This is a good way to evaluate. Try to throw in your portion size and calorie count if you know.
Click to expand...

I eat constantly from sunup to sundown. Almost no white flour, a small amount of rye or wheat bread or whole grain cereal. Tons of fruit and nuts, vegetables, and lean protien.

Once a week I will have a couple slices of pizza or desert or something like that.

I have had ummm 3 or 4 beers since new years day.

I eat A LOT but I burn a lot.

J
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
WBF said:
But... crap. I would imagine you are the same way if you're 6'3" and 165-170... I'm a good 185-190 at 6'. Eek!
Click to expand...

Don't have any great pics, but here is one so you get the general idea of what my narrow ass looks like.

315o6yw.jpg


J
 
Rickson

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
Moz said:
The only time you are likely to start needing fat for energy is running a marathon.
Click to expand...

Absolutely untrue! Marathon runners can not afford to carry any extra weight and bodyfat is definitely unnecessary weight. This is why you'll see guys who are 6'2 and 125 lbs. running a marathon and not guys who are "average weight" for their height who weigh 160 and above.
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
Rickson said:
Absolutely untrue! Marathon runners can not afford to carry any extra weight and bodyfat is definitely unnecessary weight. This is why you'll see guys who are 6'2 and 125 lbs. running a marathon and not guys who are "average weight" for their height who weigh 160 and above.
Click to expand...

Agreed they can't afford to carry extra weight and they do not deliberately do so.

However the body is able to metabolise some fat as opposed to carbohydrate during a marathon if trained to do so.

I'll try and find a reference now.
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
From Pete Pfitzinger's Advanced Marathoning.

"Your body uses several strategies to keep you from running out of carbohydrate stores. One of those strategies is to use relatively more fat as your carbohydrate stores become low."

and

"During the marathon a typical 140 pound male burns about 100 calories per mile. Of those, about 80 are supplied by carb and the remaining 20 by fat."
 
Rickson

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
Moz said:
After doing one I think they're bloody mad!
Click to expand...

Damn right they're mad! Do you remember the thread where the high school kid wanted to break a 6 minute mile? Well the leaders of the marathon have to average a 5 minute mile for the whole 26 miles. That is truly insane.
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
I think it's even worse than that - it's about 4:50 per mile for the world record.

Incredible.
 
Rickson

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
Moz said:
I think it's even worse than that - it's about 4:50 per mile for the world record.

Incredible.
Click to expand...

Actually, it's even worse than that. I said 5 minutes was the average, I never said that was the world record. The world record holder had an average time of 4 minutes and 47 seconds per mile. That is a truly sick pace!
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
Every year at the London Marathon some amateur sprints as hard as he can from the front to get on TV. He usually gets about 400m before they catch him and he's gasping for air.

Quite amusing in a FFS :roll: sort of way.
 
Rickson

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
Moz said:
Every year at the London Marathon some amateur sprints as hard as he can from the front to get on TV. He usually gets about 400m before they catch him and he's gasping for air.

Quite amusing in a FFS :roll: sort of way.
Click to expand...

You must be British because only the Brits use FFS. I haven't seen that since the mma board.
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
Yes, English.

It's the way we articulate exasperation because we are all too lazy and / or downtrodden to do something that's actually effective!
 
dave333

dave333

Hall of Fame
Marathoners astound me, I can barely do a 6 minute mile and a 62 second 400 meter sprint but they are going at my sprinting speed more than 100x longer!

They usually look too skinny though. I think sprinters are in ideal shape.
 
goober

goober

Legend
dave333 said:
Marathoners astound me, I can barely do a 6 minute mile and a 62 second 400 meter sprint but they are going at my sprinting speed more than 100x longer!

They usually look too skinny though. I think sprinters are in ideal shape.
Click to expand...

Most elite marathoners are short and skinny. Average height is around 5'6"- 5'7". You rarely see an elite level marathoner over 6'. For tennis I would definitely rather have a sprinters body than a marathoners:)
 
-Kap-

-Kap-

Rookie
This doesn't really contribute to the original post (sorry, J011y!), but with all of the marathon talk, I thought it might be fitting. I caught an episode of Human Body: Pushing the Limits on The Discovery Channel that showed a guy who gained 16 pounds of body fat in order to swim across the English Channel, and after a grueling 14 hours of non-stop swimming, he had dropped 14 of them! :shock:

It doesn't apply the same way to the world of tennis, but sometimes, fat is a lot more athletic than you might think. ;)
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
dave333 said:
Marathoners astound me, I can barely do a 6 minute mile and a 62 second 400 meter sprint but they are going at my sprinting speed more than 100x longer!
Click to expand...

One of the great things in running is that when a poster creates a new topic saying I'm 18 and I want to be an olympic marathoner you can tell them to go to the running track and run a 400 in 71 seconds.

They then come back to say they doubt whether they'd ever be able to manage 105 in a row at that pace!

As tennis is less measurable it seems more susceptible to fantasy.
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
-Kap- said:
This doesn't really contribute to the original post (sorry, J011y!), but with all of the marathon talk, I thought it might be fitting. I caught an episode of Human Body: Pushing the Limits on The Discovery Channel that showed a guy who gained 16 pounds of body fat in order to swim across the English Channel, and after a grueling 14 hours of non-stop swimming, he had dropped 14 of them! :shock:

It doesn't apply the same way to the world of tennis, but sometimes, fat is a lot more athletic than you might think. ;)
Click to expand...

I remember some old chap doing the transatlantic row and he burnt something like 50 lbs!
 
Moz

Moz

Hall of Fame
goober said:
Most elite marathoners are short and skinny. Average height is around 5'6"- 5'7". You rarely see an elite level marathoner over 6'. For tennis I would definitely rather have a sprinters body than a marathoners:)
Click to expand...

Yes, Tergat is the obvious exception to the rule. But it is an excellent rule of thumb.
 
1

1337Kira

Rookie
Rickson said:
Soy, you do know those scales are far from accurate, don't you? If you really want to get your bf checked, go to a facility where they have underwater weighing. You literally get weighed underwater so you have to let out as much air as you can. If you weigh 140 lbs. on land and weigh 125 lbs. underwater, you're carrying 15 lbs. of bodyfat. This is considered the most accurate bf test.
Click to expand...

True that, once I got 26% body fat, 6% then 13% all right after each other.
 
saram

saram

Legend
soyizgood said:
I'm on or below 6% body fat. Ever since I bought that weight scale, I check my body fat 2-3 times a week at work just to make sure I'm in shape.
Click to expand...

Body fat is no indication of physical fitness. Try checking your resting heart rate.
 
saram

saram

Legend
I would say 4-6% is generally pretty good. I know that Ljubicic has stated he lost 8 kilos in one match during the AO a few years ago. Although that was mostly fluids, you can be sure he was drawing on built energy sources such as fat during that match.
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
saram said:
I would say 4-6% is generally pretty good. I know that Ljubicic has stated he lost 8 kilos in one match during the AO a few years ago. Although that was mostly fluids, you can be sure he was drawing on built energy sources such as fat during that match.
Click to expand...

My record is loosing 12 lb in a day.

J
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
-Kap- said:
This doesn't really contribute to the original post (sorry, J011y!), but with all of the marathon talk, I thought it might be fitting. I caught an episode of Human Body: Pushing the Limits on The Discovery Channel that showed a guy who gained 16 pounds of body fat in order to swim across the English Channel, and after a grueling 14 hours of non-stop swimming, he had dropped 14 of them! :shock:

It doesn't apply the same way to the world of tennis, but sometimes, fat is a lot more athletic than you might think. ;)
Click to expand...

Are you all restrung and ready for the outdoor season?

J
 
stormholloway

stormholloway

Legend
saram said:
I would say 4-6% is generally pretty good. I know that Ljubicic has stated he lost 8 kilos in one match during the AO a few years ago. Although that was mostly fluids, you can be sure he was drawing on built energy sources such as fat during that match.
Click to expand...

4-6% body fat is way better than pretty good.

Ljubicic lost 8 kilograms in one match? I doubt that. What is that, 20 pounds?
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
stormholloway said:
Dunno man, I think the pound has been losing value against the kilogram lately. It be over 20.
Click to expand...

Does that mean that Americans are getting lighter, or that the rest of the world is getting heavier?

I mean I need to know, because if I took a trip to canada, and once I crossed the border, none of my pants fit anymore, well, that would just be embarassing.

J
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
body fat percentage
Replies
29
Views
20K
coyfish
C
Borat
Losing Body Fat Percentage and Dieting
Replies
25
Views
2K
tricky
T
Ano
Easy, cheap, private & accurate way to measure body fat %
Replies
1
Views
570
megaforcetkd
M
F
  • Locked
Why is Serena "fat"?
6 7 8
Replies
395
Views
39K
Grass_for_cows
Grass_for_cows
ChicagoJack
A Very Good Post on Fat Loss (vs. weight loss) From Another Discussion Group
Replies
1
Views
797
ChicagoJack
ChicagoJack
Top