Do you believe there's an ideal bf% range for putting on mass?

zarathustra · May 5th, 2005, 01:49 PM

If so around what range...

**falconfootball** · May 5th, 2005, 02:14 PM

for putting on mass, the ideal doesn't really matter... it's your diet. You could be 4% or 30%, if you train to get big, and eat like it, you will.

With that said, for asthetic purposes, somewhere below 11% will be good "looking" for mass, your BF may also increase some do to the mass diet

**Old_Fart2** · May 5th, 2005, 02:26 PM

I'm not sure what the question means. Are you asking if you have to be carrying more or less fat in order to build lean muscle mass? The short answer would be no; however, if you're overweight (and subsequently but not necessarily out of shape), it's going to be tougher to put in the extra effort required to build mass.

The better shape you're in, I would think the better you'll be able to handle the workouts required to get in even better shape. Or something like that.

**Adonis** · May 5th, 2005, 02:48 PM

I have found it is easiest to gain mass in the 8-15% bodyfat ranges. They are very low, but it seems to work. Thats not to say you can't build amss at other percentages but 8-15% will show the most improvement

zarathustra · May 5th, 2005, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_Fart2

I'm not sure what the question means. Are you asking if you have to be carrying more or less fat in order to build lean muscle mass? The short answer would be no; however, if you're overweight (and subsequently but not necessarily out of shape), it's going to be tougher to put in the extra effort required to build mass.

The better shape you're in, I would think the better you'll be able to handle the workouts required to get in even better shape. Or something like that.

That is what I'm asking. Just hypothetically of course since I'm not there... but wouldn't someone trying to add lean mass at 8% find it easier than someone trying to add lean mass at 4%?
I try to maintain around 8% year round and have repeatedly heard that its not ideally conducive to adding muscle mass. I have still managed to add around 4-5lbs per year in th epast few years.

zarathustra · May 5th, 2005, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adonis

I have found it is easiest to gain mass in the 8-15% bodyfat ranges. They are very low, but it seems to work. Thats not to say you can't build amss at other percentages but 8-15% will show the most improvement

Thank you. That was my question.

**Old_Fart2** · May 5th, 2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zarathustra

That is what I'm asking. Just hypothetically of course since I'm not there... but wouldn't someone trying to add lean mass at 8% find it easier than someone trying to add lean mass at 4%?
I try to maintain around 8% year round and have repeatedly heard that its not ideally conducive to adding muscle mass. I have still managed to add around 4-5lbs per year in th epast few years.

If you're at 8% BF and gaining 4-5 lbs. per year, I wouldn't change anything.

zarathustra · May 5th, 2005, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_Fart2

If you're at 8% BF and gaining 4-5 lbs. per year, I wouldn't change anything.

At 5'10" I'm only 175-178lbs. Still easier when your relatively light for your height.

**Adonis** · May 5th, 2005, 03:08 PM

4-5 lbs per year, i know gains don't come as easy to seasoned vets, but 4-5 lbs in a year, seriously guys; if you have read my blog I gained about 5 lbs of just lean mass so far this past 2.5 weeks (mind you that is an extreme number of pounds for a short time). Shit, I don't want to grow up...lol

zarathustra · May 5th, 2005, 03:14 PM

I usually gain it as well in a 4-8 week period. And then simply try to maintain that weight the rest of the time (don't always succeed) and the following year try to add to it.

Where in Toronto do you workout if you don't mind my asking?

**Old_Fart2** · May 5th, 2005, 03:59 PM

Well, let's see, if I'd gained say 4 lbs a year for the past 30 years, I'd be at about 265 lbs., 8% BF, 5'8". That would be pretty impressive.

But truthfully, most of my weight gains came in the first few years, then it's slow going after that.

Face it, though, sooner or later you're going to hit that brick wall called genetic potential. Then you have to struggle like hell to squeeze a little extra out.

BTW there are advantages to getting older; I just don't remember what they are.