I've been lurking around here for some time and just registered. Thanks, John, for the site. That being said, I've read a lot about how testosterone is the key element in men that allows them to shed BF%. Where does that leave women? Certainly we have some level of testosterone, but are we at a natural disadvantage since we don't have as much?

Judging from the transformations, it just seems like men have an easier times dropping fat. Is there anything women can do to level the playing field?

Beth

you dont have as much, but generally, womens bodies are smaller so it sorta evens out. with that said, it is a documented fact that women have a harder time losing fat mass than men. also, storage of adipose tissue on men is drastically different than on females. men tend to store fat in their waist, whereas women tend to store it in their legs, hips, and buttocks.

ive seen some phenomenal transformations for women though over the past few months. a member by the name of "jle" on the bodybuilding.com forums did an amazing 12 week transformation. she went from a thick 202 to about 170, but she looks way less than 170 in her pics. check this thread out :: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=216517

she also has posted more pics recently as more weight has dropped, and her waistline is shrinking at an amazing rate.


I've been lurking around here for some time and just registered. Thanks, John, for the site. That being said, I've read a lot about how testosterone is the key element in men that allows them to shed BF%. Where does that leave women? Certainly we have some level of testosterone, but are we at a natural disadvantage since we don't have as much?

Judging from the transformations, it just seems like men have an easier times dropping fat. Is there anything women can do to level the playing field?

Beth

I've been lurking around here for some time and just registered. Thanks, John, for the site. That being said, I've read a lot about how testosterone is the key element in men that allows them to shed BF%. Where does that leave women? Certainly we have some level of testosterone, but are we at a natural disadvantage since we don't have as much?

Judging from the transformations, it just seems like men have an easier times dropping fat. Is there anything women can do to level the playing field?

Beth

Well, hold on there a second. We've got to talk about goals here. Is your goal to get up on a bodybuilding stage with other men and match them definition for definition, vein for vein, muscle for muscle? Then yes, sadly, that's going to be pretty near impossible for a woman.

But if your goal is just to look great, that's a whole other story! Yes, women will hold onto a lot more fat, but that's ok and that's the way it should be.

In my opinion (and this is pretty typical) a man looks best at, say, 8-11% bodyfat.

But for women - and don't kill me, this is just how I like 'em, your mileage may vary - ranges more like 14-18% are ideal.

So the playing fields aren't so much unlevel as they're really just entirely seperate playing fields.

Well, hold on there a second. We've got to talk about goals here. Is your goal to get up on a bodybuilding stage with other men and match them definition for definition, vein for vein, muscle for muscle? Then yes, sadly, that's going to be pretty near impossible for a woman.

But if your goal is just to look great, that's a whole other story! Yes, women will hold onto a lot more fat, but that's ok and that's the way it should be.

In my opinion (and this is pretty typical) a man looks best at, say, 8-11% bodyfat.

But for women - and don't kill me, this is just how I like 'em, your mileage may vary - ranges more like 14-18% are ideal.

So the playing fields aren't so much unlevel as they're really just entirely seperate playing fields.

Of course my goal is not to compete with male body builders. I don't see where I insinuated that. :confused:

I was stating that it seemed to me that, on the whole, it is easier for men to lose body fat. I've read this is a function of testosterone. My question is if there is anything women can do to make it equally easy.

you dont have as much, but generally, womens bodies are smaller so it sorta evens out. with that said, it is a documented fact that women have a harder time losing fat mass than men. also, storage of adipose tissue on men is drastically different than on females. men tend to store fat in their waist, whereas women tend to store it in their legs, hips, and buttocks.

ive seen some phenomenal transformations for women though over the past few months. a member by the name of "jle" on the bodybuilding.com forums did an amazing 12 week transformation. she went from a thick 202 to about 170, but she looks way less than 170 in her pics. check this thread out :: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=216517

she also has posted more pics recently as more weight has dropped, and her waistline is shrinking at an amazing rate.

HOLY MOLY! That's amazing. I read the thread, and it seems like she is following the meal plan that most of us are.

But geez, she does 60-80 minutes of cardio 5-6 times per week. Is that why she's dropped 32lbs of fat in 12 weeks?

you dont have as much, but generally, womens bodies are smaller so it sorta evens out.



Hmm... how do you mean? Women generally have MORE fat than men. We need it, our bodies need it, to function. If our bodyfat drops too low, our bodies start taking protective measures.

HOLY MOLY! That's amazing. I read the thread, and it seems like she is following the meal plan that most of us are.

But geez, she does 60-80 minutes of cardio 5-6 times per week. Is that why she's dropped 32lbs of fat in 12 weeks?
i think she did low intensity cardio for longer durations... there are a lot of studies on the benefits of slower cardio for burning fat. basically, your body doesnt have the need to burn up all its carbs/glycogen for energy, so it goes to energy mode #2(slower mode) which is burning fat. i actually tested this last week for all 3 of my cardio phases and the results were as expected, i burned about a half pound more than usual. this is also the method pro bodybuilders use to strip their bodies of fat prior to a competion, yet leave their muscle untouched. try walking, on an incline, for 45 minutes... it works!

Beth,

I think that what people are trying to say is "Yes, it's harder for women in that it may take longer to see the same BF% changes and muscle gains, but PLEASE don't be discouraged."

That thread from the bodybuilding.com forum is amazing. She looks great!

In my opinion (and this is pretty typical) a man looks best at, say, 8-11% bodyfat.

But for women - and don't kill me, this is just how I like 'em, your mileage may vary - ranges more like 14-18% are ideal.

Actually, healthy body fat for fit men is 14-17% and for fit women 21-24% http://www.healthchecksystems.com/bodyfat.htm

I won't kill you, but your ideals are not the same as mine.

Actually, healthy body fat for fit men is 14-17%...

That makes me feel better knowing that my body fat falls within the "acceptable" area currently at 21.5%. Not that far off from beaing healthy and fit! I am still aiming for 10% to 12% BF myself.

As for woman losing body fat... My wife started following my diet and also doing cardio with me and she has lost fat quicker than me!

-Geed

Wow, this thread has just sort of wandered around. Back to the original question - in general, it is easier for men to lose weight than women. This is simply due to the fact that men tend to have more lean mass (regardless of how much fat they have). As we all know, muscle burns more calories than fat pound for pound. So when men start to diet the weight comes off a bit quicker as a result of the additional lean mass.

Beth,

I think that what people are trying to say is "Yes, it's harder for women in that it may take longer to see the same BF% changes and muscle gains, but PLEASE don't be discouraged."

That thread from the bodybuilding.com forum is amazing. She looks great!

Thanks! I remember a while back, my boyfriend and I did Atkins, and he lost 23 lbs in two weeks, whereas I was busting my butt at the gym and lost like 4 lbs.

Now I'm getting ready to really make a life change, not just a diet, and I'll stick with it!

Wow, this thread has just sort of wandered around. Back to the original question - in general, it is easier for men to lose weight than women. This is simply due to the fact that men tend to have more lean mass (regardless of how much fat they have). As we all know, muscle burns more calories than fat pound for pound. So when men start to diet the weight comes off a bit quicker as a result of the additional lean mass.

Thanks. This is what I was looking for. I suppose the testosterone combined with more lean mass does the trick.

Just means I've gotta try harder than my boyfriend, right? :claplow: