Fat Loss Roundtable With The Experts - Question 10 - Does a set point for body fat percentage make being very lean year round ill advised or are there ways around this? 

1. Fat Loss Roundtable
With The Experts
Question 10
Does a set point for body fat
percentage make being very
lean year round ill advised or are
there ways around this?

2. Layne Norton
Does a set point for body fat percentage make being very lean year round ill
advised or are there ways around this?
“Well it depends on the individual's setpoint.
If you are someone who has a low bodyfat just by nature then
it's probably ok to stay leaner, but if you are more endomorphic
by nature it will probably be harder to stay lean and add muscle
mass. ”

3. Alan Aragon
Does a set point for body fat percentage make being very lean year round ill
advised or are there ways around this?
“This really boils down to personal preference.
In my observations, some folks don't mind being "normal" or
even towards the "fluffy" side unless they're dieting for a
competition, photo shoot, movie, or other specific event.
Those who want to stay lean year-round but don't have that
natural tendency will have to work considerably harder than
those who are natural greyhounds, metabolism-wise.
In my observations genetically average folks generally need to do
about 25% more formal training volume, and/or consume about
25% less calories to come close to the leanness that metabolic
greyhounds display for the majority of the time. That's just the
reality of the matter. If the genetically average folks choose to
put themselves through that stress, then that's on them. ”

4. Borge Fagerli
Does a set point for body fat percentage make being very lean year round ill
advised or are there ways around this?
“ I can pretty much "reprogram" someone to be able to stay lean
year-round, but depending on initial fatness and how much
energy you´re willing to spend on training (the great metabolic
equalizer), there is bound to be some degree of portion control
and conscious decision-making when you´re grocery shopping.
I think it´s a matter of how you approach it mentally most of all,
even if you are somewhat screwed if your parents were obese
and you were one of the "big-boned" kids.
If you consider it "dieting" it will be harder because you always
feel like you are restricting yourself. It will be a lot easier for you
if you consider it a lifestyle and learn how to make nutritious
food choices taste great with various spices and natural
flavourings (I put stevia on everything including meat dishes if I
have a sweet tooth).”

5. Gavin Allinson
Does a set point for body fat percentage make being very lean year round ill
advised or are there ways around this?
“As far as I know there is no empirical proof of a set point for body fat
percentage, however I do think that individuals do have set points that
there body ends up coming back to whether it is physiological or
psychological I don't know.
What I do think is that you can recalibrate your set point however it
requires maintaining your weight at your desired level for a period of time
to adjust to your new set point.
eg. you may get lean for a show and once it is over let it all go and add
more body fat as a release from having to diet so hard.
A bodybuilder may want to spend some time at least a month or 2
maintaining their weight if they wanted to be in good shape throughout
the year.
If you are a fitness model you have to be able to do this otherwise you are
not going to be able to work for big chunks of the year. Having said that
you may want to hover around 6-8% body fat as a minimum, but you need
to monitor your overall health and training responses if you are going to
maintain at this level year round.”

6. Matt Lovell
Does a set point for body fat percentage make being very lean year round ill
advised or are there ways around this?
“I would keep to 3-4% off your peak body comp year round, this
shouldn’t be too difficult. Or never be more than 6 weeks out of
peak shape. If you are having to diet down for 3 months+ to get
into peak condition you are probably over fat……”