[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:
[/quote]
Interesting that Starnes believes in Setpoints also…especially with the talk against it I have seen here.
[quote]Set Point Considerations
The human body has a lot of internal thermostat-type processes that help it maintain homeostasis. It tries to keep some semblance of “normal” in terms of bodily processes, and it can be quite difficult to change that set point.
Ever notice how after dieting your body tries to fall back to the weight you started at? That’s your set point. It’s what your body is used to, and it wants to get back to that state.
One way to help re-set your set point is to maintain the new weight for a longer period of time in an attempt to get your body to recognize the new weight as its new set point.
Resetting your set point can take months. So rather than getting your weight up to a certain point and then immediately dieting back down, hold that new weight for six months or longer. It will help you hold on to more of that new muscle when you do eventually diet down.
This doesn’t mean get fat and stay fat! It means put on muscle, keep your body fat under control, then hold that new weight for a while before slowly leaning out.[/quote]
I have written pretty much exactly the same here before but was met with much obstinance.[/quote]
I think that’s for the same reason the ‘lower bf = better insulin sensitivity = better gains’ gets debated. Both have basis in science and anecdotal evidence, but is still just ya know, ‘theory’.
Pertaining to the OP, I think I feel best at lower BF%, like 10-12%. But to gain weight muscle, I seem to kind of have to creep to 15ish, mid teens, whatever. But after a certain point I feel lethargic. Having 'abs, really isn’t a good indicator for me, because the way I hold fat abs are there at higher bf levels. Once getting past 15% I start getting bad love handles/hip/lower back fat. Throws off any v-taper.