Highly Confusing BF%

I've done three tests now on BF% and all have come out roughly as the same thing considering my height, my weight, waistsize and neck size.  According to the tests I'm 13% BF.  But the thing is, aren't you meant to have visible abs at around 15%?  At the moment, I've got a gut still by my own high standards that I want to acheive.  I've been pretty much overweight all my life and over the past year I've really shed the weight and gained muscle through bodybuilding, I'm wondering if that has some kind of effect?
 
I'm 6'4, 202 lbs, 34 inch waist and 16 inch neck incase anyone was wondering...  What's the ideal Bodyfat to have visible abs?

Usually 10% or lower would be the generally accepted standard.

Below 10% and you can start to see a true 6 or 8 pack.

15% is average (healthy) for you given your stats.  But you won't really see your abs unless you flex and even then.. you won't see the full pack.  You will also notice the ability to pinch the fat around the midsection.  That's just where your body stores it for males with exceptions.

I'm not going to comment on an ideal body fat because you can toss out any number and make it ideal.

But 10% and under is where people really start to notice the 6-pack effect.  And getting to 10% or below WITH abs is what people struggle to do so often.

Many who are very low in the body fat range, simply don't have the muscle to show off.

Others who have the muscle to show off, find it daunting to get below 12% body fat.

Things to consider:

It's possible
It's a lot of nutrition techniques (preserving muscle while burning fat)
And it's some ab work (for most of us) to have the abs to show

Just because you are super lean doesn't mean you've got the muscle to show.

Anyway... 10% and under would be generally acceptabe in most cases.  That is where you are considered to be "lean."

Marc C. David
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I've got a stable low-fat diet in place.  I eat every 3 hours.  I just needed reassurance about an ideal BF% to see the abs, and I guess that's below 10%.
 
Thanks.

TedChill, or anyone else..
 
How did you test your BF%?? ive heard of scales that test it, but do they actually work... then theres calipers from amazon.com for like 4 bucks, are they actually good?
 
Thanks,
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then theres calipers from amazon.com for like 4 bucks, are they actually good?

Sure.  With practice they can be quite accurate.

I got mine at Bodybuilding.com for $12 or something.  Typical Accu-Measure style.  Not digital.  Works.  Works well!

Marc C. David
Support DB! Buy your supplements at Supplements101.com

Alright!  Thanks a lot Marc!