I've been rocking bear mode for years, and I'm sitting at 210lbs at 5'9 and about 20% body fat. Heaviest I ever got while trying to stay around 12% was 180lbs.
One thing I'd add is muscle doesn't grow as fast as people think. If you eat too much you get fat you don't really build muscle faster by just eating more. Been there done that.
I actually much prefer how I look with a higher bf%. What's annoying though is that I'm really limited by the fact that I store so much of my body fat in my lower stomach area.
Visceral fats are bad due to proximity to internal organs. Subcutaneous fats are ideal and there is evidence that regular strength training maximizes this form of fat distribution.
I have borderline low blood pressure at 17-20% now, and I had borderline low blood pressure at 12-15%. If you go really high of course you might have problems, but around 20% for someone who regularly exercises is not going to hurt you.
Blood pressure is also tough to measure accurately, and the body can take time to normalize. I'm not saying anyone is wrong, I just know at home checkers are not fit for medical diagnosis. 95% accuracy is pretty impressive for the price of the units, and yet that's absolutely enough to give you false readings. Of course I don't know how you're measuring, just sharing information. There are free testers at many department stores also, I would imagine these are pretty good.
I want to stay leaner because all my fat goes to my lower stomach and love handles which makes me look and feel like crap. Being leaner around 12% bf makes me look better which makes me feel better
To be fair, there is some screwing with the bodyfat "associated with the least mortality" as critically ill patients tend to lose a significant amount of weight before they die (and therefore drag up the "healthy" range).
Besides the metric as a whole is dubious. Lowest probability of death at any given point does not necessarily equate quality of life nor absence of chronic deseases.
Totally agree thus the "terms and conditions apply" mentioned. Also, body-fat was not presented as a sole variable on the video tho papi chulo. What was mentioned was that if you're consistently engaging in physical activity while keeping your waist circumference in check (~ 0.5 waist to height ratio in cm), you can be at a higher than what's considered "good" in the fitness world (eg: 20%).
Been hovering in the upper teens BF % last couple years and have to say, making the best gains since my 20s. I was chronically underfed throughout my 20s and didn't have a lot of quality training years. I was a chubby kid like Dr. Pak, lost a ton and got skinny for a while, and then stayed too thin for too long and it killed my gym progress. I've made better gains on maintenence at higher body fat than when I used to hover around 12-14%. Maybe it's hormonal or due to overall increased energy intake since my LBM is also so much higher. I do have some love handles, but the extra mass I'm carrying still gives me a strong V taper. I carry most body fat in my low back and glutes, so when I start getting any noticeable belly I know it's time to slowly cut or recomp.
Okay but yes sometimes you need someone to crush you with their entire bodyweight for emotional regulation purposes and it's important they be heavy enough to accomplish that task. It's about mental health. Zaddy ❌ human weighted blanket ✅
Bulking and cutting with some maintenance phases in between has worked better for me than just being at maintenance most of the year. Even if I was maintaining at a higher BF% I believe a long term dedicated bulk and cut approach is better. Not taking bulks and cuts to the extreme is important and a person can still be satisfied with their food intake and hunger.
My first thought with that study would be that are we looking at the BF% of underfed individuals living in poverty with lower health care standards? Not entirely sure of the purpose of this video other than to say it's okay to be a bit "chunkier". But Dr Pak is literally saying he's always been a chunky boy, so no shit he feels more comfortable there. Whilst other guys will be skinny bros who can happily sit ~10% BF and feel fine.
Dr. Pak with the facts. People really don't seem to care at all how big and muscular you are if you aren't insecure about it yourself. If you can look in the mirror and say "that looks good to me" and walk with straight back, that's all that's needed and is noticed. One childhood friend has commented on me building muscle in the past few years because I never had muscle before. Women couldn't care less, all they've said is "I don't like very muscular men".
Really a great video, but one important point seems to be missing here : You can actually lift heavier when you gain some weight and it doesn't have to be mostly muscle for that matter. You don't have to take my word for it, but power- lifting experts like Dave Tate and JM Blakely will tell you that every ten pounds of extra bodyweight comes with a tremendous increase in overall strength levels. It should be clear that if you stay within the right rep ranges for hypertrophy but you can use more weight, muscle gains should be on another level within the same time period as well... 💪
Ah yes, I remember the days when I would keep telling myself this and would bulk up to 23% body fat and get insulin resistant as hell, with nearly the whole surplus just being stored as fat, and then I'd have to go on a long ass cut to get back in shape, which was additional time I could have spent growing. Never again, true athletes stay conditioned year round. This is advice people tell themselves to justify eating a bad diet / fun food, burgers and fries (I know because I used to be the exact same way). The ideal body fat for growth is 8-15%, but for naturals its more fair to shoot for 10-18%. I'm also 12-13% right now and still technically building muscle; it's slow, but any progress is better than none, I'm still growing all year (the trick is low volume and frequency, high intensity and progressive overload)
I’m 29 years old and have been training since 16 years old. 90% of my training career has been focused on building/massing. Finished up a cutting phase after a 3 year hard bulk, now I’m the leanest/strongest individual in all the local gyms I step into. Ride and get comfortable in the bulk. It will be well worth it after years
If you train, lift, cardio, sports, etc., paired with proper diet and rest/recovery/sleep habits, then a man can often be very healthy at a fluffy 18-22%BF 🐻 🐻❄ 🧸
I usually like to bulk from the low teens to the high teens. Approaching 20% joint issues get worse, and I feel like my t levels take a hit. Probably depends on the person bur 20% is counterproductive for me.
I prefer an aesthetic physique with slow increments of strength over every type of lift. 20 percent body fat is good for a recomp. I feel that focusing on performance is good for people who enjoy mainly that. Mainly I workout to look great outside the gym. Ultimately the pendulum of ideal bodyweight shouldn’t swing to far each way. Too fat is a no go for most people. Same with too shredded.
Iv just seen your video about your elbow.Im 43 now,had elbow pain since i was 35,not barbell benched or overhead pressed since.Jist couldnt as it flared my elbow off,had a huge lump on it,xrays showed i had bone growth over what looked like a broken bone(not idea how id ever have done it) plus 3 bone spurs in it.Had surgery,on my way back now,i can only do chest presses with Dumbbells now,hammers stregth equipmwnt helps loads aswell due to the grip angles.Iv tried to bench press but i think its a mental thing now expecting my elbow to just give up.
I know it's killing my gains but I can't go back to my sloppy form. I actually perform WORSE when my form worsens because I feel miserable about myself.
Yeaaaaa my waist is almost definitely going to be getting close to that 1/2 of my height mark if I were to go to above 20% BF, my body prefers that 10-15% zone. I'll also add I honestly don't buy the P-ratio data based on personal experience as well as others, I do think it's better to start lean when gaining muscle than already being at a higher BF%, just my opinion though not dogmatic about it as others may have different experiences.
My problem when I get to the lower bf ranges is my face hollows out big time. I look like I'm on death's door or something. All my family and friends preferred me bigger. Wish I could keep the face fuller when I lean down.
Interesting last point raised by Dr. Pak. I understand maintaining at higher bodyfat is probably easier and more sustainable for an average guy where fitrness is not the first priority. However, is it really going to be better for gains to maintain instead of bulk and cut?
Depends on how much of that time you spend doing what. If you're mostly cutting and then binge for a bit, then maintenance would likely have been better. But dedicated, effective and long bulking phases will be better than maintenance, surely.
Interesting formula there... so at 5 ft 8 inch I should have 34 in waist... I am slightly past that. But yeah, I think trying to maintain low teens % or less it is hard to gain muscle
Could you calm things down a little? Every few seconds something flashing at me, or hearing random sound effects whoosh by. Felt like was gaining ADHD watching this.
All the jacked abs poking out stringer guys struggling with 225 for reps. My fluffy small 5 11 230 lbs ass using their 1 RM as a warmup. Lol I enjoy being healthy and a little extra bulky than jacked, veins popping out and starving all the time. Granted, if that’s how YOU enjoy looking then more power to you. I know there are guys ripped and strong but my body type doesn’t seem to enjoy that.
1 like and I'll bulk to 300lb.
Special thanks to Dr. Pak, make sure you are subscribed to his channel: www.youtube.com/@Dr__Pak
liked
@@Dr__Pak 🧸
Oh, no! Too many people liked and so now he won't bulk to 300lbs!!!
3hundOmar lets goooo
I would like Doctor pack to know. I am a professional body builder and I watch this channel. Thank you very much.
Loved these detailed takes!! Bear Mode is easily sustainable 🐻💯
The natty goat speaks
I've been rocking bear mode for years, and I'm sitting at 210lbs at 5'9 and about 20% body fat. Heaviest I ever got while trying to stay around 12% was 180lbs.
One thing I'd add is muscle doesn't grow as fast as people think. If you eat too much you get fat you don't really build muscle faster by just eating more. Been there done that.
Yes. Renaissance Dr Mike says it takes like 5-10 years
@@raygengamer8440 not quite that long. For serious gains, yes, quite possibly.
Natty = 200-300 surplus
Gear = 300-500 surplus
@@trenaceandblackmetal5621 calories?
@@foxdogs1sttestosterone😂
I actually much prefer how I look with a higher bf%. What's annoying though is that I'm really limited by the fact that I store so much of my body fat in my lower stomach area.
I'm a skinny guy 150lb and that's where I store my fat too so I think it's normal.
Visceral fats are bad due to proximity to internal organs. Subcutaneous fats are ideal and there is evidence that regular strength training maximizes this form of fat distribution.
Alternate title: “why having normal blood pressure is KILLING your gains!”
I don't think being 20% bf gives you high BP.
Mine hits 130/80 at 20% every time I bulk, around 15% it drops back to 120/60 and stays that way until contest shape. It makes a difference.
I agree AlanThrall
I have borderline low blood pressure at 17-20% now, and I had borderline low blood pressure at 12-15%. If you go really high of course you might have problems, but around 20% for someone who regularly exercises is not going to hurt you.
Blood pressure is also tough to measure accurately, and the body can take time to normalize. I'm not saying anyone is wrong, I just know at home checkers are not fit for medical diagnosis. 95% accuracy is pretty impressive for the price of the units, and yet that's absolutely enough to give you false readings. Of course I don't know how you're measuring, just sharing information. There are free testers at many department stores also, I would imagine these are pretty good.
I want to stay leaner because all my fat goes to my lower stomach and love handles which makes me look and feel like crap. Being leaner around 12% bf makes me look better which makes me feel better
Do you breh. I use to think that way as well.
I'm same. My waist isn't half my height until I'm 15-16% bf. And if I'm at 20% bf I look like shit wo my shirt. Big love handles....
lipo the love handles.
When you get a bigger upper body, those love handles are less noticeable
To be fair, there is some screwing with the bodyfat "associated with the least mortality" as critically ill patients tend to lose a significant amount of weight before they die (and therefore drag up the "healthy" range).
This. Correlation != causation
Besides the metric as a whole is dubious. Lowest probability of death at any given point does not necessarily equate quality of life nor absence of chronic deseases.
Yeah and as a 70inch tall guy I don’t believe I was healthier with a 34 inch waist than I am now with a 30 inch waist
Totally agree thus the "terms and conditions apply" mentioned. Also, body-fat was not presented as a sole variable on the video tho papi chulo. What was mentioned was that if you're consistently engaging in physical activity while keeping your waist circumference in check (~ 0.5 waist to height ratio in cm), you can be at a higher than what's considered "good" in the fitness world (eg: 20%).
anything above 15% and my face gets way too fat, i'm willing to sacrifice a bit of muscle for my leanness
Wonderfully comprehensive and wholesome discussion. I loved this.
Been hovering in the upper teens BF % last couple years and have to say, making the best gains since my 20s. I was chronically underfed throughout my 20s and didn't have a lot of quality training years. I was a chubby kid like Dr. Pak, lost a ton and got skinny for a while, and then stayed too thin for too long and it killed my gym progress.
I've made better gains on maintenence at higher body fat than when I used to hover around 12-14%. Maybe it's hormonal or due to overall increased energy intake since my LBM is also so much higher.
I do have some love handles, but the extra mass I'm carrying still gives me a strong V taper. I carry most body fat in my low back and glutes, so when I start getting any noticeable belly I know it's time to slowly cut or recomp.
I like to stay between 15-20% because regardless of looks, my work capacity goes to shit at 20% and higher.
I'd like to get to 20% one day, a long journey. Hit 29.4% last week, no longer in the 30's.
Keep going, it's infinitely more difficult to stay there than to get there.
20% makes my pecs look waay worse than when my abs are somewhat visible. Zad bod only looks great in clothes, not in swimshorts.
Problem is guys at 25-30% BF will convince themselves they are like 18/19 procent
Time to start bulking
Okay but yes sometimes you need someone to crush you with their entire bodyweight for emotional regulation purposes and it's important they be heavy enough to accomplish that task. It's about mental health.
Zaddy ❌ human weighted blanket ✅
The content, the video edit , and the end is amazing jajajaj
😃
👕👍 I'm Bulking Bro
👖
Bulking and cutting with some maintenance phases in between has worked better for me than just being at maintenance most of the year. Even if I was maintaining at a higher BF% I believe a long term dedicated bulk and cut approach is better. Not taking bulks and cuts to the extreme is important and a person can still be satisfied with their food intake and hunger.
My first thought with that study would be that are we looking at the BF% of underfed individuals living in poverty with lower health care standards?
Not entirely sure of the purpose of this video other than to say it's okay to be a bit "chunkier". But Dr Pak is literally saying he's always been a chunky boy, so no shit he feels more comfortable there. Whilst other guys will be skinny bros who can happily sit ~10% BF and feel fine.
1:41 me when laughing at something random when I shouldnt be laughing
You post this mere days after I switched gears from a bulk to a fat loss phase 😂
I love Raskol JANTS!
Dr. Pak with the facts. People really don't seem to care at all how big and muscular you are if you aren't insecure about it yourself. If you can look in the mirror and say "that looks good to me" and walk with straight back, that's all that's needed and is noticed. One childhood friend has commented on me building muscle in the past few years because I never had muscle before. Women couldn't care less, all they've said is "I don't like very muscular men".
Dang those edits going crazy!
Love these videos Omar! Would also like some training videos please!
Really a great video, but one important point seems to be
missing here : You can actually
lift heavier when you gain some weight and it doesn't have to be mostly muscle for
that matter. You don't have to take my word for it, but power-
lifting experts like Dave Tate
and JM Blakely will tell you
that every ten pounds of extra
bodyweight comes with a
tremendous increase in overall
strength levels.
It should be clear that if you stay within the right rep ranges
for hypertrophy but you can use more weight, muscle gains
should be on another level
within the same time period as
well... 💪
You gotta embrace the big.
Great duo
Spitting Facts
Healthy perma-bulk with cardio, GPP, and occasional cuts too resensatize to growth
In other terms GET YUUUUGEEE
At 15-23% body fat you can gain muscle at maintenance calories, its better than bulking and cutting all the time, especially heath-wise
Ah yes, I remember the days when I would keep telling myself this and would bulk up to 23% body fat and get insulin resistant as hell, with nearly the whole surplus just being stored as fat, and then I'd have to go on a long ass cut to get back in shape, which was additional time I could have spent growing.
Never again, true athletes stay conditioned year round. This is advice people tell themselves to justify eating a bad diet / fun food, burgers and fries (I know because I used to be the exact same way).
The ideal body fat for growth is 8-15%, but for naturals its more fair to shoot for 10-18%. I'm also 12-13% right now and still technically building muscle; it's slow, but any progress is better than none, I'm still growing all year (the trick is low volume and frequency, high intensity and progressive overload)
That 570lbs deadlift looked so sick
ZADDY MODE!
Appreciate the video! & totally agree with it, yet what about women?
Buff Daddy
Growing a mustache or beard is an important part of bear mode.
To hide that double Chin ? 😅
I’m 29 years old and have been training since 16 years old. 90% of my training career has been focused on building/massing. Finished up a cutting phase after a 3 year hard bulk, now I’m the leanest/strongest individual in all the local gyms I step into. Ride and get comfortable in the bulk. It will be well worth it after years
Love this take! Thank you for spreading a positive message that helps people live not only healthier, but happier lives
If you train, lift, cardio, sports, etc., paired with proper diet and rest/recovery/sleep habits, then a man can often be very healthy at a fluffy 18-22%BF 🐻 🐻❄ 🧸
I usually like to bulk from the low teens to the high teens. Approaching 20% joint issues get worse, and I feel like my t levels take a hit. Probably depends on the person bur 20% is counterproductive for me.
Omar’s face when he said “G check yourself” 😂
40% during winter
This how what Coath Jason Blaha has been preaching for years. Hes pure beast mode with the best training advice on UA-cam.
mike tyson?
Im a fan of beer mode. Bear mode sounds cool though
I prefer an aesthetic physique with slow increments of strength over every type of lift. 20 percent body fat is good for a recomp. I feel that focusing on performance is good for people who enjoy mainly that. Mainly I workout to look great outside the gym. Ultimately the pendulum of ideal bodyweight shouldn’t swing to far each way. Too fat is a no go for most people. Same with too shredded.
Im Not a fan of Perma cutting or bulking. Id say cut and bulk from 10-12%bf to 16-17% u pretty much will Build muscles without losing Ur abs
First 🎉 greetings from Germany 🇩🇪 Björn
bearmode 4 lyf
Grizzly mode sounds much better imo.
Not to be confused with the Sad Bod :D
Iv just seen your video about your elbow.Im 43 now,had elbow pain since i was 35,not barbell benched or overhead pressed since.Jist couldnt as it flared my elbow off,had a huge lump on it,xrays showed i had bone growth over what looked like a broken bone(not idea how id ever have done it) plus 3 bone spurs in it.Had surgery,on my way back now,i can only do chest presses with Dumbbells now,hammers stregth equipmwnt helps loads aswell due to the grip angles.Iv tried to bench press but i think its a mental thing now expecting my elbow to just give up.
I know it's killing my gains but I can't go back to my sloppy form. I actually perform WORSE when my form worsens because I feel miserable about myself.
Great video
The visuals gave me a headache
The first 30 seconds gave me an epileptic seizure
Cut to 10% BF lean bulk to 18%(or less if preferred)BF and repeat, keep it simple.
Yeaaaaa my waist is almost definitely going to be getting close to that 1/2 of my height mark if I were to go to above 20% BF, my body prefers that 10-15% zone. I'll also add I honestly don't buy the P-ratio data based on personal experience as well as others, I do think it's better to start lean when gaining muscle than already being at a higher BF%, just my opinion though not dogmatic about it as others may have different experiences.
More mythology shirts please!! 😎
Bear Mode 24/7. It's never been a negative.
Also, he said DADDY, not Zaddy. C'mon bro.
The waste circumference metric needs some nuance - you're working your core with offset loads you'll have a thick tree trunk of a core.
BBM is the nickname for bear mode you were looking for
Performance > aestheics
My problem when I get to the lower bf ranges is my face hollows out big time. I look like I'm on death's door or something. All my family and friends preferred me bigger. Wish I could keep the face fuller when I lean down.
Would love to bête dr pak about body dysmorphie and to overcome. It
I prefer Bison Boys, but I suppose I can deal with Zad Bod lol
Irl most people don’t struggle with being too lean it’s more of an internet thing most people I see in the gym are around 20%
Interesting last point raised by Dr. Pak. I understand maintaining at higher bodyfat is probably easier and more sustainable for an average guy where fitrness is not the first priority. However, is it really going to be better for gains to maintain instead of bulk and cut?
No way
Depends on how much of that time you spend doing what. If you're mostly cutting and then binge for a bit, then maintenance would likely have been better. But dedicated, effective and long bulking phases will be better than maintenance, surely.
Interesting formula there... so at 5 ft 8 inch I should have 34 in waist... I am slightly past that. But yeah, I think trying to maintain low teens % or less it is hard to gain muscle
Man I’m 5,5 I bulked to 180 wearing xl shirts I was pretty chunky I cut to 128 bw lol with a pump I look the same in a xl shirt as I did at 180
Zaddy!
Jesus fucking Christ how many videos on this do we need? We get it. Tell us something interesting.
10:15 iykyk
Isn’t carrying higher body fat killing your heart? 👀
Oh boy
Real ones know that sex is much better when you're skinny, but since weightlifting is better than sex, it's better to be higher body fat 😎
Fat acceptance, but fitness.
Could you calm things down a little? Every few seconds something flashing at me, or hearing random sound effects whoosh by. Felt like was gaining ADHD watching this.
Whyd you have to bring my back fat into this.... Time to cut
*if you are Natrual
Dude these random ass megamind hacker edits throughout the video are goofy af especially with omar having the gymbro matrix sunglasses look.
All the jacked abs poking out stringer guys struggling with 225 for reps. My fluffy small 5 11 230 lbs ass using their 1 RM as a warmup. Lol I enjoy being healthy and a little extra bulky than jacked, veins popping out and starving all the time. Granted, if that’s how YOU enjoy looking then more power to you. I know there are guys ripped and strong but my body type doesn’t seem to enjoy that.
11:30 the biggest bulsshit i've heard for this month lol
Bear mode brought me pre diabetes ! It is NOT healthy at all
#ZaddyMode
Whats up with that ADHD editing?
lol don’t have the touch to hit 300lbs baby boy
3rd!!!
Washed up
Call me Zaddy #zadbod 🐻🫡