While true that many "hard-core female athletes" have body fat at 10%, many are already genetically inclined to having lower body fat. Not to mention a rigorous work-out schedule along with a personal trainer. These female athletes spend their day and their life training. The sports they play tend to be their jobs. Your average woman works and spends her time doing other things. Working out 7 days a week for 5 hours a day is not possible for most women. I'm sorry to pick on you James but I hear guys make comments like that all the time when a girl complains about their period or birth control pills. "If you lose a bit a weight, you won't get your period anymore!" It perpetuates body image problems among women when, in fact, it is perfectly healthy for a woman to have body fat 18-22%. Our body fat is that high so that we can have a healthy child. I would not suggest to any woman who is not a "hardcore athlete" to lower her body fat to 10% just so she won't have to worry about pregnancy. It is unhealthy and unrealistic.

My ex is a personal trainer...and when I had him do my diet for me he said my goal body fat percentage was 18%, which is lean for a woman. He's at 9% himself, but I don't think I'd ever be able to get down that low.

Hootie

A lot of female athletes can still be "big" but have a low body fat percentage. My next door neighbors are swimmers and they eat somewhere between 3000-5000 calories a DAY and their body fat percentage is waaaay lower than mine, and I have a genetic propensity to thinness. James, I don't mean to rat on you, but comments like that are why a lot of girls have major eating disorders. I know you didn't mean it in any malicious way, but there are other ways for a girl to take care of things w/o endangering her life. People w/ that low of a percentage also have problems like bleeding gums, bad breath, hair falling out, teeth falling out, weird body odor, and dull skin. How un sexy is that??? While we should definitely eat healthily and exercise regularly, over obsession can undermine what we wanted to begin with.

I noticed someone saying that if you don't get your period for a long time it will be hard to get pregnant I found out this is not true. Last time I was at the gyno I asked her about that because that is what I was told and she told me that it is not true that you could get pregnant very soon after getting off the shot. So I am not too worried about being on the shot.

Anne Marie

I totally agree with you. It's intended for women to have children and our larger hips, thighs etc. is a result of that. Getting your body fat down to 10%...Is that really necessary? I think the extra curves around some of our problem areas is what sets women apart from men.

Ok as far as the body fat issue goes, it isn't healthy and I think that everyone who has posted on it has said the truth and I agree with them all. back to the birth control issue though I have been on the pill since I was 16 I am now 21, I have used Ortho, Mircette, and another but I must say I love love love Ortho, it has cleared up my skin and done wonders on my cramps. As far as skipping pills goes, I do it all the time, I hate hate hate having my period and how it makes me feel, so, I don't deal with it I have not had any problems and I would recomend it to anyone who feels the same why I do !! Quick question did anyone ever try the new Nuva ring that the view chick is promoting ?