Having lean and chiseled abs is something the majority of the guys getting into fitness wish to achieve. We know that getting visible abs eventually comes down to having a low body fat percentage. While there isn’t a fixed body fat percentage which can make you look ripped (as the fat distribution patterns can vary from person to person), it is commonly accepted that you will look great when you’re at 10% body fat.

At 10% body fat, while you won’t look stage lean and have paper-thin skin, you will definitely look amazing at the beach. While this sort of leanness might come naturally to some of the genetically-blessed, the majority of us will have to put in a ton of work to be able to get down to 10% body fat.

While the process in itself is not difficult, the patience it requires is what throws people off. This is the reason I created this calculator. It can help you get an idea of how long it will take you to reach 10% body fat in a perfect world.

Calculator

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In a perfect world - that’s one hell of an assumption. Here’s why this calculator should just be used for recreational purposes to give you an idea of how long it would take you to reach 10% body fat.

• Assumes no lean body mass will be lost.

This is a huge assumption. As a matter of fact, it assumes a constant value for your lean body mass throughout the process which is not likely to be the case in the real world. Not only is there a probable chance of you gaining muscle while cutting as a beginner, but there is also a higher probability of you losing muscle if you diet for extended periods of time, given that you're not a beginner

• Assumes that the calorie deficit will be executed perfectly.

Firstly, you can never be 100% accurate with your calories and these numbers. Secondly, the fact that an individual will not mess up even a single day in itself is a huge assumption.

• Assumes a linear path to 10% body fat.

This calculator assumes that you will not be taking any diet breaks or refeeds throughout the process. That is not realistic and hence it is actually giving you a shorter than required time output.

• Assumes a pound of fat is equal to exactly 3500 calories.

Hence, relying on the output of this calculator as if it is something set in stone is not a good idea. In reality, several other factors play a role in making this process slower (generally) or faster.

That said, it is always a plus to have an idea of how long the process could take you to help you to create a more realistic timeline for achieving your goals.

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