Being in great shape is more than just being lean (here's why)

If you’ve ever felt healthy but not ‘lean enough,’ this one’s for you.

And let’s get something straight—being shredded does not automatically mean being healthy.

You can have abs and be sleep-deprived, overtrained, under-eating, and miserable. You can also have no visible six-pack and still be strong, energized, mobile, and thriving. So why do so many of us measure our progress by how lean we look?

That’s what this post is about—breaking the myth that health equals shredded, and giving you a more sustainable lens to look at your body through.

Body Fat Isn’t the Enemy—It’s Necessary

Body fat gets a bad rap, but the truth is, it’s essential for survival.

For men, essential fat starts around 2-5%. For women, it’s closer to 10-13%. That’s the bare minimum your body needs to function. But that doesn’t mean the “ideal” is somewhere close to those numbers.

Most healthy, athletic men sit somewhere between 10–20% body fat. Women, 18–28%. That’s right—healthy bodies don’t look like fitness magazine covers. And here’s the kicker: those covers? They’re usually shot at the peak of a strict cut, not how those athletes look or feel year-round.

The Scale Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

You’ve probably seen BMI charts or “ideal weight calculators” before. And sure, they can be general tools—but they don’t factor in muscle mass, bone density, or genetics.

Let’s say you’ve been strength training, feeling great, moving better, and your pants fit looser—but the scale hasn’t budged. That’s still a win. That’s health. That’s momentum. Instead of chasing a number, chase how you feel in your body. How strong you are. How much energy you have for life, family, work, and workouts. That’s real progress.

Why Being Shredded Often Comes at a Cost

Getting shredded—like stage lean or influencer lean—is a goal some people choose, and that’s fine. But it’s important to be real about what it takes to get there:

Extreme calorie restriction
Hours of cardio
Micromanaging every bite of food
Zero flexibility in lifestyle
Constant hunger, mood swings, sleep issues

That’s not “bad discipline”—that’s an unhealthy extreme for most people. Especially if you’re a parent, have a demanding job, or want to enjoy food and life with the people you love.

What Actually Matters

Here’s the truth most people won’t say out loud:

You can be 15–20% body fat, feel incredible, lift heavy, move well, and have better long-term health than someone walking around at 7%.

So let’s reframe what “fit” looks like:

You don’t need a six-pack to be healthy.
You don’t need to chase the lowest possible weight.
You don’t need to obsess over the mirror.

You just need to keep showing up. Move your body. Eat like someone who respects themselves. Sleep. Breathe. Drink water. Build habits you can sustain.That’s The Unshredded life. And that’s more than enough.