Does fat really weigh more than muscle?

LISA921

Six weeks ago, I joined the ymca and really stepped up my fitness routine. I'm taking body pump (weight lifting), step aerobics, body combat, and boot camp classes. I try to go to 5 classes a week and I've been tracking my calories in here religiously. Since I began, I've put on 8 lbs! My clothes still fit, but it's discouraging to see my weight jump that much! Has anyone else had this happen? My husband thinks it's fat being replaced with muscle. Thoughts? I should add that prior to these classes, I was working out on my own at home...treadmill, Tone It Up videos with 5-8 lb dumb bells.

irishgal25

Muscle weights more than fat! I'd have to say, that gaining 8lbs of muscle in 6 weeks would be really difficult. Could you be approaching your period or eating a lot of salt (water retention)?

LISA921

I haven't really changed my eating habits...and I just had my period last weekend. It's so weird isn't it???

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

Fat does not turn in to muscle and 1lb of fat weighs no more than 1lb of muscle. You don't gain muscle unless you are eating a surplus and are lifting heavy to create them.

You have changed routine and that causes the body to hold on to water to help repair the muscle. There is a good chart that explains it, I'll try and find it and copy it in to here for you. Don't worry you should have a big drop in weight once your body lets go of the water

CipherZero

Somewhere, a chemistry and biology teacher are both banging their heads on their desks.

Fat is less dense than muscle.
Fat does not "turn into" muscle any more than muscle turns into fat, or bones turn into skin cells.

cyronius

CipherZero wrote: »

Fat is less dense than muscle.

Which means that for any given volume, the muscle weighs more...

louise13dunstan

A pound Is a pound, so in that sense they weigh the same
Ie a pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle. Muscle is denser than fat and so tskes up less space

Patttience

People are being a dense when they compare a pound of something with a pound of something else and say but hey they weigh the same. Of course they weigh the same!

Hey look a pound of feathers weighs the same as a pound of lead but does that mean feathers and lead weigh the same? I think not! You show the difference by measuring volume against weight.

When measure two items with same volume, they will weigh differently.
When you measure two items by weight, they will have different volumes.

Patttience

Open your diary please. I suspect you are eating too much OP. And yes there's more water retention when menstruating and just prior to it.

BenJDarling

Muscle weighs more than fat.

LISA921

Sorry I had that backwards in the subject line. What I meant was "is muscle more dense than fat"? I realize that a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat (or feathers or lead). My question was has anyone else experienced a noticeable weight gain when they change up the intensity of their workouts. The weight lifting class I am doing is pretty intense (lots of squats, lunges, clean presses, etc with bar bell weights).

LISA921

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

Fat does not turn in to muscle and 1lb of fat weighs no more than 1lb of muscle. You don't gain muscle unless you are eating a surplus and are lifting heavy to create them.

You have changed routine and that causes the body to hold on to water to help repair the muscle. There is a good chart that explains it, I'll try and find it and copy it in to here for you. Don't worry you should have a big drop in weight once your body lets go of the water

Thank you! Sorry I worded my question badly haha! Yes if you could find that chart, that would be great

maasha81

I gained 5 lbs when I started insanity ...it was just water retention to help repair my muscles. As long as you're weighing your food, keep at it. Your body will adjust and the weight will go down. Also hormone fluctuations can lead to temp weight gain especially during your period.

zoeysasha37

You've started a new more intense regimen so your body is retaining water . it is normal. Those pounds will come off once your body adjusts.
Your not gaining muscle if your eating at a deficit . it just doesn't work like that.

LISA921

thorsmom01 wrote: »

You've started a new more intense regimen so your body is retaining water . it is normal. Those pounds will come off once your body adjusts.
Your not gaining muscle if your eating at a deficit . it just doesn't work like that.

Thanks! I'm eating 1200/day before exercise and eating most (if not all) of my exercise calories back.

LISA921

maasha81 wrote: »

I gained 5 lbs when I started insanity ...it was just water retention to help repair my muscles. As long as you're weighing your food, keep at it. Your body will adjust and the weight will go down. Also hormone fluctuations can lead to temp weight gain especially during your period.

Thanks! I never knew water retention helps repair muscles. I have never felt better and I have a ton of energy! Just discouraging to see the lbs creep up, but now that I have a better understanding, it makes sense.

Ironmaiden4life

CipherZero wrote: »

Somewhere, a chemistry and biology teacher are both banging their heads on their desks.

Fat is less dense than muscle.
Fat does not "turn into" muscle any more than muscle turns into fat, or bones turn into skin cells.

I'm joining those teachers after reading some of the other responses lol

JamestheLiar

I love when the "1 pound = 1 pound" people come in and thrash about. So funny!

OP, I agree with most of the respondents here. According to the info you've presented, you're doing it right. Trust the process.

JamestheLiar

CipherZero wrote: »

Somewhere, a chemistry and biology teacher are both banging their heads on their desks.

Fat is less dense than muscle.
Fat does not "turn into" muscle any more than muscle turns into fat, or bones turn into skin cells.

Somewhere a reading comprehension teacher is banging her head on the desk ...

The way I read the original post, she said "My husband thinks it's fat being replaced with muscle." That's not the same as fat turning into muscle.

LISA921

JamestheLiar wrote: »

CipherZero wrote: »

Somewhere, a chemistry and biology teacher are both banging their heads on their desks.

Fat is less dense than muscle.
Fat does not "turn into" muscle any more than muscle turns into fat, or bones turn into skin cells.

Somewhere a reading comprehension teacher is banging her head on the desk ...

The way I read the original post, she said "My husband thinks it's fat being replaced with muscle." That's not the same as fat turning into muscle.

Thanks for backing me up!!

brianpperkins

JamestheLiar wrote: »

CipherZero wrote: »

Somewhere, a chemistry and biology teacher are both banging their heads on their desks.

Fat is less dense than muscle.
Fat does not "turn into" muscle any more than muscle turns into fat, or bones turn into skin cells.

Somewhere a reading comprehension teacher is banging her head on the desk ...

The way I read the original post, she said "My husband thinks it's fat being replaced with muscle." That's not the same as fat turning into muscle.

Well, fat isn't being replaced with muscle in a woman who eats at a caloric deficit and not doing a heavy lifting program. There is a difference in existing tissue holding more water and the creation of new tissue to replace any fat burned off.

mhollencamp102012

Are you weighing your food? I thought I was eating 1200 a day until I bought a digital scale. ..now I weigh EVERYTHING even bring my scale with me when we go to my in laws for dinner.

JamestheLiar

brianpperkins wrote: »

JamestheLiar wrote: »

CipherZero wrote: »

Somewhere, a chemistry and biology teacher are both banging their heads on their desks.

Fat is less dense than muscle.
Fat does not "turn into" muscle any more than muscle turns into fat, or bones turn into skin cells.

Somewhere a reading comprehension teacher is banging her head on the desk ...

The way I read the original post, she said "My husband thinks it's fat being replaced with muscle." That's not the same as fat turning into muscle.

Well, fat isn't being replaced with muscle in a woman who eats at a caloric deficit and not doing a heavy lifting program. There is a difference in existing tissue holding more water and the creation of new tissue to replace any fat burned off.

Agreed. I didn't mean to imply that I thought the OP's husband was correct. Rather I was pointing out someone's unfortunate misunderstanding of the original post.