Muscle Eats Fat (eventually) right?

hgillesp

I actually went to a dietitian and had my rmr measured as well as my fat %. Depressing for someone who has always been active. Thanks to an underactive thyroid my rmr is 1200 (I am 5' 9" tall and 47 yo) and my fat % has increased by 5% since the last time I had it done (5 years ago or so). While I hate the 12 lbs I gained over the winter due to my thyroid being out of whack, the increase in fat is really bothering me - I see it as a sort of downward spiral of aging. And I refuse to let that happen!! I have been on a lower calorie diet for two weeks - 1400 cals a day which includes my exercise (running, walking). I go a little above int on particularly active days and on weekends when I am working outside like crazy I increase it by about 150 cals. I have been really good about all this also eating higher protein. Started using kettlebells and after 3 workouts could see a change! I love them!

You know where this is all leading - two weeks in, and the first week I lost 2 lbs. The second week, after starting with the kettebells I have lost nothing and in fact, this morning showed a slight gain. Drinking water like crazy - 2-3 liters a day. Still running 4 times a week, walking 2 days and playing golf once or twice plus the weights. I keep telling myself that I need to keep on keeping on, and that eventually the muscles will kick in and kick the fat's *ss. But... in the interim, it is so hard to stay motivated when you aren't seeing the numbers on the scale move. And I know they are just numbers....but I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing them move. I have been trying to lose this weight for at least 6 months now and am so committed to doing it this time - thus the visit to the dietitian. Am I right in thinking the fat will start dropping and I will eventually see some decrease on the scale? I don't want to be at this weight. I just can't accept it. Even if I am toned, etc. I want to weigh less and be toned.... Thanks for you any insight and personal experiences you all can offer. This is so frustrating but I am trying to stay positive and keep reminding myself (jokingly!) that the muscle will eventually eat the fat...... good visual, hah? :flowerforyou:

asallen7

bump

GaveUp

Muscle does weigh more then fat so you are losing inches. This is what happened to me.... I was exercising daily for a couple of weeks, I was up 3 pounds but eating right. I couldn't understand why. Suddenly I had a sports injury and it put me down and I'm still down, 3 weeks now. Anyway after I had to stop working out within 2 - 3 days I lost 3 pounds.

Our bodies need rest to recover and if you are working out really hard, give it time you will see results. I have lost several inches but only 6 pounds and have a long way to go.

They say it can take a year or so to become really fit..... I am learning to be patient.

Lori

amfaery

I just finished my first round of P90X I only had a 4 lb decrease but I lost a total of 10.5 inches from my body and went down a size I want the scale to move too but going down a size in 3 months has motivated me someone a few weeks ago had the greatest visual for muscle replacement they said imagine your head a 1 pound bag of feathers (pretty big) and this is fat then a 1 pound brick (muscle) a lot smaller but more dense. the same with your body! So even if you are initally replacing the fat with muscle you will see awsome changes don't get doscouraged I was at first but just saw my mom yestersay for the first time since x mas and she was like wow!!! you lost so much weight even though weight is only 4 lbs I look a lot better!

o0IrishEyes0o

Hey there!

I'm no expert when it comes to this, but I've always heard that muscle burns more, so I would have to say yeah... muscle will start to kick the butt of the fat You are doing a lot of cardio-type activities which is great!

As far as the no movement on the scale goes, are you weighing every day? If so, I'd highly recommend not. It can be SO discouraging. I mean, I totally do it, but I know if I see no movement for a few days I get really upset. So I should take my own advice!!! :laugh:

The one thing I can tell you that has gotten me through many a discouraged period is that I took measurements. If you are seeing a big movement on the scales.. try taking your measurements and seeing how they look. Before, In-Progress and After pics can help a lot to!

Finding "non-scale victories" can be a really great way to keep yourself encouraged.

Good luck! You can do this though So you don't need it :flowerforyou:

alienblonde1

It's not that muscle weighs more then fat, Its less dense. Are you measuring yourself? 1lb of muscle takes up less space in your body then 1lb of fat. Picture this a 1lb loaf of bread compared to 1lb of meat. Big difference in size.

fitzie63

Please check your email for suggestions for success.

flimflamfloz

Started using kettlebells and after 3 workouts could see a change! I love them!

This happened because you just started to work out, your muscles always get pumped up.
Basically (similarly as losing weight), the results will be more visible when you start. As you progress, results will be slower to show.

I keep telling myself that I need to keep on keeping on, and that eventually the muscles will kick in and kick the fat's *ss. But... Am I right in thinking the fat will start dropping and I will eventually see some decrease on the scale? I don't want to be at this weight.

Normally, you should lose fat. However, the efficiency of doing "workouts + running" will vary depending on your current body fat level. This might not be as obvious if you are at, say, 12% and you want to reach 10%. You might have to resort to other trickery if you want to lose fat at these levels (like low carbs diet etc.).
I would not worry about this from the start though.

Chuckw40

It's not that muscle weighs more then fat, Its less dense. Are you measuring yourself? 1lb of muscle takes up less space in your body then 1lb of fat. Picture this a 1lb loaf of bread compared to 1lb of meat. Big difference in size.

The fact that muscle is more dense is the very reason why it DOES weigh more than fat. There are only 3 factors that go into determining weight. Volume, Density, and Gravity. Gravity is basically a constant here on Earth so it comes down to Volume and Density. When comparing 2 substances it is useful to keep as many variables equal as possible. We can certainly keep volume the same, which only leaves density. Since we know that muscle is more dense than fat and the other 2 variables are equal it follows that muscle must weight more than fat.

Mass=Density*Volume
Weight=Mass*Gravity

So please stop saying muscle doesn't weigh more than fat, because scientifically, it does.

hgillesp

What positive thoughts you all have given me! Thank you! I already feel better about this. Isn't it amazing what the written word and a wealth of knowledge can do? THank you!!