Fat / muscle

runrogrun

Does muscle weigh more than fat or is that just a myth? Does anyone know how much more?

I am exercising alot at the moment and can definitely see more defninition in my legs and stomach but the scales have stayed the same. I am not too worried as I feel better in myself...but just wondered if I had gained some muscle, how much fat it equates to losing...

If that makes sense!!!?

szczepj

1 lb is 1 lb, however muscle takes up less room than fat does.

bcattoes

Yes, muscle weighs more than fat. That's why you sometimes see inches lost without a lot of movement on the scale. Because every pound of muscle on your body will take up less room than a pound of fat.

FrauHausMaus

Muscle is more dense than fat, so if you had a pile of fat and a pile of muscle that were the same size, the pile of muscle would weigh more.

ProTFitness

Does muscle weigh more than fat or is that just a myth? Does anyone know how much more?

I am exercising alot at the moment and can definitely see more defninition in my legs and stomach but the scales have stayed the same. I am not too worried as I feel better in myself...but just wondered if I had gained some muscle, how much fat it equates to losing...

If that makes sense!!!?

Its a myth! Muscle is more dense and takes up less room

bcattoes

Its a myth! Muscle is more dense and takes up less room

It's not a myth! The fact that muscle is more dense is WHY it weighs more. The whole "lb is a lb" thing is so goofy. The OP didn't ask if a lb weighed more than a lb. They asked if muscle weighs more than fat. it does.

Method2Madness

If you haven't worked out much before and have started a rather intense regimen, this can be the case...though I don't know if there are any good formulas that help you figure out progress other than using very accurate %body fay measurements.

I worked w/ a trainer for three months, during which I lost only 4lbs...but my waistline decreased by over 2" and there was a visible difference in my face. The difference between how I looked and how much I weighed was due to body composition. This is when you need to find other metrics to guage progress. Body measurements (waist / neck) can indicate fat loss while repeatable strength measurements (pushups, timed runs, sit-ups...the standard PT test stuff) can help guage fitness progress.

The important thing is to remain positive and not get discouraged by the lack of progress on the scale (which gets difficult after a while no matter how much better you feel or even look).

Cheers!

AmerTunsi

i really would like to meet the person who made up that phrase "muscle weighs more than fat" .. seriously! A pound is a pound is a pound! o.O

bcattoes

i really would like to meet the person who made up that phrase "muscle weighs more than fat" .. seriously! A pound is a pound is a pound! o.O

But a lb of fat and a lb of muscle aren't the same. The lb of muscle would be smaller because it weighs more. Just like a lb of rocks would be smaller than a lb of feathers because .... wait for it ... a rock weighs more than a feather.

kumarprabhat

i really would like to meet the person who made up that phrase "muscle weighs more than fat" .. seriously! A pound is a pound is a pound! o.O

But a lb of fat and a lb of muscle aren't the same. The lb of muscle would be smaller because it weighs more. Just like a lb of rocks would be smaller than a lb of feathers because .... wait for it ... a rock weighs more than a feather.

Haven't we talk about it sooooooooooo many times?

Muscles "Weighs more"? nope. Like everyone will think 1LB is 1LB. period. But like many of us know as well, muscle in equal weight as fat will take much less space. So, this means that muscle is "DENSEr", not more "HEAVier".

Got it? or is it too "Dense"?

Just kidding..

mandeiko

Just to put into perspective...

ninerbuff

It needs to be iterated that a 1lb of muscle just takes up LESS ROOM than a 1lb of fat, hence 2 people both the same height and weight, but one having more lean muscle mass will be smaller than the one who has a much higher body fat percentage.

runrogrun

Thanks everyone - I didn't word it very well did I....I'm not totally stupid, I know a 1lb = 1lb.
I meant density / volume of a pound I guess. The pic was good, thank you.

I am a newbie so I am sorry if it's been asked loads of times before.

joejccva71

Yes, muscle weighs more than fat. That's why you sometimes see inches lost without a lot of movement on the scale. Because every pound of muscle on your body will take up less room than a pound of fat.

^This. 100% correct.

robinso5

no need to be sorry runrogrun! my mom always said the stupidest question is the one you failed to ask! if you wanna know search for it, if its not there, ask!

and the pic did it for me too although i knew a pound is a pound is a pound!

End6ame

<Sigh>… Yes muscle ways more than fat and here is why.

Weight is a measure of force (so technically it is measured in newtons), specifically the force gravity has on an object. Whereas, mass is a measure of how much matter an object has (measured in mg, g, kg, etc…). Mass is constant, weight is variable (granted I think all of us are on Earth). I think we can agree on all of this, at least I hope so.

Furthermore, in order to compare two objects scientifically, you need to have both a constant and a variable. Saying that 1lb of fat weighs the same as 1lb of muscle is a given because you are only comparing the two constants and ignoring the variable. That is no different than me saying that 100 calories of butter is that same as 100 calories of lettuce, however the quantities of both will differ. So when someone says that muscle weighs more or has more mass than fat it should be assumed that we are not referring to the two obvious constants alone, but are referring to their weights as a variable with respect to a constant volume.

Additionally, when you refer to density you are, by definition, referring to mass and volume simultaneously since density = mass/volume. You cannot know a specific density without knowing both the mass and volume of an object.

So to see how mass volume and density all relate simply think of the following equation:

Weight = (Density x Volume) x Gravity

bcattoes

Like everyone will think 1LB is 1LB. period. But like many of us know as well, muscle in equal weight as fat will take much less space. So, this means that muscle is "DENSEr", not more "HEAVier".

Not "everyone" will think that. When someone asks me if something is heavier I automatically assume that they are not asking if a unit of measure is = to that same unit of measure because I assume they are of at least average intelligence. I assume they are asking if I have the same amount of these 2 things will one weigh more (i.e. is heavier)

liftingbro

It needs to be iterated that a 1lb of muscle just takes up LESS ROOM than a 1lb of fat, hence 2 people both the same height and weight, but one having more lean muscle mass will be smaller than the one who has a much higher body fat percentage.

The muscle you have becomes more dense when you start lfiting, this levels off after the first month or so, but in the first month of lifting the muscle you have gets a lot more dense. Not bigger, just more dense so it can lead people to think they are gaining fat or not losing fat because the scale. If you are just starting out and you notice your arms feel a lot more solid after just a couple of weeks, it's because your muscle became more dense, not always bigger.

sunshinemonkey

i think you already got the answer to your question btu i just wanted to point out something that actually is a myth.
when you first start working out you don't gain that much muscle. It takes body builders quite a few weeks before they put on weight through gaining muscle. what actually happens is that as you start to use your muscles they begin to tear a little. your body then surrounds the muscle with fluid to repair the tears and this is what increases weight. it's just extra fluid (maybe with a little bit of leaner muscle) it usually takes around a month to level off

jamie78

i really would like to meet the person who made up that phrase "muscle weighs more than fat" .. seriously! A pound is a pound is a pound! o.O

But a lb of fat and a lb of muscle aren't the same. The lb of muscle would be smaller because it weighs more. Just like a lb of rocks would be smaller than a lb of feathers because .... wait for it ... a rock weighs more than a feather.

NO matter the size of something a pound is a pound, Yes one might have a lot more volume but its still a pound.

End6ame

i really would like to meet the person who made up that phrase "muscle weighs more than fat" .. seriously! A pound is a pound is a pound! o.O

But a lb of fat and a lb of muscle aren't the same. The lb of muscle would be smaller because it weighs more. Just like a lb of rocks would be smaller than a lb of feathers because .... wait for it ... a rock weighs more than a feather.

NO matter the size of something a pound is a pound, Yes one might have a lot more volume but its still a pound.

The OP did not ask if a pound was the same as a pound. She asked if muscle weighs more than fat, and the answer is yes as per my previous explanation.

jamie78

<Sigh>… Yes muscle ways more than fat and here is why.

Weight is a measure of force (so technically it is measured in newtons), specifically the force gravity has on an object. Whereas, mass is a measure of how much matter an object has (measured in mg, g, kg, etc…). Mass is constant, weight is variable (granted I think all of us are on Earth). I think we can agree on all of this, at least I hope so.

Furthermore, in order to compare two objects scientifically, you need to have both a constant and a variable. Saying that 1lb of fat weighs the same as 1lb of muscle is a given because you are only comparing the two constants and ignoring the variable. That is no different than me saying that 100 calories of butter is that same as 100 calories of lettuce, however the quantities of both will differ. So when someone says that muscle weighs more or has more mass than fat it should be assumed that we are not referring to the two obvious constants alone, but are referring to their weights as a variable with respect to a constant volume.

Additionally, when you refer to density you are, by definition, referring to mass and volume simultaneously since density = mass/volume. You cannot know a specific density without knowing both the mass and volume of an object.

So to see how mass volume and density all relate simply think of the following equation:

Weight = (Density x Volume) x Gravity

I always love your replies! Thanks

liftingbro

i think you already got the answer to your question btu i just wanted to point out something that actually is a myth.
when you first start working out you don't gain that much muscle. It takes body builders quite a few weeks before they put on weight through gaining muscle. what actually happens is that as you start to use your muscles they begin to tear a little. your body then surrounds the muscle with fluid to repair the tears and this is what increases weight. it's just extra fluid (maybe with a little bit of leaner muscle) it usually takes around a month to level off

That's not really true. You will gain a significant amount of muscle when you first start lifting. In fact, you will probably gain muscle faster in the beginning that you will any other time. According to podpod results I gained 9-10 pounds of muscle in three months when I first started lifting and I'm in my mid 30's. Granted, I'm a guy but younger guys can put even more in the beginning and a lot easier than I did.

What is "leaner" muscle? Muscle is lean by nature, there is no such thing. More dense muscle? Sure.

maillemaker

mandeiko's picture illustrates the answer perfectly.

Another way to think of it is the old joke: "Which weighs more, a pound of lead or a pound of feathers?"

Obviously, they both weigh a pound.

The real question is, which occupies MORE VOLUME?

And of course a pound of feathers is going to consume much more space than a pound of lead.

Likewise, a pound of fat will consume more space under your skin than a pound of muscle.

joejccva71

i really would like to meet the person who made up that phrase "muscle weighs more than fat" .. seriously! A pound is a pound is a pound! o.O

But a lb of fat and a lb of muscle aren't the same. The lb of muscle would be smaller because it weighs more. Just like a lb of rocks would be smaller than a lb of feathers because .... wait for it ... a rock weighs more than a feather.

NO matter the size of something a pound is a pound, Yes one might have a lot more volume but its still a pound.

The OP did not ask if a pound was the same as a pound. She asked if muscle weighs more than fat, and the answer is yes as per my previous explanation.

Well said.

Also,

STRENGTHENING

All adults should do exercises to strengthen the muscles at least two days a week. These activities can include push-ups, situps, using resistance bands, or lifting weights. Make sure to do exercises that work on all the parts of your body.

If you are doing a regular program of strength training (weight lifting), your muscles will get bigger. It is possible that your overall weight will increase, because muscle weighs more than fat. However, your clothes will probably fit better and your body will be more toned. Your body composition is a better indicator of your overall health than the number on the scale.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004455/

/thread

voluptas63

<Sigh>… Yes muscle ways more than fat and here is why.

I like how you get all scientific and whatnot... and exchange weighs=ways.

Helendec1962

Muscle does not weigh more than fat, any more than lead weighs more than feathers. A pound is a pound is a pound. Where the misunderstanding often comes in is that muscle is much more dense than fat, so that, by volume, it seems to weigh more. That is, a pound of muscle occupies less space than a pound of fat. In addition, because a pound of muscle burns more fat than a pound of fat, even at rest, by increasing your lean muscle tissue mass, you're helping your body burn more calories.

bcattoes

I find all this obsession with "a lb is a lb" fascinating. I'd just like to know how those who refuse to admit that muscle is heavier than fat actually define the word "heavier". Because it would seem that in your minds NOTHING could every be "heavier" simply because units of measure exist.

liftingbro

OK PEOPLE. I don't like to come off arrogant but for God's sake, 1 cubic inch of muscle most certainly does weigh more than 1 cubic inch of fat. IT IS A FACT SO STOP WITH THE " A POUND IS A POUND" CRAP. Any moron can tell you 1lb=1lb, that's not the arguement.

Jeez, homers, get with it!

Sorry about the rant but so muce misinformation is just annoying the holy hell out of me.

joejccva71

Isthisreallife?

bcattoes

OK PEOPLE. I don't like to come off arrogant but for God's sake, 1 cubic inch of muscle most certainly does weigh more than 1 cubic inch of fat. IT IS A FACT SO STOP WITH THE " A POUND IS A POUND" CRAP. Any moron can tell you 1lb=1lb, that's not the arguement.

Jeez, homers, get with it!

Sorry about the rant but so muce misinformation is just annoying the holy hell out of me.

Ditto this^^