does muscle really weigh more than fat?

LauriesTrying2BeFit

iv heard afew people over last few day say that they have gained weight even tho they are exercising etc and people have commented saying dont worry its probably muscle your gaining,

well i thought that muscle didnt weigh more than fat it was just more compact so you can weigh the same yet look thinner :indifferent:

now im unsure as iv seen quite afew people in the last week saying muscle is heavier so makes you gain weight :huh:

ladyraven68

iv heard afew people over last few day say that they have gained weight even tho they are exercising etc and people have commented saying dont worry its probably muscle your gaining,

well i thought that muscle didnt weigh more than fat it was just more compact so you can weigh the same yet look thinner :indifferent:

now im unsure as iv seen quite afew people in the last week saying muscle is heavier so makes you gain weight :huh:

By volume muscles weigh more than fat, yes.

But it shouldn't make you gain unless you are really bulking up, which is very unlikely - you only need to talk to some of the weight trainers on here to see how hard it is to gain weight that is just pure muscle and not include any fat.

mywise

It weighs pretty much the same, just takes up less space. Do bodyfat% etc. to do measurments other than the scale.

chrishgt4

Yes, by volume fat weights less, but not by a lot at all - a litre of muscle would weigh 1.06kg and a litre of fat is 0.9 so muscle is 18% denser. It isn't an excuse for people who say they weigh more because they have muscle underneath.

hannata86

its probably more likely that the muscle tissues are retaining water than actual muscle growth... it takes months of training to gain a pound of muscle so you wouldn't see that kind of gain overnight. If you want to train and lose weight, take measurements. They tell a far better story than a set of scales ever could.

TimWilkinson101

Muscle is heavier for the same volume. Its density is greater. It also "looks better" under the skin. So a 150lb person with low fat will look a lot thinner and healthier than someone of the same height but a higher fat percentage.

However, most people will not be able to put enough weight in muscle on to explain any weight gain in the times most of us are talking. However, increased muscle also increases your metabolism because at rest muscle burns more calories than at rest fat.

Main thing to do is not stress so much over the scales, but look at your clothing and your body. If your clothes are looser and you are slimmer then you are losing the kind of weight that you want to (i.e fat). You're also healthier. I've started exercising and although I cant see any difference yet, I can feel it in that my muscles are harder already. I'm not weighing more though as I have little fat to burn off in the first place and I've not built up the muscle as yet... but I will.

TimWilkinson101

. it takes months of training to gain a pound of muscle so you wouldn't see that kind of gain overnight.

That isnt true. You can gain a pound of muscle weight every week. There are exercise regimes out there that show you how to. You can even gain 3 pounds of muscle a week, but that is by using very extreme methods.

You need to bear in mind what you are doing and where you are starting. If you are already well muscled then you will not gain a lot and if you dont do the right exercises and eat enough protein you wont either. However a slim person drinking shakes all day and working out a couple of hours a day can put on a serious amount of muscle weight.. and I am not talking from google information here either as I once worked out a lot and I gained a 24 pounds in muscle.

chrishgt4

. it takes months of training to gain a pound of muscle so you wouldn't see that kind of gain overnight.

That isnt true. You can gain a pound of muscle weight every week. There are exercise regimes out there that show you how to. You can even gain 3 pounds of muscle a week, but that is by using very extreme methods.

i.e. roids

LauriesTrying2BeFit

i wasnt talking about myself
i just wondered in general thanks all

kristine321

A pound is a pound, no matter how it is weighed.

lmbame905

Yes, by volume fat weights less, but not by a lot at all - a litre of muscle would weigh 1.06kg and a litre of fat is 0.9 so muscle is 18% denser. It isn't an excuse for people who say they weigh more because they have muscle underneath.

I love this visual. Thank you.

MaximalLife

Muscle weighs more than fat -- BY VOLUME!

In other words, a gallon of muscle weighs more than a gallon of fat.
Why? Muscle is more dense than fat like lead is denser than water.

That's all people mean when they say muscle weighs more than fat.
Some may not express the concept correctly, but that's what they mean.

Di3012

A pound is a pound, no matter how it is weighed.

But the SIZE of the two pieces of tissue will be different. If they two pieces are exactly the same size however, the muscle will weight more, this is what people mean when they say muscle weighs more than fat.

em9371

a pound of muscle is the same weight as a pound of fat, but takes up less space. thats like the old 'does a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers weigh more!'

for the same volume of muscle and fat, the muscle will weigh more

grinch031

You should ignore anyone who suggests that while on a fat loss diet that you might be gaining muscle.

sdlr4592

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XXXMinnieXXX

I was going to post about this, but I was scared I'd get a bad reaction. Lol. Very interesting ill read again later x

BeautyFromPain

Muscle weighs the same as fat.
A pound is a pound is a pound.

BUT the density of muscle takes up much less room making you appear smaller.

You would not necessarily gain from muscle, it takes MONTHS and the most you can gain in a year is 12 pounds on a VERY strict diet/exercise plan.
Although, sometimes after you start an intense weight training routine, your muscles retain water, just the same as sodium does so your weight may go up the day after a intense workout.

_David_

I wanna gain 3 pounds of muscle in a week!! BULL****!!

Di3012

You should ignore anyone who suggests that while on a fat loss diet that you might be gaining muscle.

Why should you ignore them? If a person is losing fat through a diet, they may be weight-training or something and so gaining muscle at the same time.

lilmissemmylou

for me muscle build wouldnt make me put weight on, but when i got back to doing 5 workouts a week I spent 1 month without losing a single lb! It was very frustrating BUT measuring myself told me that it didn't matter as I was losing inches so I knew it was all heading in the right direction.

So if your not losing weight but exercising and feel u should be losing weight, start measuring

Articeluvsmemphis

gaining muscle isn't as easy at it sounds, you gained 3lbs? it is probably water weight or fat, lol. muscle is denser. it's the 1lb of feathers question, a pound is a pound is a pound

jerrytball

Muscle is more dense, being a cook in the Navy for 20+ years we actually tried a very non scientific theory. We were in the Indian Ocean, yep lots Salt water, thing float easier in Salt too! We took a Lean Oven roast, 8lbs. and a 10 Lb Pot Roast, if you know anything about cooking, pot roast is for stewing due to the fat content so becomes much more tender and oven roast, you bake in the oven...Tossed both in Ocean, Pot Roast stayed on surface, Oven Roast sank...weighed less, but more dense, so to me, Muscle weighs more cause more Dense, IMO! And to take that one step further, we had a certain group call 4999 in the Navy Boot Camp.....due to there muscular build and lack of fat, they sank and stayed at the shallow end, while us softies hovered at the deep end and passed swimming class!

chrishgt4

You should ignore anyone who suggests that while on a fat loss diet that you might be gaining muscle.

Why should you ignore them? If a person is losing fat through a diet, they may be weight-training or something and so gaining muscle at the same time.

Because gaining muscle whilst losing weight is practically impossible. It's pretty much a given that you are going to lose muscle mass whilst losing fat. If you are exceptionally strict and dedicated it is possible to gain VERY small amounts of muscle whilst losing small amounts of fat but as a general rule for the 99.9% cutting fat = losing muscle and the struggle is to maintain as much. Gaining muscle = gaining fat and the struggle is to gain only the minimum amount of fat you have to.

natika33

Yes, by volume fat weights less, but not by a lot at all - a litre of muscle would weigh 1.06kg and a litre of fat is 0.9 so muscle is 18% denser. It isn't an excuse for people who say they weigh more because they have muscle underneath.

This is a great visual and your explanation is also awesome! I was actually wondering today why I still look so flabby despite having only 11 lbs to go to be considered "underweight" and yet I also have quite muscular thighs. I estimate that I have up to 4 lbs of fat left on each thigh (saddlebags) which would leave me only 3lbs heavier than "underweight" once I get that fat off. If indeed, muscle was as dense/heavy as most people seem to exaggerate it to be, I don't think I'd be 119 lbs and still flabby! (I'm 5'4")

Thanks for your explanation. It all makes sense now!

psuLemon

You should ignore anyone who suggests that while on a fat loss diet that you might be gaining muscle.

Wrong!!


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/447514-athletes-can-gain-muscle-while-losing-fat-on-deficit-diet

chrishgt4

You should ignore anyone who suggests that while on a fat loss diet that you might be gaining muscle.

Wrong!!


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/447514-athletes-can-gain-muscle-while-losing-fat-on-deficit-diet

Well - firstly - it changes from person to person so if you have a lot of fat to lose, then yes, it is possible.

The lower in fat you get the harder it becomes until when you get to circa 10-20% body fat (for a male) it becomes very difficult indeed.

secondly - In this study - it was pointed out that as these athletes worked their legs and not their upper body prior to the study, their upper body would have responded with a greater proportional growth than normal as shown by the fact that virtually no growth game from their legs.

thirdly, the point of this topic was asking if an increase in weight of several pounds in a week could be due to losing fat and gaining muscle which weighs more and would account for the increase in weight.

I would love to be able to gain 2lbs of lean muscle in a week, never mind gain however much the OP would have gained lean muscle for it to balance against fat loss.

doubglass

Yes muscle weighs more than fat. Just ask a skinny person if they can float on their back. Not only that, weight training also increases bone density and moves your weight. (you build up muscle in arms, shoulders, back chest and legs and lose around the waist and butt so you look thinner.

grinch031

You should ignore anyone who suggests that while on a fat loss diet that you might be gaining muscle.

Wrong!!


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/447514-athletes-can-gain-muscle-while-losing-fat-on-deficit-diet

Is it possible? YES. Is it going to happen by accident and be a common reason people on MFP might nott lose weight? NO!

psuLemon

You should ignore anyone who suggests that while on a fat loss diet that you might be gaining muscle.

Wrong!!


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/447514-athletes-can-gain-muscle-while-losing-fat-on-deficit-diet

Well - firstly - it changes from person to person so if you have a lot of fat to lose, then yes, it is possible.

The lower in fat you get the harder it becomes until when you get to circa 10-20% body fat (for a male) it becomes very difficult indeed.

secondly - In this study - it was pointed out that as these athletes worked their legs and not their upper body prior to the study, their upper body would have responded with a greater proportional growth than normal as shown by the fact that virtually no growth game from their legs.

thirdly, the point of this topic was asking if an increase in weight of several pounds in a week could be due to losing fat and gaining muscle which weighs more and would account for the increase in weight.

I would love to be able to gain 2lbs of lean muscle in a week, never mind gain however much the OP would have gained lean muscle for it to balance against fat loss.

Oh, trust me, I know how difficult it is to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time and gets ever harder as you get lower and lower in body fat as I am working to get into the single digits currently. I just wanted to point out the statement was wrong.


And since the majority of the people answered the question, I figured I would chime in and go off topic.

Di3012

Muscle is more dense, being a cook in the Navy for 20+ years we actually tried a very non scientific theory. We were in the Indian Ocean, yep lots Salt water, thing float easier in Salt too! We took a Lean Oven roast, 8lbs. and a 10 Lb Pot Roast, if you know anything about cooking, pot roast is for stewing due to the fat content so becomes much more tender and oven roast, you bake in the oven...Tossed both in Ocean, Pot Roast stayed on surface, Oven Roast sank...weighed less, but more dense, so to me, Muscle weighs more cause more Dense, IMO! And to take that one step further, we had a certain group call 4999 in the Navy Boot Camp.....due to there muscular build and lack of fat, they sank and stayed at the shallow end, while us softies hovered at the deep end and passed swimming class!

Tossed it in the sea???? Good grief, what a waste :frown:

I feel hungry now LOL