Muscle vs. Fat = They weigh the same, so why does the scale

samanthangeline

You shouldn't judge your progress entirely on what the scale says. Yes they technically weigh the same as 1 pound of anything will weigh 1 pound. If you find that the scale isn't moving and you are not satisfied with what your body looks like, try changing up your routine every 2-3 weeks. Your body becomes used to your routines and will plateau...To avoid this I change up my work outs (add more cardio, less weights/ more weight training, less cardio) and find it helps.

As for eliminating water weight...Stay away from salty foods and caffeine as these tend to make you retain more water. Also if you are looking to get rid of the water weight quickly whether for an event you're attending or photos you will be taking you can use a diuretic. I use one called Watertight, I use it when I have extra bloat from my period, traveling by airplane, and anytime i want to shed an extra few pounds and have my muscles look more defined, whether for an event or even going to the beach!

LoveLivingHealthy

This topic is what really confuses me. But from personal experience i think i believe that you can gain weight if you gain muscle but your inches will be less. For example, i've been working out for 4-6 days a week for the past 2-3 years and 2 years ago i weighed like 5-7lbs less than what i do now but my inches and jeans size are the same as it was then.

heybales

So you are saying this weight gain is probably just water weight? How do I get water weight to come off in a healthy manner?

You don't.

Your body stores glucose and the water that goes with it based on your energy needs based on your exercise level you are putting your body through.

If you really don't want that weight - don't exercise. Your body will stop storing so much glucose, you'll drop the water weight based on that storage.

But that would be akin to just cutting off a forearm thinking you want to drop weight the body finds needed.

bcattoes

(the rest of topic title)

increase when I exercise?

Please answer this for me. It's driving me nuts and really bothering me.

muscle and fat do not weigh the same. You take a square cubic inch of fat and muscle. Muscle weighs more.

Women can hold water alot easier than men, watch your sodium, eat back your excersise calories, be patient.

Muscle and fat do weigh the same! 1lb is 1lb .What you are refering to is density. 5 lbs of muscle is more dense than fat thus taking up less space. So in the end you are probably hanging on to water.

This statement is only true if you make an assumption that there is exactly 1 lb of both fat and muscle. Density is the reason muscle weighs more, not the reason it doesn't.

When asked only "does muscle weigh more than fat" the only correct answer would be "If you have the same volume of both it does." Without knowing the volume any other answer must include assumption. Assuming that the person asking the question not only already knew the weight of both, but knew both were exactly the same weight and still asked which weighs more seems illogical to me.

RikanSoulja

(the rest of topic title)

increase when I exercise?

Please answer this for me. It's driving me nuts and really bothering me.

muscle and fat do not weigh the same. You take a square cubic inch of fat and muscle. Muscle weighs more.

Women can hold water alot easier than men, watch your sodium, eat back your excersise calories, be patient.

Muscle and fat do weigh the same! 1lb is 1lb .What you are refering to is density. 5 lbs of muscle is more dense than fat thus taking up less space. So in the end you are probably hanging on to water.

This drives me insane. Of course they do not weigh the same. Who thinks about density when referring to weight really. If you have a cup of muscle and a cup of fat, the cup of muscle will weight more. Everyone knows that a 1lb is always equal to 1lb I wish people would stop using this as an argument. Muscle is denser which in terms means it does weigh more for the same volume. Which is what everyone refers to. I'm not attacking you personally. It's just this statement drives me nuts.

Nix_

This drives me insane. Of course they do not weigh the same. Who thinks about density when referring to weight really. If you have a cup of muscle and a cup of fat, the cup of muscle will weight more. Everyone knows that a 1lb is always equal to 1lb I wish people would stop using this as an argument. Muscle is denser which in terms means it does weigh more for the same volume. Which is what everyone refers to. I'm not attacking you personally. It's just this statement drives me nuts.

^^ Me too!!

Vegetablearian

I have seen a few posts where people say muscle weighs more than fat ... not strictly true a 1lb is a 1lb so 1lb weighs a lb , 1 lb of feathers weighs the same as 1lb of lead.

What you really mean is muscle is more dense than fat. 1 lb of feathers would be a bigger volume and 1lb of lead would be a tiny amount.

Im a scientist sorry I cant help it mass, density and weight are not the same thing and it drives me insane when people say otherwise. If I use those three words interchangeably id be sacked as my work would make no sense.

Science is the answer.

crisanderson27

I have seen a few posts where people say muscle weighs more than fat ... not strictly true a 1lb is a 1lb so 1lb weighs a lb , 1 lb of feathers weighs the same as 1lb of lead.

What you really mean is muscle is more dense than fat. 1 lb of feathers would be a bigger volume and 1lb of lead would be a tiny amount.

Im a scientist sorry I cant help it mass, density and weight are not the same thing and it drives me insane when people say otherwise. If I use those three words interchangeably id be sacked as my work would make no sense.

Science is the answer.

Yes Miss, science is the answer. So...if you are comparing specific weights of two different items...lets say...oh, fat and muscle for example...what's the NECESSARY control that HAS to be utilized?

I'll let all you 1lber's think on that a moment while those of us that live in the really real world take a deep breath to regain our sanity.

/sigh!

There...now, the answer is volume. In order to compare weight, you MUST assume the same volume!! Every moron knows 1lb equals 1lb. How come you all can't figure out that when someone says muscle weighs more than fat, a CONTROLLED, EQUAL volume HAS to be assumed?

Lord this gives me a headache...but its like a loose tooth. I just can't help but argue against narrow mindedness :l.

EllieMo

1) In the short term, any gain following exercise will be water retention, as muscle fibres retain water in the repair process.
2) in the lnger term, muscle in denser than fat, so 1lb of muscle takes up less space than 1lb of fat, so you may be slimmer but still weigh the same.

Tis is why it is important never to judge just by what the scales are saying.

athensguy

If you're sore, don't weigh in.

AmerTunsi

I think this phrase that muscle weighs more than fat needs to be revised to fat takes up more space than fat. A pound is a pound is a pound ... that is the WEIGHT of the object. The volume is what is the the difference.

As for the scale if you wake up one day and you are 5lbs heavier ... well unless you consumed 17500 calories for each of those lbs plus the calories for your BMR .. you should assume that the majority of it are fluids. You will often see this when you consume a lot of sodium as well as when you do strength training and tear the fibers in your muscles.


The best way to remove the excess fluid is actually to drink more water and exercise as well as monitor your sodium intake.

crisanderson27

I think this phrase that muscle weighs more than fat needs to be revised to fat takes up more space than fat. A pound is a pound is a pound ... that is the WEIGHT of the object. The volume is what is the the difference.

Umm...quick question then...why discuss comparative weights of anything then, ever? I mean...clearly everything weighs precisely the same as everything else, right?

Seriously!!...the volume is only different if you're not comparing weight...and the density is ALWAYS different.

Why is this so hard for people to understand?

Trig0r

and its just water like everyone else said.. don't weigh after working out.

Can we get this image and make a post a sticky, the number of people that come on here and go on about the fat vs muscle thing gets a bit tiring, then of course you get the smart *kitten* that starts to bring density vs surface area argument into it..

Can we not just bottom line it somehow..

1lb of fat takes up more space than 1lb of muscle.
You can loose 2 inches off your waist but weigh more than when you started.
Muscle does not weigh more than fat.

Vegetablearian

I have seen a few posts where people say muscle weighs more than fat ... not strictly true a 1lb is a 1lb so 1lb weighs a lb , 1 lb of feathers weighs the same as 1lb of lead.

What you really mean is muscle is more dense than fat. 1 lb of feathers would be a bigger volume and 1lb of lead would be a tiny amount.

Im a scientist sorry I cant help it mass, density and weight are not the same thing and it drives me insane when people say otherwise. If I use those three words interchangeably id be sacked as my work would make no sense.

Science is the answer.

Yes Miss, science is the answer. So...if you are comparing specific weights of two different items...lets say...oh, fat and muscle for example...what's the NECESSARY control that HAS to be utilized?

I'll let all you 1lber's think on that a moment while those of us that live in the really real world take a deep breath to regain our sanity.

/sigh!

There...now, the answer is volume. In order to compare weight, you MUST assume the same volume!! Every moron knows 1lb equals 1lb. How come you all can't figure out that when someone says muscle weighs more than fat, a CONTROLLED, EQUAL volume HAS to be assumed?

Lord this gives me a headache...but its like a loose tooth. I just can't help but argue against narrow mindedness :l.

You my friend are talking about density not weight , density = mass x volume. If people would just say density and muscle is denser than fat there wouldnt be a problem

vidoardes

I think the easiest way to compare it, and explain it is using the term volume.

1lb of fat = 1lb of muscle = 1lb of feathers = 1 lb of lead

Weight is a product of gravity, hence why you could lift a car on the moon despite the fact it hasn't changed size, it has little no weight but it's volume is the same.

1 cm^3 fat does NOT equal 1cm^3 of muscle when you weight them, so for a given volume, muscle weighs more than fat.

The way to work out if what you are storing is muscle increase is simple, measure the circumference of various body parts i.e waist, hips, arms, thighs, calves e.t.c

When an overweight person starts to work out, the volume of fat you loose is much greater than the volume of muscle you gain, so despite the fact that muscle is more dense than fat, the amount of fat you loose compared to the amount of muscle you gain is disproportionate, so your weight will go down. If you less heavy, you are replacing fat with muscle at a much closer volume, so it is possible put on lbs, but your measurements should get smaller in most places. If you are thin to start off with, you will see an increase in these measurements, but your body fat % should stay the same (or decrease a little depending on your build).

twinmom01

1) In the short term, any gain following exercise will be water retention, as muscle fibres retain water in the repair process.
2) in the lnger term, muscle in denser than fat, so 1lb of muscle takes up less space than 1lb of fat, so you may be slimmer but still weigh the same.

Tis is why it is important never to judge just by what the scales are saying.

^^^^^ this right here...

Also ...it is very hard for women to actually "gain" muscle - it really irks me when people say "Oh well you maybe are gaining muscle" - chances of that happening is very slim at least to stall out or increase the scale on a daily or weekly basis...when you work out and use your muscles you create tiny little tears - water and amino acids help to repair those tears and will make the muscle stronger and leaner over time - hormones, water and muscle repair from working out will all affect the number on the scale.

What you can do is eat and workout in such a way you are burning fat...fat has a greater volume...so you may see slow on the scale but see a huge difference in your body shape and the way your clothes fit

tubbs_nomore

A pound of fat DOES weigh the same as a pound of muscle. Same as a pound of feathers DOES weigh the same as a pound of lead. A pound is a pound. What makes the difference is the density of each

AMEN!!

gracienkaidens_momma

Thank you all for your input. I am sorry if this sparked frustration and arguing. I was just wanting to get some feedback. I am convinced that it's just water weight. I am going to up my intake of water and stay away from sodium and continue exercising. Thank you all for the great advice.

And I love the pic of the muscle vs. fat!! That is very inspiring and motivating me to want to keep at it!

crisanderson27

I have seen a few posts where people say muscle weighs more than fat ... not strictly true a 1lb is a 1lb so 1lb weighs a lb , 1 lb of feathers weighs the same as 1lb of lead.

What you really mean is muscle is more dense than fat. 1 lb of feathers would be a bigger volume and 1lb of lead would be a tiny amount.

Im a scientist sorry I cant help it mass, density and weight are not the same thing and it drives me insane when people say otherwise. If I use those three words interchangeably id be sacked as my work would make no sense.

Science is the answer.

Yes Miss, science is the answer. So...if you are comparing specific weights of two different items...lets say...oh, fat and muscle for example...what's the NECESSARY control that HAS to be utilized?

I'll let all you 1lber's think on that a moment while those of us that live in the really real world take a deep breath to regain our sanity.

/sigh!

There...now, the answer is volume. In order to compare weight, you MUST assume the same volume!! Every moron knows 1lb equals 1lb. How come you all can't figure out that when someone says muscle weighs more than fat, a CONTROLLED, EQUAL volume HAS to be assumed?

Lord this gives me a headache...but its like a loose tooth. I just can't help but argue against narrow mindedness :l.

You my friend are talking about density not weight , density = mass x volume. If people would just say density and muscle is denser than fat there wouldnt be a problem

Perhaps...but this still leaves me wondering (if everything on the planet 'weighs' the same as everything else) what the purpose of ever comparing the weight of one thing to another would be...other than as a tool to determine density, which is something those of us who aren't scientists could give a damn less about (not counting fat/muscle...as apparently this is THE hot topic of MFP).

Believe me, I fully comprehend density, and fully comprehend that 1lb = 1lb. My point is, when anyone says muscle weighs more than fat, they are assuming (completely logically...which is hilarious because ever single '1lb' person ignores that statement like it's going to bite them if they look at it) a controlled volume...which makes it TRUE!

Again, why is this so hard to acknowledge? I'm not an idiot, I know 1lb = 1lb...thus, since (again) I'm not an idiot, I must be assuming a controlled volume like EVERY OTHER intelligent person on the planet would.