muscle weighing more than fat, I Know..... just help

RayRay1500

I know that I have read a pound is a pound, but even on MFP where is tells you how to weigh, it says taking measurements can better gauge progress because when you burn fat and build heavier muscle, your weight may not change or even increase.

Am I just reading this wrong?

Saiklor

you're confusing weight with....volume? I think?

a pound of weight is a pound of weight
a pound of lead WEIGHS the same as a pound of feathers
but there's gonna be a HUGE box of feather and a tiny box of lead for those weights to be the same

same with muscle and fat
a pound of muscle and a pound of fat WEIGH the same
but the fat will be (about) 2.5 times larger than the pound of muscle, just like the feather box is larger than the lead box but WEIGHS the same

omma_to_3

Muscle DOES weigh more than fat. Drives me nuts on here when people say it doesn't. NO ONE ever actually asks does a POUND of muscle weigh more than a POUND of fat. Because well, duh, of course not. But when comparing the weight of two items, the implication is that you're comparing weight for similar VOLUME of material. So yes, give the same volume of muscle and fat, muscle weighs more.

If you're building muscle and losing fat, you may get smaller, but your weight may increase because the smaller volume of muscle (over the fat you lost) weighs more but takes up less room.

I have trouble with measurements too though, because you have to measure in the exact same spot every time. So I do things like measure my thigh across a certain part of my tattoo. I measure my calf over top of a mole. Basically I use body marks to help me gauge where to put the tape measure.

Helloitsdan

I know that I have read a pound is a pound, but even on MFP where is tells you how to weigh, it says taking measurements can better gauge progress because when you burn fat and build heavier muscle, your weight may not change or even increase.

Am I just reading this wrong?

You read it right.

PPL with less fat and more muscle weigh more than their previous fat selves.
for instance I expect by next summer to be 10lbs heavier but drop an inch from my waist.

twinmom01

I know that I have read a pound is a pound, but even on MFP where is tells you how to weigh, it says taking measurements can better gauge progress because when you burn fat and build heavier muscle, your weight may not change or even increase.

Am I just reading this wrong?

Nope you are not reading it wrong - it is entirely possible to loose very little on the scale but see pretty dramatic changes in yoru body composition...

if you think about it this way...say you wrap bubble wrap around your waist 3 times - that equals 2 lbs because 2 lbs of fat is going to take up a fair amount of volume...so someone works hard and works out and eats right and at the end of 4 weeks has only lost 2 lbs...BUT those 2 lbs gone = an inch gone from your waist or 1/2 inch from your hips...

People get so attached to the scale that if they don't see it budging or even going up they get discouraged and decide to give up - even though what they are doing is making thier body better and changing thier body composition...

I always suggest to either take key measurements or have a piece of clothing that is to tight to begin with and use that a gauge...

I have been stuck in the same circle of 3-4 lbs on the scale for awhile now BUT my clothing is getting looser...so even though nothing is really reflecting on the scale, my body is responding to the exercise and food I give it...

RayRay1500

Thank you guys for your help, when you consider the volume, makes perfect sense!!!

kgprice11

Hi im helping....ok im done enjoy your day