Muscles are heavier than fat, right?

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Replies

  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    Usually when some one asks this question they are referring to the weight verses mass ration, to sample of material weigh my mass amounts on this case muscle will weigh more then fat....

    lol wut
  • mom2pne
    mom2pne Posts: 215 Member
    A pound of fat is the same weight as a pound of muscle, but it takes less muscle to make the same weight of fat.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    A pound is a pound. Muscle is just more dense
  • Linda_Darlene
    Linda_Darlene Posts: 453 Member
    Muscle also burns more calories. Just be patient!
  • PeachyKeene
    PeachyKeene Posts: 1,645 Member
    I've been going to the gym for about 4 months now, really enjoying it. Trying to watch what I eat, but I like my burgers and biscuits and I don't want to become a gym fanatic.
    I was actually quite normal size before I started and just wanted to tone up a bit and lose a couple of kilos. I've noticed I tone up really quickly, so I reduced my weight training and increased my cardio. I go to the gym 2 x 2hrs a week.
    I can tell I look a bit slimmer and toned BUT I'm putting weight on. I assume muscles are heavier than fat? I just wanna lose 3 kgs, I can't seem to shift any weight on those typical female areas while the rest of my body is toning up. Any tips? I know about nutrition, watch what i eat (in moderation) and no, I don't wanna go on a diet that I can't keep up for very long anyway.
    Any tips for a more fat burning workout? What to eat in particular before/after workout?

    Can anyone recommend any fat burning supplements that include appetite suppressants? Nothing too strong though and is there anything specifically for women?

    Just do cardio, stop weight training. Pick cardio that targets the areas you want worked on. If you want less butt and thighs, then run, less stomach then dance Zumba etc..

    This is poor advice... Cutting WT will hurt your long term results. It is no secret that only doing cardio will increase the chances of losing lean body mass as well as slowing your metabolic rate. WT and muscle is what makes a body tight and lean. And regardless of what myths are out there... WT does NOT bulk a person, especially a women and even more so if you are on a calorie deficit. The only way a man can "bulk" is eating more calories than they burn.


    The few exceptions to gaining new lean body mass on a calorie deficit: morbidly obese, noob gains (like 1-2 lbs of muscle) or some elite athletes can gain muscle in the legs.


    Works for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So tell me exactly how it is bad advice. I am loving my results.


    Do you track your body fat?

    No, but I like what my body looks like, and it is not cut muscle, it is a little soft, but I like that! Maybe the OP will too.

    And maybe she won't? It's bad advice because by just chucking in loads of cardio she will reduce her lean muscle. This sucks. Full stop.

    If you read the OP post, you would see what she is asking for! Not everyone wants to be lean muscle. This is a diverse world and what is good for one, may not be good for another. It may suck for you, but it doesn't suck for me. And from what the OP has asked for, it probably wouldn't suck for her either. Some cardio helps to build muscle as well, especially if it targets certain areas. Unstoppable!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,430 MFP Moderator

    If you read the OP post, you would see what she is asking for! Not everyone wants to be lean muscle. This is a diverse world and what is good for one, may not be good for another. It may suck for you, but it doesn't suck for me. And from what the OP has asked for, it probably wouldn't suck for her either. Some cardio helps to build muscle as well, especially if it targets certain areas. Unstoppable!

    Cardio does not build muscle (especially on a calorie deficit) nor will it target area's.. You can only target area's for strength but not where you lose fat. Fat loss comes from all over (opposite way of where you gain). If you gain in the stomach and butt first, it's the last place it will come off. Genetics alone will determine that.

    I must admit, you are right that there are a lot of diverse people out there but it astonishes me that people would want more fat, burn less calories and have flabby body, but this is essentially what you get from low calories, high cardio. It is rare to see someone with that regime to have those type of results.

    I could be wrong, but I believe it was a misunderstanding of how a body works to why the OP, along with many other women, feel if they do weight training they will bulk up. I would ask you to take a look at the link below and tell me would you rather look like the girl on the left or right? Either way, I will respect your opinion, but if you like the right, then it's important to have weight training. Some food for thought. I see where you are going but I don't feel it's where the OP was going. :cheers:


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?hl=skinny+fat
  • cbrrabbit25
    cbrrabbit25 Posts: 384 Member
    NADS,
    MUSCLES DO WAY MORE THAN FAT! THEY R HEAVIER CUZ THEY R MUSCLES. SO LIKE 1 LB OF MUSCLE WEIGHZ MORE THAN 1 LB OF FAT ,MAKE SENSE?

    WTH?
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    If you read the OP post, you would see what she is asking for! Not everyone wants to be lean muscle. This is a diverse world and what is good for one, may not be good for another. It may suck for you, but it doesn't suck for me. And from what the OP has asked for, it probably wouldn't suck for her either. Some cardio helps to build muscle as well, especially if it targets certain areas. Unstoppable!
    I hope you are aware that purposely decreasing lean body mass decreases resting metabolic rate. Consider as you age, because you are not engaging in strength training to sustain lean body mass, it will be reduced even further, thus lowering resting metabolic rate even more. This will make maintaining weight extremely challenging in the future in addition to affecting your ability to lead an independent, high quality of life.
  • PeachyKeene
    PeachyKeene Posts: 1,645 Member

    If you read the OP post, you would see what she is asking for! Not everyone wants to be lean muscle. This is a diverse world and what is good for one, may not be good for another. It may suck for you, but it doesn't suck for me. And from what the OP has asked for, it probably wouldn't suck for her either. Some cardio helps to build muscle as well, especially if it targets certain areas. Unstoppable!

    Cardio does not build muscle (especially on a calorie deficit) nor will it target area's.. You can only target area's for strength but not where you lose fat. Fat loss comes from all over (opposite way of where you gain). If you gain in the stomach and butt first, it's the last place it will come off. Genetics alone will determine that.

    I must admit, you are right that there are a lot of diverse people out there but it astonishes me that people would want more fat, burn less calories and have flabby body, but this is essentially what you get from low calories, high cardio. It is rare to see someone with that regime to have those type of results.

    I could be wrong, but I believe it was a misunderstanding of how a body works to why the OP, along with many other women, feel if they do weight training they will bulk up. I would ask you to take a look at the link below and tell me would you rather look like the girl on the left or right? Either way, I will respect your opinion, but if you like the right, then it's important to have weight training. Some food for thought. I see where you are going but I don't feel it's where the OP was going. :cheers:


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?hl=skinny+fat

    I get your point, but honestly I don't see anything wrong with either photo.

    But, concerning cardio doesn't build muscle with a calorie deficit. It does for me, I have killer leg muscles from running. Running has helped me tone my legs and rear really well. No fat on these, but I had to make some changes and started doing zumba for my abs and I am seeing a big change in them, a lot of definition.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    *sigh* When people say "muscle weighs more than fat", they don't actually think that a pound of anything weighs more or less than a pound of anything else. Stop being pedantic. That's my job.

    Thank you. UGH.
  • jeffrodgers1
    jeffrodgers1 Posts: 991 Member
    NADS,
    MUSCLES DO WAY MORE THAN FAT! THEY R HEAVIER CUZ THEY R MUSCLES. SO LIKE 1 LB OF MUSCLE WEIGHZ MORE THAN 1 LB OF FAT ,MAKE SENSE?

    You are saying 1 pound of Muscle weighs more than 1 pound of fat. 1 pound weighs more than 1 pound? Do you see how silly that sounds?

    1 pound of muscles has less VOLUME than 1 pound of fat... yes.

    But 1 pound is 1 pound irregardless. Pounds are measures of weight not volume or density.
  • jesz124
    jesz124 Posts: 1,004 Member

    If you read the OP post, you would see what she is asking for! Not everyone wants to be lean muscle. This is a diverse world and what is good for one, may not be good for another. It may suck for you, but it doesn't suck for me. And from what the OP has asked for, it probably wouldn't suck for her either. Some cardio helps to build muscle as well, especially if it targets certain areas. Unstoppable!

    Cardio does not build muscle (especially on a calorie deficit) nor will it target area's.. You can only target area's for strength but not where you lose fat. Fat loss comes from all over (opposite way of where you gain). If you gain in the stomach and butt first, it's the last place it will come off. Genetics alone will determine that.

    I must admit, you are right that there are a lot of diverse people out there but it astonishes me that people would want more fat, burn less calories and have flabby body, but this is essentially what you get from low calories, high cardio. It is rare to see someone with that regime to have those type of results.

    I could be wrong, but I believe it was a misunderstanding of how a body works to why the OP, along with many other women, feel if they do weight training they will bulk up. I would ask you to take a look at the link below and tell me would you rather look like the girl on the left or right? Either way, I will respect your opinion, but if you like the right, then it's important to have weight training. Some food for thought. I see where you are going but I don't feel it's where the OP was going. :cheers:


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?hl=skinny+fat

    I get your point, but honestly I don't see anything wrong with either photo.

    But, concerning cardio doesn't build muscle with a calorie deficit. It does for me, I have killer leg muscles from running. Running has helped me tone my legs and rear really well. No fat on these, but I had to make some changes and started doing zumba for my abs and I am seeing a big change in them, a lot of definition.

    You are obviously genetically blessed than, as you must be the first and only human being that can build muscle mass from eating at a deficit and doing cardio.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    i'm guessing you haven't heard about staci. she's awesome. http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    on the left she is 131lbs, and on the right she is 142lbs.

    Screen-Shot-2011-07-21-at-92311-AM-1.jpg

    ditch the scale. stop worrying about 3 kilos.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Okay so if I have a pound of mussels and a pound of fat, the pound of mussels will weigh more, right?

    But what if they're shelled?

    Maybe if they're cooked in beer, amirite.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    NADS,
    MUSCLES DO WAY MORE THAN FAT! THEY R HEAVIER CUZ THEY R MUSCLES. SO LIKE 1 LB OF MUSCLE WEIGHZ MORE THAN 1 LB OF FAT ,MAKE SENSE?

    You are saying 1 pound of Muscle weighs more than 1 pound of fat. 1 pound weighs more than 1 pound? Do you see how silly that sounds?

    1 pound of muscles has less VOLUME than 1 pound of fat... yes.

    But 1 pound is 1 pound irregardless. Pounds are measures of weight not volume or density.

    Did the all caps and purposely bad spelling not tip you off on the joke?
  • andibswanson
    andibswanson Posts: 15 Member
    That is a myth....Muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound is a pound no matter if it is a pound of feathers or a pound of potatoes, its still a lb.

    Please see the article I posted below.
  • andibswanson
    andibswanson Posts: 15 Member
    Here is a article by Kristen Stewart that can explain this to you. Thanks


    Like a lot of people, you might think that muscle weighs more than fat.


    “When I hear this statement, I always think of the old riddle: Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?” says Laura Stusek, MS, fitness coordinator for Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. “A pound is a pound!”

    Muscle vs. Fat: Clearing Up the Misconception

    Common sense tells us a pound of muscle and a pound of fat have to weigh the same, but they do differ in density. This means if you look at five pounds of muscle and five pounds of fat side by side, the fat takes up more volume, or space, than the muscle. That’s important when you’re on a diet and part of your goal is the lean look of muscle, not the flabby look of fat.

    So why do people say muscle weighs more than fat?

    “I find people make this statement when they put on weight,” says Stusek. “One person will say, ‘I gained three pounds and I’ve been working out.’ The good-friend response is, ‘It’s all muscle.’ And while this is a very comforting thing to hear, it’s just impossible to gain three pounds of muscle in a week. It is common for exercisers to lose fat and gain muscle without a change in body weight, so I understand why people often get frustrated.”

    Muscle vs. Fat: The Truth

    The first step in a successful diet and exercise program is to banish the idea that muscle weighs more and is therefore bad. In fact, Stusek recommends tossing out the scale altogether.

    “I try to get people to think about how they are feeling, how their clothes are fitting, and how their body has changed,” Stusek advises. “It’s a hard thing to do sometimes. The focus should not just be the number on the scale. If we only did things to make ourselves weigh less, we wouldn’t necessarily be healthier.”

    Muscle vs. Fat: The Benefits of Muscle

    In fact, not only should dieters stop thinking of muscle as the enemy, they should embrace it as their friend.

    Muscle boosts a person’s metabolism, so a pound of muscle will burn more calories at rest than a pound of fat. What does this mean? Even when you’re not exercising — you could be sitting on the couch watching TV — you will be burning more calories just by having more muscle.

    Muscle has other benefits, too. It’s critical in improving bone density and helps prevent the loss of muscle mass that occurs with aging, allowing people to stay active as they get older.

    Muscle vs. Fat: Ways to Gain Muscle

    There’s no doubt cardio workouts such as jogging, cycling, and walking are important for calorie burning and good health. But strength training is vital, too. “Of course, we always think of lifting weights to put on muscle, and many fear they will become ‘bulky,’” says Stusek. “Women need to stop worrying about this.”

    There are plenty of options to build muscle, ranging from free weights to resistance bands and even plain old soup cans. Stusek recommends enlisting the help of a personal trainer to design a balanced, full-body workout for the best results. “Or if you want to bulk up, lift heavy weights and do low repetitions,” she says. And two or three times a week, with at least one day off in between for muscle recovery, is sufficient.

    Ultimately, building muscle mass is a good thing. So find some enjoyable exercises and get lifting.

    Learn more in the Everyday Health Weight Center.
  • tbruegg
    tbruegg Posts: 283 Member
    a pound of muscle and a pound of fat weigh the exact same. However, a pound of fat takes up much more room than a pound of muscle would.


    Finally something that makes since....Thank you Thank you
  • Aello11
    Aello11 Posts: 312 Member
    Okay so if I have a pound of mussels and a pound of fat, the pound of mussels will weigh more, right?

    But what if they're shelled?

    lol ... finds a paper towel to wipe the tea off the monitor :laugh:
  • PeachyKeene
    PeachyKeene Posts: 1,645 Member
    If you read the OP post, you would see what she is asking for! Not everyone wants to be lean muscle. This is a diverse world and what is good for one, may not be good for another. It may suck for you, but it doesn't suck for me. And from what the OP has asked for, it probably wouldn't suck for her either. Some cardio helps to build muscle as well, especially if it targets certain areas. Unstoppable!
    I hope you are aware that purposely decreasing lean body mass decreases resting metabolic rate. Consider as you age, because you are not engaging in strength training to sustain lean body mass, it will be reduced even further, thus lowering resting metabolic rate even more. This will make maintaining weight extremely challenging in the future in addition to affecting your ability to lead an independent, high quality of life.

    So let me get this straight, because I only run and do zumba to reach my fitness goals(the body I desire), I will not maintain it by continuing to run/zumba nor will I be able to be independent(it leads to a nursing home). Seriously?
    I do understand and have heard about the resting metabolic rate(mine has lowered a bit). Plus, I do understand you need to add new exercises in as you progress because your body gets use to what you are doing and it no longer makes it change. To get what she wants now, what I suggested will work. But I do understand in order to make a change you have to keep changing because your body get use to what you are doing and stops producing results.
  • kiachu
    kiachu Posts: 409 Member
    If you read the OP post, you would see what she is asking for! Not everyone wants to be lean muscle. This is a diverse world and what is good for one, may not be good for another. It may suck for you, but it doesn't suck for me. And from what the OP has asked for, it probably wouldn't suck for her either. Some cardio helps to build muscle as well, especially if it targets certain areas. Unstoppable!
    I hope you are aware that purposely decreasing lean body mass decreases resting metabolic rate. Consider as you age, because you are not engaging in strength training to sustain lean body mass, it will be reduced even further, thus lowering resting metabolic rate even more. This will make maintaining weight extremely challenging in the future in addition to affecting your ability to lead an independent, high quality of life.

    So let me get this straight, because I only run and do zumba to reach my fitness goals(the body I desire), I will not maintain it by continuing to run/zumba nor will I be able to be independent(it leads to a nursing home). Seriously?
    I do understand and have heard about the resting metabolic rate(mine has lowered a bit). Plus, I do understand you need to add new exercises in as you progress because your body gets use to what you are doing and it no longer makes it change. To get what she wants now, what I suggested will work. But I do understand in order to make a change you have to keep changing because your body get use to what you are doing and stops producing results.
    What they are saying is maintaining lean muscle tissue and strength is compromised the older you get. It could affect your ability to care for yourself.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    So let me get this straight, because I only run and do zumba to reach my fitness goals(the body I desire), I will not maintain it by continuing to run/zumba nor will I be able to be independent(it leads to a nursing home). Seriously?
    I do understand and have heard about the resting metabolic rate(mine has lowered a bit). Plus, I do understand you need to add new exercises in as you progress because your body gets use to what you are doing and it no longer makes it change. To get what she wants now, what I suggested will work. But I do understand in order to make a change you have to keep changing because your body get use to what you are doing and stops producing results.
    First, your lean body mass determines your metabolic potential - the greater amount of lean body mass, the more efficient the metabolism. By decreasing lean body mass, you decrease resting metabolic rate. This happens if you: a) do not consume enough protein; b) assume and maintain too great of a caloric deficit; and c) do not engage in at least moderate-resistance strength-training. As we age, we lose lean body mass by default - that is unless you offset that by doing the opposite of what is stated above. Thus, by doing entirely cardio-based workouts, complimented by aging's effect on lean body mass, you are essentially causing it to decline at a far greater rate compared to those who include moderate-intensity strength-training and are capable at minimizing loss of lean body mass throughout life. By maintaining or minimizing loss of lean body mass, you will prevent falls and injuries and be able to continue to do the same daily activities such as feeding, bathing and dressing yourself and even household chores without reliance on another person. Thus, out of all the components of fitness, muscular strength and endurance is the most important as we age.

    Regarding your second remark: people's programs plateau primarily because they do not continue to challenge the body. You can engage in the same activities, but must adjust variables such as intensity and duration to allow for further adaptation to occur. If you keep running 3 miles a day at the same pace, you will not improve. Likewise, if a person stays with the same 5 lb dumbbell engaging in the same exercise, they will not get any stronger. Progression is the key, not necessarily the activity.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,430 MFP Moderator

    If you read the OP post, you would see what she is asking for! Not everyone wants to be lean muscle. This is a diverse world and what is good for one, may not be good for another. It may suck for you, but it doesn't suck for me. And from what the OP has asked for, it probably wouldn't suck for her either. Some cardio helps to build muscle as well, especially if it targets certain areas. Unstoppable!

    Cardio does not build muscle (especially on a calorie deficit) nor will it target area's.. You can only target area's for strength but not where you lose fat. Fat loss comes from all over (opposite way of where you gain). If you gain in the stomach and butt first, it's the last place it will come off. Genetics alone will determine that.

    I must admit, you are right that there are a lot of diverse people out there but it astonishes me that people would want more fat, burn less calories and have flabby body, but this is essentially what you get from low calories, high cardio. It is rare to see someone with that regime to have those type of results.

    I could be wrong, but I believe it was a misunderstanding of how a body works to why the OP, along with many other women, feel if they do weight training they will bulk up. I would ask you to take a look at the link below and tell me would you rather look like the girl on the left or right? Either way, I will respect your opinion, but if you like the right, then it's important to have weight training. Some food for thought. I see where you are going but I don't feel it's where the OP was going. :cheers:


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?hl=skinny+fat

    I get your point, but honestly I don't see anything wrong with either photo.

    But, concerning cardio doesn't build muscle with a calorie deficit. It does for me, I have killer leg muscles from running. Running has helped me tone my legs and rear really well. No fat on these, but I had to make some changes and started doing zumba for my abs and I am seeing a big change in them, a lot of definition.

    Unfortunately, I believe you are confusing cutting body fat and increasing strength with creating new lean body mass. There are only three situations where a person can create new lean body mass from a calorie deficit; morbidly obese, noob gains and in some elite athletes that have a very small calorie deficit.

    Unfortunately, it is not uncommon people confusing cutting fat and improving the efficiency of their muscles with muscle gains. Then add in the fact, it's even harder for women to gain muscle, it's very unlikely you gained any new lean body mass.
  • Jester522
    Jester522 Posts: 392
    Muscle is 3x heavier than fat deposits.
  • Vincentsz
    Vincentsz Posts: 407 Member
    Muscles are heavier than fat? A pound of muscle, a pound of fat, and a pound of feathers are weigh a pound. No, muscles are not heavier than fat. Also, when exercising, fat does not turn into muscle, fat is fat, muscle is muscle, and feathers are feathers. They do not change and become something else.

    Quoted from http://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/busting-the-muscle-weighs-more-than-fat-myth.aspx

    Muscle vs. Fat: Clearing Up the Misconception

    Common sense tells us a pound of muscle and a pound of fat have to weigh the same, but they do differ in density. This means if you look at five pounds of muscle and five pounds of fat side by side, the fat takes up more volume, or space, than the muscle. That’s important when you’re on a diet and part of your goal is the lean look of muscle, not the flabby look of fat.

    So why do people say muscle weighs more than fat?

    “I find people make this statement when they put on weight,” says Stusek. “One person will say, ‘I gained three pounds and I’ve been working out.’ The good-friend response is, ‘It’s all muscle.’ And while this is a very comforting thing to hear, it’s just impossible to gain three pounds of muscle in a week. It is common for exercisers to lose fat and gain muscle without a change in body weight, so I understand why people often get frustrated.”
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    *sigh* When people say "muscle weighs more than fat", they don't actually think that a pound of anything weighs more or less than a pound of anything else. Stop being pedantic. That's my job.

    Haha! This.

    My rule of thumb is that if I, being on the autism spectrum, know what the person means even though they didn't use the exact literal language, then I'm pretty sure everyone else does too!