Muscle weighs more then fat?

So I have always been really solid...muscular with some fat. And I weigh a lot more then I look. Could this be a reason why I haven't seen the scale going down? I've been eating a calorie deficit. The first 2 1/2 weeks I started insanity and was too intense so I switch to t25 and the last 2 weeks I've been going to the gym 6 days a week doing about 30-45 on the treadmill and then doing another 45 mins weights. Yesterday I started doing t25 again in the morning and then going to the gym in the evening. Still haven't really noticed any results or weight loss...help!
«13

Replies

  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    1lb muscle =1lb fat sorry....

    1lb Muscle may take up less space tho...

    As for your deficet based on what I see you don't weigh your food....that can present a problem due to accuracy or lack there of.

    As well how are you calculating your burns? HRM with a chest strap are good for steady state cardio but that's it....

    So chances are if you are eating back all your exercise calories you are eating more than you think...

    Along with logging cleaning...????

    And what is fit body wrap???

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    By definition, if you were in a deficit, you'd be losing. Muscle weighs the same as fat but takes up less space. You cannot build any decent amount of muscle while eating at a deficit and it would be under special circumstance (from my understanding minor newbie gains or obese newbie) and it would be minor, nothing that would stall you.

    How accurate is your logging? Weighing and measuring food? New exercises can cause minor water retention, so that may make the scale stall out for a teeny bit. Also, that's a lot. Focus on logging accuracy for weight loss, exercise for fitness (heavy lifting also helps with LBM retaining). Also, highly recommend reading

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    A lot of people report that they don't lose much weight in the first month of Insanity because the water weight from such an intense workout is masking their fat loss. This could be part of the problem for you, especially since you've changed routines several times in the last month. However, the scale should still be fluctuating downward a bit, so if you're not seeing any weight loss after 4 weeks there's likely something off.

    If you're eating at a deficit then no, you are very unlikely to have put on enough muscle to offset the fat loss you should be seeing.

    How accurately are you logging? I know we harp about food scales on here, but they're really the best tool to make sure that the serving size you log is the same as the serving size you eat. If you're not using a food scale are you at least being as precise as possible with measuring cups and spoons or are you eyeballing portion sizes? The inconsistencies can add up.
  • bethannien
    bethannien Posts: 556 Member
    The phrase "muscle weighs more than fat" is misleading. Muscle is denser and takes up less space than fat. But a pound is a pound is a pound. If you aren't losing weight or inches, you're eating too many calories. Period.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    1lb muscle =1lb fat sorry....

    1lb Muscle may take up less space tho...

    Muscle doesn't take up less space because 1 cubic inch of muscle = 1 cubic inch of fat.

    All other variable being equal is implied in the statement. The same volume of muscle will weigh more than the same volume of fat, thus muscle weighs more than fat.

    Unless one of them is on the moon.
  • MyaAlisha6
    MyaAlisha6 Posts: 19 Member
    I guess I just carry my fat in all the right places because I do not look like I weigh 160-165 lbs. my friend was in shock when I told her the other day... And that's when she said well muscle weighs more then fat.... That's why I asked. I am not accurate at all in what I do. I just know that I haven't worked out in 6 years and I started the beginning of this month eating way healthier and I KNOW a lot less calories. I've been working really hard. Guess when I can I'll have a get a food scale ....what do you think about the watches you wear that tell you your heart rate and calories burned?
  • creativerick
    creativerick Posts: 270 Member
    It all starts and ends with your diet.

    Most common people have no idea what body composition is or looks like. Most people just guess arbitrary numbers for weight. Some people guess I look 170- even though I am obviously a lot more than 170. Don't worry about what untrained persons assume or guess your body weight to be.
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Food scale is far more important than a heart rate monitor.
  • Morgaath
    Morgaath Posts: 679 Member
    Grab the 5 dice from Yahtzee. That is around the 5 cubic inches difference between 1-lb of muscle and fat.
    Now picture having 100 of those dice. That is the difference in 20-lbs of fat vs muscle.

    Cube of muscle 2.88-inches on each side weighs 1-lb. = 23.89 cubic inches
    Cube of fat 3.09-inches on each side weighs 1-lb. = 29.05 cubic inches

    1 US gallon of milk = 231 cubic inches = same space as 7.8-lbs of fat
    20-lbs of fat is the same size as 2.56-gallons of milk.
    7.8-lbs of muscle takes up 0.81/gallons (186.3 cubic inches)
  • Gholmar
    Gholmar Posts: 37
    I don't weigh any more than my wife does. 1 lb of me weighs the same as 1 lb of her.

    Right?
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    This drives me crazy. Everyone knows what everyone else is saying here. Everyone is correct. "Per unit volume" is implied when people say muscle weighs more than fat and the unit of volume everyone is talking about is the human body.

    I feel like people just argue about this to pontificate.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    So I have always been really solid...muscular with some fat. And I weigh a lot more then I look. Could this be a reason why I haven't seen the scale going down? I've been eating a calorie deficit. The first 2 1/2 weeks I started insanity and was too intense so I switch to t25 and the last 2 weeks I've been going to the gym 6 days a week doing about 30-45 on the treadmill and then doing another 45 mins weights. Yesterday I started doing t25 again in the morning and then going to the gym in the evening. Still haven't really noticed any results or weight loss...help!

    Too bad the title of your thread has everyone on a stupid tangent - (I weigh the same as the earth because 1lb me = 1 lb earth. Derp.)

    Anyway, I'll try to focus on your questions:

    Most likely, after a few weeks this has little to do with muscle or fat. Intense new exercise results in edema to repair the tissue and to store glycogen. This edema is mostly water and salts and creates a weight masking effect. You can wait, and the weight will drop. Want to test it?

    Take one day with little bread or other carbs and the next day, you'll drop a pound or two.

    Or, since it is two weeks, it could be TOM, undigested food, etc... Give it time.

    And on the exercise front, relax that a little, give yourself time to become used to it and avoid injury - 3-4 days of exercise a week is sufficient when starting. Take a long term view of what is practicable.
  • MyaAlisha6
    MyaAlisha6 Posts: 19 Member
    Thank you :) I saw this quote the other day that said "usually when your about to give up, is right around that time when that miracle happens... Don't give up (or Something like that). It's been keeping me going :)
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Most people who think they have a lot of muscle, don't. Until you get to a lowish BF% it is actually pretty hard to tell unless you have been lean before and know how much you carry.

    Even if you did, that has nothing to do with not being able to lose weight now.

    You may well be retaining water if you started exercising which is masking 'real' weight loss. Either that or you are not at a deficit.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    1lb muscle =1lb fat sorry....

    1lb Muscle may take up less space tho...

    Muscle doesn't take up less space because 1 cubic inch of muscle = 1 cubic inch of fat.

    All other variable being equal is implied in the statement. The same volume of muscle will weigh more than the same volume of fat, thus muscle weighs more than fat.

    Unless one of them is on the moon.

    :flowerforyou:
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    You're likely retaining water for muscle repair, due to the exercise.

    Make sure you're logging accurately, with a food scale. Eat back half of your exercise calories. Be patient. If you're not losing after a month consider reducing calories.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    This drives me crazy. Everyone knows what everyone else is saying here. Everyone is correct. "Per unit volume" is implied when people say muscle weighs more than fat and the unit of volume everyone is talking about is the human body.

    I feel like people just argue about this to pontificate.
    YEAH:angry:
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    1lb muscle =1lb fat sorry....

    1lb Muscle may take up less space tho...

    Muscle doesn't take up less space because 1 cubic inch of muscle = 1 cubic inch of fat.

    All other variable being equal is implied in the statement. The same volume of muscle will weigh more than the same volume of fat, thus muscle weighs more than fat.

    Unless one of them is on the moon.

    Sweet reply!


    But which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks? :laugh:
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    This drives me crazy. Everyone knows what everyone else is saying here. Everyone is correct. "Per unit volume" is implied when people say muscle weighs more than fat and the unit of volume everyone is talking about is the human body.

    I feel like people just argue about this to pontificate.

    KEEL HAUL THEM!!!
  • GetSoda
    GetSoda Posts: 1,267 Member
    Of course muscle weighs more than fat, and you can prove it.

    Take 1lb of fat
    and 1 lab of muscle

    put them in the pool

    the muscle sinks, and the fat floats.

    additionally, if you drop 2lbs of fat, and 1b of muscle, they will hit the ground at the same time.

    duh!
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,179 Member
    1lb muscle =1lb fat sorry....

    1lb Muscle may take up less space tho...

    Muscle doesn't take up less space because 1 cubic inch of muscle = 1 cubic inch of fat.

    All other variable being equal is implied in the statement. The same volume of muscle will weigh more than the same volume of fat, thus muscle weighs more than fat.

    Unless one of them is on the moon.

    Fat Vs Muscle

    http://www.amazon.com/form®-1-lb-5-lb-Replicas-Muscle/dp/B00F9UY73C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1390947117&sr=8-4&keywords=5lb.++of+muscle+Replica
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    This drives me crazy. Everyone knows what everyone else is saying here. Everyone is correct. "Per unit volume" is implied when people say muscle weighs more than fat and the unit of volume everyone is talking about is the human body.

    I feel like people just argue about this to pontificate.

    Yeah it's a huge pet peeve of mine, lol. People apparently just like to play dumb. It's like saying that lead doesn't weigh more than feathers... so dumb.

    OP, if you compare two persons of the same weight and one has 10% less bodyfat than the other, he will be leaner. In the end though, if you want to lose weight, you need to eat a deficit... So either you're not losing weight because you're eating too much, or you're not losing weight because your muscles are still recovering from a new exercise program.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    And then fat does what???



    Don't leave us in suspense...

    ...please do go on.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    anyone get bingo?
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    This drives me crazy. Everyone knows what everyone else is saying here. Everyone is correct. "Per unit volume" is implied when people say muscle weighs more than fat and the unit of volume everyone is talking about is the human body.

    I feel like people just argue about this to pontificate.

    ^This!
  • 3laine75
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Haha.....can of worms.

    Yes, muscle does weigh more than fat, by volume.

    However, this won't stop you losing weight. It's physically impossible to gain any weight (muscle or fat) at deficit. So, if you're not losing, you're not eating at deficit.

    This is either because you have miscalculated either your BMR or activity level, or both or you are not logging accurately.
  • MyaAlisha6
    MyaAlisha6 Posts: 19 Member
    I think it may be water retention. I've been kinda reading up on it. I have changed my routine 4 times, and I think my muscles are definitely still recovering.

    Also right now I don't have a food scale. I scan the barcodes of everything I eat and log the amount....I actually a lot of the times double the amount just to be "safe" so I honestly don't think I am eating to many calories.

    It says I should eat around 2,100 calories to keep my weight right where it's at. I've been trying to eat around 1350 calories a day which is a 750 calorie deficit. So I dont think I could be miss calculating that many calories, causing me to over eat.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    This drives me crazy. Everyone knows what everyone else is saying here. Everyone is correct. "Per unit volume" is implied when people say muscle weighs more than fat and the unit of volume everyone is talking about is the human body.

    I feel like people just argue about this to pontificate.

    You couldn't be more wrong
  • royvmax
    royvmax Posts: 13 Member
    Hi,

    You seem to be doing the right things i.e. exercising and watching your diet. Maybe being a bit more exact on portion size and weighing food will help to get a more accurate report of your calorie intake. The fact that you are doing strength training as well as cardio may mean that you are building some muscle. It is key to measure your chest/ waist /hip/thigh size as you may be losing inches but not weight due to some muscle gain.

    Good luck with your progress.

    Feel free to friend me if you want some encouragement or advice.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    This drives me crazy. Everyone knows what everyone else is saying here. Everyone is correct. "Per unit volume" is implied when people say muscle weighs more than fat and the unit of volume everyone is talking about is the human body.

    I feel like people just argue about this to pontificate.

    You couldn't be more wrong

    Personally, I could care less.