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Muscle does NOT weigh more that fat

SherryRH
SherryRH Posts: 810 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I just want to go on a small rant and say it is one of my biggest pet peeves when someone says muscle weighs more that fat.

Muscle does not weigh more that fat. If you have 1lb of muscle and 1lb of fat you still 1lb of each. How can 1lb weigh more than 1lb? :noway:

Here is the truth --- Muscle is more dense than fat so it takes more muscle fibers to equal the same volume of fat, therefore it make take 3lbs of muscle to equal the same mass as a 1lb of fat but it doesn't make it any heavier. It just means you need more muscle to equal the same volume fat. So STOP saying muscle weighs more than fat. It is just more dense than fat. I know someone posted a picture not too long ago of a 1lb of fat and a 1lb of muscle. Even though each lb had different sizes, they still weighed a lb. Maybe some can post the pic again.

Ok, I am done ranting now.

Replies

  • SherryRH
    SherryRH Posts: 810 Member
    I just want to go on a small rant and say it is one of my biggest pet peeves when someone says muscle weighs more that fat.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat. If you have 1lb of muscle and 1lb of fat you still 1lb of each. How can 1lb weigh more than 1lb? :noway:

    Here is the truth --- Muscle is more dense than fat so it takes more muscle fibers to equal the same volume of fat, therefore it make take 3lbs of muscle to equal the same mass as a 1lb of fat but it doesn't make it any heavier. It just means you need more muscle to equal the same volume fat. So STOP saying muscle weighs more than fat. It is just more dense than fat. I know someone posted a picture not too long ago of a 1lb of fat and a 1lb of muscle. Even though each lb had different sizes, they still weighed a lb. Maybe some can post the pic again.

    Ok, I am done ranting now.
  • Glammy
    Glammy Posts: 115 Member
    I think when people say muscle weighs more than fat, they are implying that given the same volume, say 1 cup of each, the muscle will weigh more. But you're right - 1 pound is 1 pound!
  • tanzmamma
    tanzmamma Posts: 368 Member
    Yes 1 lb is 1 lb. I read SOMEWHERE (cant tell you where i just remember reading it, and a friend on the WW boards said the same thing).... But I remember reading that when you work your muscles hard.. that they retain water to repair themselves? I don't know how true that is.. but..... there ya have it lol.
  • shkaki
    shkaki Posts: 234 Member
    "they" say that to make people feel better about staying the same weight but getting smaller by inches. 1lb of muscle takes up considerably less space than 1lb of fat. So even when you're not losing "weight" on the scale you can in fact be getting smaller and more compact. 1lb of muscle weighs the same as 1lb of fat. but when its said that muscle weighs more than fat, i believe it is refering to the same size amount. Someone who weighs 170lbs and is 20% body fat will appear smaller than someone who is 170lbs but 40%body fat. (given they're the same ht.)
  • shkaki
    shkaki Posts: 234 Member
    ....which means that person A is more dense than person B. fat is less dense :laugh: thats when its good to be "dense" :laugh: :laugh:
  • Poison5119
    Poison5119 Posts: 1,460 Member
    So what you're saying is that if you filled a one cup measure with fat, and a one cup measure with muscle, the cup with the muscle in it would weigh more than the fat on a scale.

    I think that's what 'they' mean when they say that.
  • iluvsparkles
    iluvsparkles Posts: 1,730 Member
    So what you're saying is that if you filled a one cup measure with fat, and a one cup measure with muscle, the cup with the muscle in it would weigh more than the fat on a scale.

    I think that's what 'they' mean when they say that.


    i agree with you, and the other day i was "they' by posting this thread:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/21643-fat-versus-muscle?hl=fat+versus+muscle#posts-194836

    I guess its kinda like my pet peeve of people using "I" and "me" in the wrong way. I have to hold my tongue to keep from calling people out for saying "my friend and me did this" or, "it was great for my fiancé and I"
  • lotusfromthemud
    lotusfromthemud Posts: 5,335 Member
    "they" do say that.

    Here's the article that explains the muscle/glycogen/water thing. (and other stuff that's good to know)

    http://primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/scale.htm

    The real issue here is: we're all hung up on a "scale number" and that is SO not where it's at.:flowerforyou:

    opinionated moral of the story: throw away your scale, buy a tape measure and live your healthy life!
  • mjfer123
    mjfer123 Posts: 1,234 Member
    muscle weighs more than fat per volume.
    If you had a cup of fat and a cup of muscle, the cup of muscle would weigh more
    like you said muscle is more dense.
    So while a pound is still a pound, it takes up less space.

    Technically by saying a lb is still a lb all your doing is playing word games.
    If you thought about it, they mean muscle per volume.
  • iluvsparkles
    iluvsparkles Posts: 1,730 Member
    "they" do say that.

    Here's the article that explains the muscle/glycogen/water thing. (and other stuff that's good to know)

    http://primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/scale.htm

    The real issue here is: we're all hung up on a "scale number" and that is SO not where it's at.:flowerforyou:

    opinionated moral of the story: throw away your scale, buy a tape measure and live your healthy life!
    Amen Viv!
  • iluvsparkles
    iluvsparkles Posts: 1,730 Member
    indeed mjfer!
  • SherryRH
    SherryRH Posts: 810 Member
    I know what you are saying about the volume but if that is what you mean you should say it. Muscle weighs more than fat by volume. Don't stop at "muscle weighs more than fat."
  • iluvsparkles
    iluvsparkles Posts: 1,730 Member
    i will remember how much of a pet peeve it is for people next time i say that.
  • Emdicio
    Emdicio Posts: 270 Member
    opera_card.jpg

    :laugh:
  • MontanaGirl
    MontanaGirl Posts: 1,251 Member
    opera_card.jpg

    :laugh:

    :laugh: :laugh: Bravo, bravo!
  • hnlymark
    hnlymark Posts: 191
    Soooo....muscle weighs MORE than fat. I totally get it now...errr...yeah. What I CAN'T figure out, when snow melts...where does the white go?
  • MontanaGirl
    MontanaGirl Posts: 1,251 Member
    Soooo....muscle weighs MORE than fat. I totally get it now...errr...yeah. What I CAN'T figure out, when snow melts...where does the white go?

    Up in the air to make clouds, silly. Duh.
  • Emdicio
    Emdicio Posts: 270 Member
    Soooo....muscle weighs MORE than fat. I totally get it now...errr...yeah. What I CAN'T figure out, when snow melts...where does the white go?

    Yeah, and why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic wins lottery"?
  • jlwhelan1
    jlwhelan1 Posts: 664
    A more proper way to state this would be:
    Assuming equivalent volumes, the mass of muscle is greater than the mass of fat.

    Density is mass / volume.

    Mass does not change with location, weight is based on gravity and will change with location. The weight of an object is the force of gravity on the object and may be defined as the mass times the acceleration of gravity, w = mg.

    But the popular, shorthand way of phrasing this does seem to be," muscle weighs more than fat" without specifying equivalent volume and using weight and mass interchangeably. It does not bother me, I know what "they" mean.:wink:
  • hnlymark
    hnlymark Posts: 191
    A more proper way to state this would be:
    Assuming equivalent volumes, the mass of muscle is greater than the mass of fat.

    Density is mass / volume.

    Mass does not change with location, weight is based on gravity and will change with location. The weight of an object is the force of gravity on the object and may be defined as the mass times the acceleration of gravity, w = mg.

    But the popular, shorthand way of phrasing this does seem to be," muscle weighs more than fat" without specifying equivalent volume and using weight and mass interchangeably. It does not bother me, I know what "they" mean.:wink:

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • time2wrk
    time2wrk Posts: 773 Member
    This thread is hurting my brain. It is making me think math thoughts. My brain doesn't do well with math thoughts. Especially on a Friday! :tongue:
  • mjfer123
    mjfer123 Posts: 1,234 Member
    A more proper way to state this would be:
    Assuming equivalent volumes, the mass of muscle is greater than the mass of fat.

    Density is mass / volume.

    Mass does not change with location, weight is based on gravity and will change with location. The weight of an object is the force of gravity on the object and may be defined as the mass times the acceleration of gravity, w = mg.

    But the popular, shorthand way of phrasing this does seem to be," muscle weighs more than fat" without specifying equivalent volume and using weight and mass interchangeably. It does not bother me, I know what "they" mean.:wink:

    Put shortly, the same amount of muscle weighs more than the same amount of fat, using any other system of measurement than by weight itself. Obviously, a pound is a pound.
  • MontanaGirl
    MontanaGirl Posts: 1,251 Member
    I think "they" mean "muscle weighs more than fat by volume" So when "I" read Muscle weighs more than fat - I add mentally by volume. So your weight can stay the same and you can lose inches because you're gaining muscle and losing fat. So, it's o.k. to read between the lines a little on this subject. :happy: Need to find that pic that had the 5 lbs of muscle and the 5 lbs of fat!!
  • Javancub
    Javancub Posts: 181
    Thats probably why they dont messure muscle and ft in lbs...but in %, because 1 cup of muscle weighs more than 1 cup of fat.
  • kimber607
    kimber607 Posts: 7,128 Member
    Hi

    Can someone lock this thread.....LOL
    *my brain hurts and I can't stop coming back and reading the replies..LOL*
    I think WE ALL get it :)

    Kim
  • iluvsparkles
    iluvsparkles Posts: 1,730 Member
    LOL Amen Kimber!
    when i originally said that muscle weighs more than fat last week, i never intended to bring out the pet peeves rants of some (this has not been the only time i have been made aware that i 'miss-spoke),, i was just trying to help put perspective on weight loss!!
  • iluvsparkles
    iluvsparkles Posts: 1,730 Member
    heres the pic btw
    m3hfau9y.jpg
  • MontanaGirl
    MontanaGirl Posts: 1,251 Member
    Yeah, yeah. Thats the one!!! Nice visual - need that reminder.
  • jamerz3294
    jamerz3294 Posts: 1,824 Member
    sparkles, you beat me to it! Sometimes, a pic is worth a thousand bytes, hehehe :laugh:
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