'Muscle weighs more than fat' ???

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qifitness
qifitness Posts: 49 Member
edited November 2014 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm posting this as a professionally qualified nutritionist and exercise physiologist.

This statement is repeated over and over as 'knowledge' when people aren't losing weight, but exercising.
It's one of countless myths based on misunderstanding.

So, to put things straight....
1lb of muscle = 1lb of fat.
1kg of muscle = 1 kg of fat.

'Know-it-all' amateurs reply by saying...
"Yes but.... muscle weighs more than fat by volume"

Technically true, but since when are humans measured in terms of 'weight-by-volume'?

Does anyone here have scales that measure 'weight-by-volume'?
No, of course not.

This 'knowledgeable statement' is just stupid and irrelevant.
'General ignorance'.

It comes from misunderstanding of a method of assessing body composition....'hydrostatic weighing'.
It's a laboratory procedure involving weighing a person immersed in water. Due to the greater density of muscle tissue over fat tissue, a person seems to weigh more when immersed. The results from water displacement are used to calculate body composition..... lean tissue compared to fat tissue.

So next time you consider why you haven't lost 'weight' while you've been exercising, don't bother saying "well, muscle weighs more than fat"......unless you have unique scales that measure you 'weight-by-volume'.

Lastly, exercising does not mean that you will automatically gain muscle.
The exercise has to be specifically designed to generate muscle growth through resistance training, and this must also be specific. Not all resistance training will result in muscle growth. Genetics also have a major influence. People respond differently to training.

So, next time you think "muscle weighs more than fat".....what exactly are you trying to convince yourself?!

As stated at the outset, these comments are from a professionally qualified and certified exercise physiologist and nutritionist.
If any unqualified know-it-all-amateurs would like to argue, state your 'accreditations' (if any), and convince fellow members here that you 'know' better.

And please....don't reply by simply trying to impress others by stating your 'years-of-experience'.
That counts for nothing.
Professional accreditations are reliable evidence of genuine knowledge.
«13

Replies

  • WanderingBomb
    WanderingBomb Posts: 69 Member
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    muscle does NOT weigh more than fat. Muscle is MORE DENSE than fat.
  • Tortitudekitty
    Tortitudekitty Posts: 67 Member
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    And muscle is more aesthetically pleasing! :)
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,626 Member
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    Nutritionist or dietician? Big difference.

    Muscle does, in fact, weigh more than fat. You don't have to be a know-it-all to know that, lol.

    People who begin dieting & exercising and gain weight after two weeks and are told, "That's because you exercised and built muscle!" are being misinformed. That's not the case.

    But muscle does, of course, weigh more than fat.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    edited November 2014
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    Errr if you bothered to read the forums then you will see that people who say this are always corrected but normal posters who know the difference between weight comparisons and density ones. You sound as though you think you have invented the wheel. It doesnt take any form of professional qualifications to know the difference as many many people on these forums already know and point out as needed.

    Nice challenge though.

    Oh dear Kalikel.
  • ZBuffBod
    ZBuffBod Posts: 297 Member
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    I totally agree. 1lb is 1lb is 1lb no matter how you slice it. I think the confusion comes from muscles being denser than fat and taking up less space.

    So someone might weigh the same but find their clothes fitting looser because they have lost some fat tissue and gained muscle tissue.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
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    muscle does NOT weigh more than fat. Muscle is MORE DENSE than fat.

    ^^^^ this

    this whole "muscle is heavier than fat" "yes it is" "no it isn't" "yes it is you know I meant the same volume" blah blah blah blah blah ongoing stupid debate would never arise if people would just learn what density means.

    muscle is denser than fat.
  • ZBuffBod
    ZBuffBod Posts: 297 Member
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    ROFLMHO! Is Kalikel saying if I have one pound of muscles that is more in weight than one pound of fat? Hmmm!
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
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    Not really a debate though is it, just someone elses lack of knowledge and understanding.
  • AmigaMaria001
    AmigaMaria001 Posts: 489 Member
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    qifitness wrote: »
    I'm posting this as a professionally qualified nutritionist and exercise physiologist.

    This statement is repeated over and over as 'knowledge' when people aren't losing weight, but exercising.
    It's one of countless myths based on misunderstanding.

    So, to put things straight....
    1lb of muscle = 1lb of fat.
    1kg of muscle = 1 kg of fat.

    'Know-it-all' amateurs reply by saying...
    "Yes but.... muscle weighs more than fat by volume"

    Technically true, but since when are humans measured in terms of 'weight-by-volume'?

    Does anyone here have scales that measure 'weight-by-volume'?
    No, of course not.

    This 'knowledgeable statement' is just stupid and irrelevant.
    'General ignorance'.

    It comes from misunderstanding of a method of assessing body composition....'hydrostatic weighing'.
    It's a laboratory procedure involving weighing a person immersed in water. Due to the greater density of muscle tissue over fat tissue, a person seems to weigh more when immersed. The results from water displacement are used to calculate body composition..... lean tissue compared to fat tissue.

    So next time you consider why you haven't lost 'weight' while you've been exercising, don't bother saying "well, muscle weighs more than fat"......unless you have unique scales that measure you 'weight-by-volume'.

    Lastly, exercising does not mean that you will automatically gain muscle.
    The exercise has to be specifically designed to generate muscle growth through resistance training, and this must also be specific. Not all resistance training will result in muscle growth. Genetics also have a major influence. People respond differently to training.

    So, next time you think "muscle weighs more than fat".....what exactly are you trying to convince yourself?!

    As stated at the outset, these comments are from a professionally qualified and certified exercise physiologist and nutritionist.
    If any unqualified know-it-all-amateurs would like to argue, state your 'accreditations' (if any), and convince fellow members here that you 'know' better.

    Overly rude and angry much?
  • qifitness
    qifitness Posts: 49 Member
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    Angry?
    No.
    This ever-repeated statement misleads an confuses people, without understanding.
    No.
    Not angry.
    Just trying to unravel the confusion.
  • qifitness
    qifitness Posts: 49 Member
    Options
    muscle does NOT weigh more than fat. Muscle is MORE DENSE than fat.

    ^^^^ this

    this whole "muscle is heavier than fat" "yes it is" "no it isn't" "yes it is you know I meant the same volume" blah blah blah blah blah ongoing stupid debate would never arise if people would just learn what density means.

    muscle is denser than fat.

  • qifitness
    qifitness Posts: 49 Member
    Options
    Exactly.
    Stupid debate, but there are countless people desperate to lose 'weight' who still believe it's relevant.
    Humans are not measured 'weight-by-volume'.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
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    qifitness wrote: »
    Angry?
    No.
    This ever-repeated statement misleads an confuses people, without understanding.
    No.
    Not angry.
    Just trying to unravel the confusion.

    You arent though. Plenty of people who come to this site are new to dieting, they pick up on some knowledge and misinform themselves. Its not a debate its just a misunderstanding from a few. You really are making a drama out of it. Why nopt be like the rest of us and just correct people when you see it on a thread as manu other people do. You dont have to shove your qualifications in their face, just explain. Many people do so just by showing them the gif of 1lb of fat and 1lb of muscle.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,134 Member
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    qifitness wrote: »
    I'm posting this as a professionally qualified nutritionist and exercise physiologist.

    This statement is repeated over and over as 'knowledge' when people aren't losing weight, but exercising.
    It's one of countless myths based on misunderstanding.

    So, to put things straight....
    1lb of muscle = 1lb of fat.
    1kg of muscle = 1 kg of fat.

    'Know-it-all' amateurs reply by saying...
    "Yes but.... muscle weighs more than fat by volume"

    Technically true, but since when are humans measured in terms of 'weight-by-volume'?

    Does anyone here have scales that measure 'weight-by-volume'?
    No, of course not.

    This 'knowledgeable statement' is just stupid and irrelevant.
    'General ignorance'.

    It comes from misunderstanding of a method of assessing body composition....'hydrostatic weighing'.
    It's a laboratory procedure involving weighing a person immersed in water. Due to the greater density of muscle tissue over fat tissue, a person seems to weigh more when immersed. The results from water displacement are used to calculate body composition..... lean tissue compared to fat tissue.

    So next time you consider why you haven't lost 'weight' while you've been exercising, don't bother saying "well, muscle weighs more than fat"......unless you have unique scales that measure you 'weight-by-volume'.

    Lastly, exercising does not mean that you will automatically gain muscle.
    The exercise has to be specifically designed to generate muscle growth through resistance training, and this must also be specific. Not all resistance training will result in muscle growth. Genetics also have a major influence. People respond differently to training.

    So, next time you think "muscle weighs more than fat".....what exactly are you trying to convince yourself?!

    As stated at the outset, these comments are from a professionally qualified and certified exercise physiologist and nutritionist.
    If any unqualified know-it-all-amateurs would like to argue, state your 'accreditations' (if any), and convince fellow members here that you 'know' better.

    Overly rude and angry much?

    OP is living the smug life.
    giphy.gif
    2548180-drop_the_mic_17cherrylane.gif

    Mostly in to find later and read up on the arguing. inb4 I get flagged.
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
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    qifitness wrote: »
    I'm posting this as a professionally qualified nutritionist and exercise physiologist.

    This statement is repeated over and over as 'knowledge' when people aren't losing weight, but exercising.
    It's one of countless myths based on misunderstanding.

    So, to put things straight....
    1lb of muscle = 1lb of fat.
    1kg of muscle = 1 kg of fat.

    'Know-it-all' amateurs reply by saying...
    "Yes but.... muscle weighs more than fat by volume"

    Technically true, but since when are humans measured in terms of 'weight-by-volume'?

    Does anyone here have scales that measure 'weight-by-volume'?
    No, of course not.

    This 'knowledgeable statement' is just stupid and irrelevant.
    'General ignorance'.

    It comes from misunderstanding of a method of assessing body composition....'hydrostatic weighing'.
    It's a laboratory procedure involving weighing a person immersed in water. Due to the greater density of muscle tissue over fat tissue, a person seems to weigh more when immersed. The results from water displacement are used to calculate body composition..... lean tissue compared to fat tissue.

    So next time you consider why you haven't lost 'weight' while you've been exercising, don't bother saying "well, muscle weighs more than fat"......unless you have unique scales that measure you 'weight-by-volume'.

    Lastly, exercising does not mean that you will automatically gain muscle.
    The exercise has to be specifically designed to generate muscle growth through resistance training, and this must also be specific. Not all resistance training will result in muscle growth. Genetics also have a major influence. People respond differently to training.

    So, next time you think "muscle weighs more than fat".....what exactly are you trying to convince yourself?!

    As stated at the outset, these comments are from a professionally qualified and certified exercise physiologist and nutritionist.
    If any unqualified know-it-all-amateurs would like to argue, state your 'accreditations' (if any), and convince fellow members here that you 'know' better.

    And please....don't reply by simply trying to impress others by stating your 'years-of-experience'.
    That counts for nothing.
    Professional accreditations are reliable evidence of genuine knowledge.

    The issue I have is the myth that you aren't losing weight because you are packing on muscle displacing the fat is most likely an untruth and not helping anyone.

    No particular nutrition accreditation.

    I still think rocks weigh more than feathers even if a ton of each weigh the same.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
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    For muscle weighs more than fat the "by volume" is implied

    Stop being a pedant
  • PeterSedesse
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    There are times when being factual is less important than getting your point across. Like this entire site and most of the world being devoted to ´weight loss´.. which shouldn´t be anyone´s goal. Your goal should be to lose fat. As soon as you start talking about ´losing weight´... then you also have to explain that the first month or two of exercising, you are very likely to gain weight (if you are doing it correctly) because muscle weighs more than fat (sic). If you talk about losing weight, then you also have to talk about water retention and salt, because water retention plays a huge part in weight loss the first few months.

    Because we talk about ´weight loss´.. it presents two big problems

    1. People can spend two months doing everything perfectly, and actually gain weight (muscle). this is hugely discouraging to people.

    2. People can lose a ton of weight in a few months without losing any fat ( water retention). This creates a false sense of accomplishment.
  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
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    So much this. So many people have no idea that weight is not the same thing as density.

    1lb of muscle = 1lb of fat. Same weight measurement.
    1 cubic inch of muscle is not the same weight as 1 cubic inch of fat.

    Simple.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,626 Member
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    ZBuffBod wrote: »
    ROFLMHO! Is Kalikel saying if I have one pound of muscles that is more in weight than one pound of fat? Hmmm!
    Kalikel didn't say that.

    Kalikel said muscle weighs more than fat.

    Kalikel is accustomed to people telling her that they're laughing at her stupidity and she is the idiot when they are wrong.

    It doesn't make her think she is the dumb one.
  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
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    Kalikel wrote: »
    ZBuffBod wrote: »
    ROFLMHO! Is Kalikel saying if I have one pound of muscles that is more in weight than one pound of fat? Hmmm!
    Kalikel didn't say that.

    Kalikel said muscle weighs more than fat.

    Kalikel is accustomed to people telling her that they're laughing at her stupidity and she is the idiot when they are wrong.

    It doesn't make her think she is the dumb one.

    Muscle does not weight more than fat. Muscle is more dense than fat. Weight has nothing to do with density as it is not a measurement of mass, but rather a measurement of gravity.