Fat to Muscle????

Rainbow011 · August 2011

Any ideas how quickly your body turns fat to muscle? The reason I ask is because of a recent comment I read basically saying that you can't turn fat to muscle unless you train 24/7.

I train 5 times a week, mostly cardio; walking/jogging, running and elliptical trainer. My whole body but most particularly my legs are firmer and definately more toned. I was under the impression this might be muscle (that's how it looks) or something like that. However, I'm now doubting this given the comment I read, which was posted on this site.

Just to explain....although I have only been a member of MFP for two months, I have regularly trained at a gym for the past 5 years.

If there is any MFP members who know about these things, it would be helpful to get some advice. I asked especially because if I stand on the scales and notice my weight has gone up slightly, by say a pound (which it hasn't yet!), is it likely to be fat, muscle or water retention??

Thanks

ShrinkingNinja · August 2011

I am only speaking from my perception, not known fact... but I don't believe you can turn fat into muscle. I believe you can only burn away fat in your body and build up muscle.

Having said that.... I believe that working out like you have could tone your body up for you, but you would need to incorporate weights to actually help you build more muscles.

Goal_Seeker_1988 · August 2011

Sounds like you do alot of cardio but are you doin any weight training? That's how you build muscle and strength!

mowu · August 2011

You can't turn fat into muscle........

Fat is stored energy and quite different from muscle tissue.

You can train your muscles so they get bigger - and you can use the energy stored in the fat so your fat depots are reduced, but you can not turn fat into muscle.

SpaceMarkus · August 2011

Fat doesn't turn into muscle. They are two different things. Think of fat as hard little balls under your skin and around your organs. Once you make fat, you don't get rid of it. The size just shrinks. This is why it's so much easier to "put fat on" than take it off. Your goal in "losing fat" is to actually shrink the fat cells down.

Muscles are a whole different ball game. You can build muscle by tearing it and having it repair itself.

Qarol · August 2011

I am only speaking from my perception, not known fact... but I don't believe you can turn fat into muscle. I believe you can only burn away fat in your body and build up muscle.

I immediately thought of this. Fat doesn't magically become muscle. You burn fat and build muscle. And not necessarily at the same rate. But I suppose that's what the OP meant, right? ;-)

erickirb · August 2011

Any ideas how quickly your body turns fat to muscle? The reason I ask is because of a recent comment I read basically saying that you can't turn fat to muscle unless you train 24/7.

I train 5 times a week, mostly cardio; walking/jogging, running and elliptical trainer. My whole body but most particularly my legs are firmer and definately more toned. I was under the impression this might be muscle (that's how it looks) or something like that. However, I'm now doubting this given the comment I read, which was posted on this site.

Just to explain....although I have only been a member of MFP for two months, I have regularly trained at a gym for the past 5 years.

If there is any MFP members who know about these things, it would be helpful to get some advice. I asked especially because if I stand on the scales and notice my weight has gone up slightly, by say a pound (which it hasn't yet!), is it likely to be fat, muscle or water retention??

Thanks

Fat will never turn into muscle, they are 2 completely different things they just both happen to be in your body.

You will not be building muscle doing just cardio (most likely you will be losing some along with fat) it may appear like you have more muscle but that is just the muscles coming out from under the fat (less fat covering them).

If you are in a caloric deficit and the scale goes up it is most likely water. If you are in a caloric surplus and you gain weight it is probably a combination of fat, muscle and water.

barrowmanl · August 2011

I am not sure about how quickly fat turns to muscle. I have been training at the gym for a number of years and have also done some reading re training and fat burn. It is recommended that you do weight training as well as cardio to get the best results. Talk to a trainer at your gym.

tgbz86 · August 2011

Fat cells shrink...they don't disappear or turn to 'muscle'. Muscle builds if you're challenging it the right way.

milk215 · August 2011

You can't "turn" muscle into fat. You can add more muscle by weight/strength/resistance training. Plus adding muscle will help your body burn more calories while resting...

JennLifts · August 2011

I am only speaking from my perception, not known fact... but I don't believe you can turn fat into muscle. I believe you can only burn away fat in your body and build up muscle.

Having said that.... I believe that working out like you have could tone your body up for you, but you would need to incorporate weights to actually help you build more muscles.

I agree. You cant gain a whole bunch of muscle in a deficit, but you do have beginners gain on your side, and you can at least preserve what you do have while losing fat.

fteale · August 2011

Fat doesn't turn into muscle. They are two different things. Think of fat as hard little balls under your skin and around your organs. Once you make fat, you don't get rid of it. The size just shrinks. This is why it's so much easier to "put fat on" than take it off. Your goal in "losing fat" is to actually shrink the fat cells down.

Muscles are a whole different ball game. You can build muscle by tearing it and having it repair itself.

I thought everyone had about the same number of fat cells, it's just a question of how full they are. I know if you have lipo but don't improve your diet, the fat just collects somewhere you still have fat cells, so it ends up in bizarre places.

melizerd · August 2011

Yup fat is fat, and muscle is muscle, they don't turn into one another

What you do is reduce fat and build muscle.

Without weight training you're not building much muscle, especially if you're still losing weight. You lose both muscle and fat when losing weight so weight training is important to minimize muscle loss and promote muscle growth. If you're doing a lot of running or leg work outs for cardio of course your legs are strong, they carry your body weight

so they are doing some strength training.

NaloMeli · August 2011

Add on question: which is heavier, Fat or Muscle? If I am shrinking my fat cells and gaining muscle mass, will that make it look like I'm gaining or staying the same? I can tell when I'm losing by how clothes fit, but am very curious.

Thanks for any input!

erickirb · August 2011

Add on question: which is heavier, Fat or Muscle? If I am shrinking my fat cells and gaining muscle mass, will that make it look like I'm gaining or staying the same? I can tell when I'm losing by how clothes fit, but am very curious.

Thanks for any input!

This is very hard to do and most likely you will not be able to gain muscle and lose fat simultaneously, unless you are new to resistance training than you may gain a couple pounds of muscle at most.

Muscle weighs more than fat in equal volumes, but if you gain weight in a caloric deficit it is most likely water retention, not muscle growth.

UsedToBeHusky · August 2011

Fat can be converted to energy and that energy can be used to build muscle, but only if you strength train. Fat is used after the body has expended your daily caloric intake. All bodily activities require energy including the process of building muscle. Once your body uses the intake, it defers to fat stores. Building muscle is a process that takes several days so strength training actually adds to your daily caloric burn.

Therefore, to answer your question, fat cannot be converted to muscle in a single day. Any slight gains that you might have is due to water retention because the body uses water to protect the muscles during the process of building muscle.

capeto · August 2011

Hi remmeber that the muscle weight more than fat, so if you are training in the gym, the importate thing is to loose sizes. Your weight will be down slowly. Contiunue doing more cardio and only few strenght.

Ej. Monday to Friday: Cardio 40 min minimum and for strenght , 3 series 3 exec. of 12-15 reps medium weight of each part of the body (each day)

trelm249 · August 2011

Biologically speaking, fat tissue does not "turn in to" muscle.

What happens is when a sedentary person who has significant fat stores, transitions to an active person making wise dietary choices and exercising fat tissue is burned, thus reducing in size. At the same time exercise (particularly strength training) stimulates muscle growth, most effectively when there is adequate protein consumption.

This may result in slower weight loss than anticated due to muscle tissue being more dense, thus heavier than fat. This is mitigated by muscle being more biologically active than fat and as a result increasing your metabolism.

All of that is to say, fat does not become muscle. One shrinks while the other grows.

Rainbow011 · August 2011

Any ideas how quickly your body turns fat to muscle? The reason I ask is because of a recent comment I read basically saying that you can't turn fat to muscle unless you train 24/7.

I train 5 times a week, mostly cardio; walking/jogging, running and elliptical trainer. My whole body but most particularly my legs are firmer and definately more toned. I was under the impression this might be muscle (that's how it looks) or something like that. However, I'm now doubting this given the comment I read, which was posted on this site.

Just to explain....although I have only been a member of MFP for two months, I have regularly trained at a gym for the past 5 years.

If there is any MFP members who know about these things, it would be helpful to get some advice. I asked especially because if I stand on the scales and notice my weight has gone up slightly, by say a pound (which it hasn't yet!), is it likely to be fat, muscle or water retention??

Thanks

Sorry, I think I might not have explained myself very well here. I don't mean turning fat to muscle. I know that you cannot turn fat to muscle. But burning fat and building muscle. The comment I read implied that you couldn't do that.

I don't really do much resistance training. I know I should do more. I'm just more of a cardio person.

liftingbro · August 2011

Any ideas how quickly your body turns fat to muscle? The reason I ask is because of a recent comment I read basically saying that you can't turn fat to muscle unless you train 24/7.

I train 5 times a week, mostly cardio; walking/jogging, running and elliptical trainer. My whole body but most particularly my legs are firmer and definately more toned. I was under the impression this might be muscle (that's how it looks) or something like that. However, I'm now doubting this given the comment I read, which was posted on this site.

Just to explain....although I have only been a member of MFP for two months, I have regularly trained at a gym for the past 5 years.

If there is any MFP members who know about these things, it would be helpful to get some advice. I asked especially because if I stand on the scales and notice my weight has gone up slightly, by say a pound (which it hasn't yet!), is it likely to be fat, muscle or water retention??

Thanks

If fat could be turned into muscle I'd look like this:

Good think it's not true. Kinda.

bobbybdoe · August 2011

Any ideas how quickly your body turns fat to muscle? The reason I ask is because of a recent comment I read basically saying that you can't turn fat to muscle unless you train 24/7.

I train 5 times a week, mostly cardio; walking/jogging, running and elliptical trainer. My whole body but most particularly my legs are firmer and definately more toned. I was under the impression this might be muscle (that's how it looks) or something like that. However, I'm now doubting this given the comment I read, which was posted on this site.

Just to explain....although I have only been a member of MFP for two months, I have regularly trained at a gym for the past 5 years.

If there is any MFP members who know about these things, it would be helpful to get some advice. I asked especially because if I stand on the scales and notice my weight has gone up slightly, by say a pound (which it hasn't yet!), is it likely to be fat, muscle or water retention??

Thanks

liftingbro · August 2011

Sorry, I think I might not have explained myself very well here. I don't mean turning fat to muscle. I know that you cannot turn fat to muscle. But burning fat and building muscle. The comment I read implied that you couldn't do that.

I don't really do much resistance training. I know I should do more. I'm just more of a cardio person.

If you don't lift you won't build muscle. If you are in a caloric defict you will not build muscle unless you are lifting and are new to lifting and after a few months you will level off. To build muscle after you are conditioned to weight training you have to eat more calories than you burn.

bobbybdoe · August 2011

Sorry, I think I might not have explained myself very well here. I don't mean turning fat to muscle. I know that you cannot turn fat to muscle. But burning fat and building muscle. The comment I read implied that you couldn't do that.

I don't really do much resistance training. I know I should do more. I'm just more of a cardio person.

If you don't lift you won't build muscle. If you are in a caloric defict you will not build muscle unless you are lifting and are new to lifting and after a few months you will level off. To build muscle after you are conditioned to weight training you have to eat more calories than you burn.

Not necessarily bro. Eat 1-1.2g of protein daily per pound in your body while eating a small caloric deficit will allow you to burn fat while gaining muscle. Resistance training 3x a week and cardio 3-5x (sometimes on the same day as resistance day) and you'll be fine.

Rainbow011 · August 2011

Thanks for all the super quick replies. I get that my first post was a bit dumb....fat to muscle title also didn't help. Honestly, I am not that thick. I get that you cannot turn one into the other.

Basically, reading the replies I get that I need to add some weights to my work out. So I will.

Thanks again

erickirb · August 2011

Sorry, I think I might not have explained myself very well here. I don't mean turning fat to muscle. I know that you cannot turn fat to muscle. But burning fat and building muscle. The comment I read implied that you couldn't do that.

I don't really do much resistance training. I know I should do more. I'm just more of a cardio person.

If you don't lift you won't build muscle. If you are in a caloric defict you will not build muscle unless you are lifting and are new to lifting and after a few months you will level off. To build muscle after you are conditioned to weight training you have to eat more calories than you burn.

Not necessarily bro. Eat 1-1.2g of protein daily per pound in your body while eating a small caloric deficit will allow you to burn fat while gaining muscle. Resistance training 3x a week and cardio 3-5x (sometimes on the same day as resistance day) and you'll be fine.

It isn't the protein that you need it is sufficient protein and a caloric surplus. This is body builders to bulk and cut phases. They lose muscle as they cut, and gain while eating a surplus of calories during the bulk phase. Unless you are new to lifting you will not gain muscle while in a caloric deficit, it just doesn't happen, unless you are taking performance enhancing drugs.

What you are saying would limit the amount of muscle you lose while in a caloric deficit.

End6ame · August 2011

Sorry, I think I might not have explained myself very well here. I don't mean turning fat to muscle. I know that you cannot turn fat to muscle. But burning fat and building muscle. The comment I read implied that you couldn't do that.

I don't really do much resistance training. I know I should do more. I'm just more of a cardio person.

If you don't lift you won't build muscle. If you are in a caloric defict you will not build muscle unless you are lifting and are new to lifting and after a few months you will level off. To build muscle after you are conditioned to weight training you have to eat more calories than you burn.

Not necessarily bro. Eat 1-1.2g of protein daily per pound in your body while eating a small caloric deficit will allow you to burn fat while gaining muscle. Resistance training 3x a week and cardio 3-5x (sometimes on the same day as resistance day) and you'll be fine.

Temporarily, then your results will taper off.

Your body needs x number of calories to function as is. You need to eat x-y calories to lose fat. You need to eat x+y calories to gain weight. It is simple math that no amount of protein can change.

jenomaha · August 2011

Add on question: which is heavier, Fat or Muscle? If I am shrinking my fat cells and gaining muscle mass, will that make it look like I'm gaining or staying the same? I can tell when I'm losing by how clothes fit, but am very curious.

Thanks for any input!

Muscle does not weigh more than fat. 5lbs of fat is equal to 5 lbs of muscle. Muscle just takes up less space, it's more dense. It's more important to consider body composition than the weight on the scale. A 200 lb man with 12% bodyfat is gonna look and be healthier than a 200lb man with 25% bodyfat. They both weigh 200lbs, one just has more muscle than the other.

Here is a link with a pic and a little explanation. Sorry, don't know how to insert pics.
http://www.onemorebite-weightloss.com/muscle-to-fat.html

erickirb · August 2011

Add on question: which is heavier, Fat or Muscle? If I am shrinking my fat cells and gaining muscle mass, will that make it look like I'm gaining or staying the same? I can tell when I'm losing by how clothes fit, but am very curious.

Thanks for any input!

Muscle does not weigh more than fat. 5lbs of fat is equal to 5 lbs of muscle. Muscle just takes up less space, it's more dense. It's more important to consider body composition than the weight on the scale. A 200 lb man with 12% bodyfat is gonna look and be healthier than a 200lb man with 25% bodyfat. They both weigh 200lbs, one just has more muscle than the other.

Here is a link with a pic and a little explanation. Sorry, don't know how to insert pics.
http://www.onemorebite-weightloss.com/muscle-to-fat.html

Yes muscle does weigh more it does so because it is more dense. When comparing weights of 2 things try keeping volume constant, if you do that muscle will always weigh more than fat, and that is the correct way to compare. 1 cubic foot of muscle will weigh more than 1 cubic foot of fat.

Taking your argument and moving it to food would them mean that carrots and butter have the same caloric content because 100 cals of carrots have the same amount of cals as 100 cals of butter. You completely miss the point of muscle weighs more than fat when you come back with 5lbs=5lbs.

joejccva71 · August 2011

Add on question: which is heavier, Fat or Muscle? If I am shrinking my fat cells and gaining muscle mass, will that make it look like I'm gaining or staying the same? I can tell when I'm losing by how clothes fit, but am very curious.

Thanks for any input!

Muscle does not weigh more than fat. 5lbs of fat is equal to 5 lbs of muscle.

bobbybdoe · August 2011

Sorry, I think I might not have explained myself very well here. I don't mean turning fat to muscle. I know that you cannot turn fat to muscle. But burning fat and building muscle. The comment I read implied that you couldn't do that.

I don't really do much resistance training. I know I should do more. I'm just more of a cardio person.

If you don't lift you won't build muscle. If you are in a caloric defict you will not build muscle unless you are lifting and are new to lifting and after a few months you will level off. To build muscle after you are conditioned to weight training you have to eat more calories than you burn.

Not necessarily bro. Eat 1-1.2g of protein daily per pound in your body while eating a small caloric deficit will allow you to burn fat while gaining muscle. Resistance training 3x a week and cardio 3-5x (sometimes on the same day as resistance day) and you'll be fine.

It isn't the protein that you need it is sufficient protein and a caloric surplus. This is body builders to bulk and cut phases. They lose muscle as they cut, and gain while eating a surplus of calories during the bulk phase. Unless you are new to lifting you will not gain muscle while in a caloric deficit, it just doesn't happen, unless you are taking performance enhancing drugs.

What you are saying would limit the amount of muscle you lose while in a caloric deficit.

Well, I eat at a 400 calories caloric deficit. I could never gain muscle until I upped my protein a couple months ago (based on a book I read by Tom Venuto). Now I lift more, and my muscles are WAAAY tighter. I was doing the same exercises, but until I upped my protein, I wouldn't gain any muscle. I don't believe in "Bulking" either. I just eat clean as much as I can, and make sure I hit 160g of protein a day and the muscle is beginning to pile on.

End6ame · August 2011

Sorry, I think I might not have explained myself very well here. I don't mean turning fat to muscle. I know that you cannot turn fat to muscle. But burning fat and building muscle. The comment I read implied that you couldn't do that.

I don't really do much resistance training. I know I should do more. I'm just more of a cardio person.

If you don't lift you won't build muscle. If you are in a caloric defict you will not build muscle unless you are lifting and are new to lifting and after a few months you will level off. To build muscle after you are conditioned to weight training you have to eat more calories than you burn.

Not necessarily bro. Eat 1-1.2g of protein daily per pound in your body while eating a small caloric deficit will allow you to burn fat while gaining muscle. Resistance training 3x a week and cardio 3-5x (sometimes on the same day as resistance day) and you'll be fine.

It isn't the protein that you need it is sufficient protein and a caloric surplus. This is body builders to bulk and cut phases. They lose muscle as they cut, and gain while eating a surplus of calories during the bulk phase. Unless you are new to lifting you will not gain muscle while in a caloric deficit, it just doesn't happen, unless you are taking performance enhancing drugs.

What you are saying would limit the amount of muscle you lose while in a caloric deficit.

Well, I eat at a 400 calories caloric deficit. I could never gain muscle until I upped my protein a couple months ago (based on a book I read by Tom Venuto). Now I lift more, and my muscles are WAAAY tighter. I was doing the same exercises, but until I upped my protein, I wouldn't gain any muscle. I don't believe in "Bulking" either. I just eat clean as much as I can, and make sure I hit 160g of protein a day and the muscle is beginning to pile on.

Pile on!? What is your routine?

Also know that muscle fiber recruitment and building muscle are not the same thing.

Fat to Muscle????

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