Sorry, But I have To Do It!

mark03264
mark03264 Posts: 334 Member
edited October 1 in Health and Weight Loss
Some of you know why I am apologizing but I have to try just for general edification.

There are two statements that people make in the forums that are absolutely WRONG.
(OK agreed, there more than two but this post only concerns two in particular)
"Muscle weighs more than fat."
AND
"Muscle is heavier than fat."

Both these statements are WRONG.

Let's assume we have 10 pounds of muscle and 10 pounds of fat.

The 10 pounds of muscle weighs exactly the same as the 10 pounds of fat.
AND
The 10 pounds of fat weighs exactly the same as the 10 pounds of muscle.

If they weigh exactly the same than one can not be heavier than the other as the word heavier indicates greater weight.

Here are a couple CORRECT statements;
"Muscle is denser than fat."
AND
"Fat is less dense than muscle."

Because muscle is denser than fat and fat is less dense than muscle, these statements are CORRECT;
"A GIVEN VOLUME of muscle weighs more than THE SAME VOLUME of fat."
AND
"A GIVEN VOLUME of muscle is heavier than THE SAME VOLUME of fat."
AND
"A GIVEN VOLUME of fat weighs less than THE SAME VOLUME of muscle."
AND
"A GIVEN VOLUME of fat is lighter, or less heavy, than THE SAME VOLUME of muscle."

It can also be stated correctly that;
"A pound of muscle is smaller than a pound of fat."
AND
"A pound of muscle is more compact than a pound of fat."
AND
"A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat."
AND
"A pound of fat is larger than a pound of muscle."
AND
"A pound of fat is less compact than a pound of muscle."
AND
"A pound of fat takes up more space than a pound of muscle."

Any questions?
«1

Replies

  • yogavegan
    yogavegan Posts: 116 Member
    HAHAHAAHAH love this!
    its a HUGE pet peeve of mine, and one of the reasons i stopped going to weight watchers, the leader kept saying oh you gained a bit but muscle weighs more than fat.... UGH.... love this! thank you
  • cownancy
    cownancy Posts: 291
    Wish I could adjust my font because it would say YES YES YES YES YES YES YES.....THANK YOU!!!!!!:drinker:
  • KyleGA
    KyleGA Posts: 309 Member
    Well said Mark! Thank you for sharing...next time I come across the, but muscles weighs more than fat...I am going to copy/paste your well written message!

    Cheers!
  • Helice
    Helice Posts: 1,075 Member
    when i say muscle is heavier than fat..

    I dont mean 10 pounds of muscle is more than 10 pounds of fat.. because they will both be 10 pounds..

    Im saying a bowl fall of muscle will weigh more than a bowl full of fat..
  • janet_pratt
    janet_pratt Posts: 747 Member
    Oh do not get that one lady started again!
  • kr3851
    kr3851 Posts: 994 Member
    THANK YOU. Really bugs me.
  • ambermichon
    ambermichon Posts: 404 Member
    lol so to the simple folk...its much better to have your weight in muscle than the same weight in fat!!!
  • sister_bear
    sister_bear Posts: 529 Member
    Thank you.
  • gc2052
    gc2052 Posts: 183
    Funny and cute. 10 pounds is 10 pounds.
  • xcmom
    xcmom Posts: 33 Member
    Amen!!
  • tam120
    tam120 Posts: 444 Member
    so, so, so, so sick of this... a million times it's been discussed.
  • saltorian
    saltorian Posts: 192 Member
    I totally get what you're saying, and you're absolutely right, but...

    I think the trouble is that when most people say "muscle is heavier than fat" they actually MEAN "a given volume of muscle is heavier than the same volume of fat." At least, I always thought so.

    I mean, most people would agree with this statement (using the "classic" substances, lol): "Bricks are heavier than feathers."

    When they say that, they aren't saying that 10 pounds of bricks is heavier than 10 pounds of feathers, they're saying that a given volume of bricks is heavier than the same volume of feathers. Technically correct or not, it's just the way people generally talk. Statements like "steel is heavier than cotton" or "stone is heavier than wood" kind of assume the volume thing, don't they?

    I mean, for most people. There are certain "dense" exceptions out there. ;-)
  • batalina
    batalina Posts: 209 Member
    so, so, so, so sick of this... a million times it's been discussed.

    ^this
  • CeejayGee
    CeejayGee Posts: 299 Member

    I mean, most people would agree with this statement (using the "classic" substances, lol): "Bricks are heavier than feathers."

    When they say that, they aren't saying that 10 pounds of bricks is heavier than 10 pounds of feathers, they're saying that a given volume of bricks is heavier than the same volume of feathers. Technically correct or not, it's just the way people generally talk. Statements like "steel is heavier than cotton" or "stone is heavier than wood" kind of assume the volume thing, don't they?

    I mean, for most people. There are certain "dense" exceptions out there. ;-)



    Common sense rules :)
  • lkm111
    lkm111 Posts: 629 Member
    Please make this a sticky. Please.
  • Semantics. I mean, seriously, would you correct someone if they said tomatoes weigh more than lettuce? Obviously people are talking about volume, aren't they?
  • megz4987
    megz4987 Posts: 1,008 Member
    Hahahhaaa, yes.
  • britterbrittney
    britterbrittney Posts: 256 Member
    wait, my gut isn't muscle and that is why I weigh so much? Darn it.
  • catwrangler
    catwrangler Posts: 918 Member
    so, so, so, so sick of this... a million times it's been discussed.
    I hope it is discussed a million times more because new people come here every day who are clueless, as you and I were once. Well, maybe not you :laugh:
    It can also be stated correctly that;
    "A pound of muscle is smaller than a pound of fat."
    AND
    "A pound of muscle is more compact than a pound of fat."
    AND
    "A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat."
    AND
    "A pound of fat is larger than a pound of muscle."
    AND
    "A pound of fat is less compact than a pound of muscle."
    AND
    "A pound of fat takes up more space than a pound of muscle."

    Any questions?
    Just one clarifying question:

    The above is why one can gain weight yet lose inches, correct?
  • saltorian
    saltorian Posts: 192 Member
    Semantics. I mean, seriously, would you correct someone if they said tomatoes weigh more than lettuce? Obviously people are talking about volume, aren't they?

    Exactly what I was saying.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    Semantics. I mean, seriously, would you correct someone if they said tomatoes weigh more than lettuce? Obviously people are talking about volume, aren't they?

    Not always. There was a woman on the fitness forum who kept trying to convince everyone that "10lbs of muscle is heavier than 10lbs of fat". LOL Her exact words, I swear!!
  • Thank you. And correct me if I'm wrong, you can't/ dont turn fat into muscle or vice versa . You have fat and muscle tissues organ w.e the terminology is. You either gain or lose one of the masses they do not turn into each other.
  • graysmom2005
    graysmom2005 Posts: 1,882 Member
    Please make this a sticky. Please.
    Yes. PLEEEEEEASE!
  • mark03264
    mark03264 Posts: 334 Member
    Semantics. I mean, seriously, would you correct someone if they said tomatoes weigh more than lettuce? Obviously people are talking about volume, aren't they?
    Not always. There was a woman on the fitness forum who kept trying to convince everyone that "10lbs of muscle is heavier than 10lbs of fat". LOL Her exact words, I swear!!
    Yes, there was someone that insisted that "1 pound of muscle weighs the same as 1 pound of fat but that the pound of muscle was heavier." No joke!
    Just one clarifying question:

    The above is why one can gain weight yet lose inches, correct?
    That is correct. Because muscle is more compact than the same weight of fat you can weigh the same yet look slimmer and have your clothes fit looser.
    Thank you. And correct me if I'm wrong, you can't/don't turn fat into muscle or vice versa . You have fat and muscle tissues organ w.e the terminology is. You either gain or lose one of the masses they do not turn into each other.
    You can not turn fat into muscle and muscle can not turn into fat. These are two completely different types of tissue. You can lose fat while building muscle and you can lose muscle while putting on fat but one can not turn into the other.
  • AlwaysWanderer
    AlwaysWanderer Posts: 641 Member
    so, so, so, so sick of this... a million times it's been discussed.

    ^this
    x3
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Oh do not get that one lady started again!

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, i hope she sees it, she is quality entertainment!!!
  • mark03264
    mark03264 Posts: 334 Member
    ...and it is likely to be discussed a million times more...
  • geraldm55
    geraldm55 Posts: 130
    this is awesome, I've heard and yes even said it at times without every thinking about it lol.

    thank you of giving me a whole new perspective.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Sounds to me like your just trying to aggravate that poor woman again.. and the first time it was funny, I must admit.

    Now its just sad that you have to keep going.. we get your point, neither is heavier one is just denser then the other.. lets move on.
  • thanks great post :drinker:
This discussion has been closed.