A pound is a pound is a pound...

pmorgan813
pmorgan813 Posts: 135 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
...is it not? I keep hearing and have heard most of my life "muscle weighs more than fat". Can someone please explain to me how a POUND of muscle weighs more than a POUND of fat or a POUND of butter or a POUND of shipping peanuts? Math and science were not always my best subjects, and I know I'm not a rocket scientist, but I just don't see how "muscle weighs more than fat".

Replies

  • scott091501
    scott091501 Posts: 1,260 Member
    It's a poor way of phrasing the following: A pound of muscle is more dense and takes up less room than a pound of fat. More of a volume thing than a weight thing.
  • Bridget0927
    Bridget0927 Posts: 438 Member
    It doesnt! they weigh the same
    By Volume muscle weighs more but a pound is a pound
  • BAMFMeredith
    BAMFMeredith Posts: 2,810 Member
    A pound of muscle is the same as a pound of fat, a pound of feathers, a pound of puppies, etc...but the density is different. A cubic inch of fat will weight less than a cubic inch of muscle, so a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of muscle. That's why you see a pro athlete at like 7% body fat and 250 lbs, but Sir Eats a Lot on the couch with his Ben N Jerry's can weigh 250 lbs and be 60% body fat.

    I guess a more accurate statement would be that muscle is heavier than fat.
  • MikeSEA
    MikeSEA Posts: 1,074 Member
    Does anyone really think that "Muscle weighs more than fat" translates into "A pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat." ?

    Two words: By volume. ...it's assumed.

    And finally, this again?
  • pmorgan813
    pmorgan813 Posts: 135 Member
    I KNEW there had to be some sort of sorted science explanation for it :huh: . Stinking sayings!! Thanks guys!
  • MisterDubs303
    MisterDubs303 Posts: 1,216 Member
    Nobody EVER says a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat... only that muscle weighs more than fat, which is true, by volume, which should be an 'understood' factor in the statement. We use these 'understood' assumptions constantly in the English language, but at MFP people love to tear this particular one apart for some reason.

    Ironically, the critics of the statement "muscle weighs more than fat" ALWAYS replace the understood volume with their own ''understood' assumption that the (apparently idiotic) person meant pound for pound.
  • pmorgan813
    pmorgan813 Posts: 135 Member
    WOW!!! Guess I hit a sore spot with this one. Sheesh! I'm guessing you have all heard this then too....

    "when you assume something you make and *kitten* out of u and me" - old trick for teaching kids how to spell the word assume.
  • mallory3411
    mallory3411 Posts: 839 Member
    A lady at work once said to me that a pound of muscle weights more than a pound of fat. Obviously not the smartest one in the group... I had to walk away.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat.

    I currently weight 160lbs after working all winter to GAIN muscle (and the fat that comes with it). I wear a size 6. Last spring before losing the last of my pregnancy weight I weighted 161lbs. I wore a size 12. This is the phenomenon people are talking about when they say muscle weighs more than fat.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    A pound of corn will wipe out civilizations and whoever planted it in the first place pretty much plagued us with disease.


    Ok I'm done trolling for now.
  • MikeSEA
    MikeSEA Posts: 1,074 Member
    A pound of corn will wipe out civilizations and whoever planted it in the first place pretty much plagued us with disease.


    Ok I'm done trolling for now.

    The corn is only toxic if you eat it. I imagine it could be used for bricks or something.
  • Meggles63
    Meggles63 Posts: 916 Member
    A pound of corn will wipe out civilizations and whoever planted it in the first place pretty much plagued us with disease.


    Ok I'm done trolling for now.

    Tell that to the Mayans!
This discussion has been closed.

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