muscle weighs more that fat myth

[colorado 21]

So I have read this one too many times. A pound is a pound. A pound of feathers weighs the same as a pound of ball bearings. Saying the muscle weighs more than fat is an urban myth and so untrue. You may be contouring your body differently - your body fat content may be reduced but you cannot say muscle weighs more that fat, a lb is a lb.

[Shannon Mcmanus 32]

I think when ppl say that they mean muscle takes up less space then fat.... if you are converting fat to muscle you are getting smaller even if you stay the same weight

[mrs.katie 27]

So I have read this one too many times. A pound is a pound. A pound of feathers weighs the same as a pound of ball bearings. Saying the muscle weighs more than fat is an urban myth and so untrue. You may be contouring your body differently - your body fat content may be reduced but you cannot say muscle weighs more that fat' date=' a lb is a lb.[/quote']

The saying refers to size, not weight. A 1 lb. piece of meat is much smaller than a 1 lb. piece of fat so a piece of muscle the size of an orange will weigh more than a piece of fat the size of an orange. That is what people mean when they say this. You are dealing with semantics here, and there is never a winner in the game of semantics.

[saramichelle 127]

The saying refers to size' date=' not weight. A 1 lb. piece of meat is much smaller than a 1 lb. piece of fat so a piece of muscle the size of an orange will weigh more than a piece of fat the size of an orange. That is what people mean when they say this. You are dealing with semantics here, and there is never a winner in the game of semantics.[/quote']

Very smart reply and very true!

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

So if you lose a pound of fat and gain a pound of muscle, the scale does not change, however, your measurements will change because the muscle takes up less space.

HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 199

[oldoneyoungagain 200]

So if you lose a pound of fat and gain a pound of muscle, the scale does not change, however, your measurements will change because the muscle takes up less space.

HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 199

Think that is what they are saying. I'll always lose inches and no weight then a week or two later inches stay the same and I've lost weight. That is way measuring is important also.

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

Think that is what they are saying. I'll always lose inches and no weight then a week or two later inches stay the same and I've lost weight. That is way measuring is important also.

It's funny though that it goes in cycles! If I'm not losing I'm shrinking!

[music1618 879]

I think I really demonstrate this theory. I weigh 139 to 140 for the past few months. I am weight training at this time to build up my muscles. I currently wear a size 2 - 6 depends on the designer and a small to medium top. When people look at me the tell me I look healthy and they are amazed that I weigh what I do. Most people wearing a size 2 jeans do not weigh 140. I feel myself losing inches, but the scale does not move.

[terry1118 1,274]

So I have read this one too many times. A pound is a pound. A pound of feathers weighs the same as a pound of ball bearings. Saying the muscle weighs more than fat is an urban myth and so untrue. You may be contouring your body differently - your body fat content may be reduced but you cannot say muscle weighs more that fat' date=' a lb is a lb.[/quote']

What you say is absolutely true. But I think what people MEAN when they say that is really this: A pound of feathers has more volume than a pound of ball bearings. The same is true for fat and muscle. So a fat person of say, 200 lbs will be larger than a muscular person of the same weight. So the saying is not really a myth per se - it's more of a misquote. :-)

[DLCoggin 1,788]

Perhaps "Muscle weighs more than fat, by volume" helps dispel the myth.