Pet Peeve

[SuperBug]

I know I'm being picky, but I have heard people say this throughout my life, and I was very surprised to see people on these boards espousing the same thing. So I just thought I'd point it out.

Muscle does not weigh more than fat.

A pound of muscle and a pound of fat BOTH weigh the same thing: 1 pound.

A pound of feathers weighs just as much as a pound of lead: 1 pound.

The difference is that one pound of muscle occupies much less space than one pound of fat. It is much more dense; so in that respect, given the same volume (lets say an 8oz. measuring cup) of fat and muscle, the muscle would register a higher weight on the scale--but because there was more of it for a given volume, and volume is VERY different than weight.

A pound is a pound is a pound, OK?

 

[Phemomena]

i like the analogy of marshmellow and rocks... i've used it a couple times.... a pound of marshmellows weighs the same as a pound of rocks, but what would you rather stuff in a pair of jeans (providing that the rocks are smooth and muscle shaped of course )

 

[tripleV]

people say "muscle weighs more than fat" when they are referring to people actually GAINING more weight when they lose bodyfat and gain lean muscle mass.

So if you lose 1 lb of fat and gain 1 lb of muscle, you are heavier.

"ravity doesn't exist, the earth just sucks!" hehe

 

[SuperBug]

"So if you lose 1 lb of fat and gain 1 lb of muscle, you are heavier."

tripleV, I have to respectfully disagree. If you lose one pound of muscle and gain one pound of fat, you remain exactly the same, weight-wise.

Here's an example of how that's true:

Let's say you hand me 1 pound of fat. I get on the scale and read the number--let's say for convenience the number is 150 pounds.

Then I step off the scale. You take away the pound of fat, and hand me a pound of muscle. I get on the scale.
The number will still read 150.

A pound weighs a pound. Always.

 

[Phemomena]

"ravity doesn't exist, the earth just sucks!" hehe

okay scooby doo! hehe, sorry girl, couldn't resist!

 

[wilson6]

Muscle = 1.1 g/cm3

Fat = 0.9 g/cm3

Thus, 1/cm3 of muscle weighs more. So there you have it. Muscle weighs more than fat.

W6

 

[SuperBug]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, w6, but I believe that g/cm3 is not a measure of weight; it is a measure of VOLUME.

As I pointed out above, volume and weight are entirely different forms of measurement.

 

[Phemomena]

hey, that's cheating, that's density/volume, not weight...

the girl isn't arguing the density of fat vs muscle, just that a pound is a pound is a pound...

yeah the pound of fat is taking up a bigger space, but its still a pound

 

[SuperBug]

Thanks phem!!

 

[tripleV]

OK the thing is that you know what I mean....and just want to argue.

Obviously I know 1 lb = 1lb.

A pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat it just takes up less space. So if you change out a pound of fat for a pound of muscle you will be physically smaller but weigh the same.

The difference is muscle is much denser than fat.

Think of it this way: Muscle is like brick. Fat, on the other hand, is like cotton balls. It takes far more cotton balls than brick to equal one pound. So a pound of fat takes up more space on the body than a pound of muscle.

Muscle weighs more because it is more dense than fat.

 

[tripleV]

and the muscle

 

[tripleV]

Some scientists estimate that the “space” that one pound of muscle occupies is about 22% less than one pound of fat!

NOW! What if I wanted the muscle to weigh the same as the fat. I don't care if they remain the same size. I just want them to weigh the same. Since the piece of fat weighs one pound, we will have to remove 1/4 pound from the muscle so that it, too, will weigh one pound.

BOTTOM LINE

Muscle is good
Fat is bad....let's move on

 

[SuperBug]

tripleV, I honestly don't want to argue. With anyone.

I just think that it is important for people to realize that muscle does not weigh more than fat, it just takes up less space. That's all.

I don't think I've been in any way agumentative or mean. Jeez, I even said I RESPECTFULLY disagreed with your earlier post...what more do you want?

 

[Phemomena]

Think of it this way: Muscle is like brick. Fat, on the other hand, is like cotton balls. It takes far more cotton balls than brick to equal one pound. So a pound of fat takes up more space on the body than a pound of muscle.

nobodys arguing with ya, sorry, i was hoping that you'd dug up a scooby doo pic though hehe

analogy used above (well, i used marshmellows and rocks )

i think the big difference is that we are all misusing the term weigh and its reference to fat/muscle... its just a pet peave the superbug has... kinda like my revolving doors.. lets revisit that one... when you are in a revolving door, are you inside or outside?

neither, its like a parallel universe where you are 'inbetween' the state of being inside and outside... that freaks me out... and i also don't like my fate being controlled by the person that enters the next section behind me... that's kinda way too trusting in today's socieity don't you think??

okay... i've COMPLETELY LOST IT!!!!

 

[tripleV]

let's drink to the english language

 

[SuperBug]

Exactly Phem....in fact, that's why the title of my post was "Pet Peeve"....I also said I realize I'm being picky.

It's just one of those things that gets to me, mainly because....

MUSCLE DOES NOT WEIGH MORE THAN FAT!

 

[Phemomena]

but spatts, i tried to explain my revolving door fear... doesn't that make it a bit more fun for ya???

 

[poohbear]

goodness, you leave the board for a day and an argument ensues.. What's going to happen when I go into labor. I have to stay in hospital for at least 3 days.

 

[tripleV]

goodness, you leave the board for a day and an argument ensues.. What's going to happen when I go into labor. I have to stay in hospital for at least 3 days.

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hehe

all hell could break loose......

 

[wilson6]

SuperB,

Just messin with you on the g/cm3.

We're talking about density, not mass per se.

This is why women don't change scale weight, but drop dress sizes when they begin lifting. Muscle occupies less space per gram than fat. Of course 1 g of fat mass = 1 g of muscle mass by weight but the volumes per gram are different.