Muscle weighs more than fat... so how do you know how much you have to lose?
By vivasuzi
@vivasuzi (4127)
United States
September 9, 2007 6:54pm CST
Lately I've been feeling like I've been gaining weight due to laziness, so for the past few months I've been trying to cut back on fat foods and exercise more. However the scale goes up higher than I ever saw it before! I know I have gained muscle b/c a lot of the exercises I do are toning (walking, biking, weight lifting, etc), so how do I know how much I really have to lose? I can't set a target weight if the muscle is actually going to make me weigh more.
When they say muscle weighs more, how much more does it weigh? Usually I only focus on how my clothes fit - and I'm happy to say they all still fit although some are getting tight! But sometimes I'm curious about the actual weight and want to know how I can judge this when it goes up after a lot of muscle workouts.
2 people like this
6 responses
@kelly60 (4546)
• United States
16 Sep 07
I know what you mean, and muscle definitely does weigh more than fat does. I agree though that you should judge what is the best weight for you by how you feel rather than what the scales say or what it says on some chart. I know that I have looked at some of the charts that tell what is considered to be "normal" weight for people these days. The charts may be accurate for some people who carry around a lot of fat, but for those who have any amount of muscle, they would do themselves a lot of harm if they tried to lose the extra pounds to get down to the "normal" weight according to these charts.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
24 Sep 07
I agree. I think the BMI chart says I should weigh between 110 and about 145 to be healthy... that's a huge range! So for me, 110 is impossible! I once weighed 113 in HS when I was sick and I felt sooooo weak until I went back up a few pounds. However, the closer I get to 140 makes my pants tight :( So I'm working on being around 125 which means I would have to lose a little bit.
But like you said, if I ignore the scale, and my diet was really working, then I might end up weighing 150 (with lots and lots of muscle :) ) but still fit into a size 6 :) It's just hard to see higher numbers on the scale.
I wish I had one of those tools they use at the gym to determine your % body fat. That would probably be the best way to judge!
@josephngsiewfatt (204)
• Malaysia
10 Jan 12
Dear Kelly
What is 'normal' may be 'abnormal' to others. Some part of Africa, it is 'normal' for a bride to be being 'large'. It appears that husbands like them to be fat. In fact, mothers of bride to be ensures that their daughter must be fatten up to be marriage-able. In fact, it a true fact that depending on the country, culture and mind set of individuals being overweight can be a 'lie' Trying to ape the film stars with their glorious body is out of the norm. It just a lot of 'show off' Shallow thinking if I may say so. If you can live with yourself, why live according to the opinions of others. Remember you have to live with yourself every day of your life. Does that sound good? Your opinion is awaited. Thanks a million. Love: Bro. Joe
@lisado (1227)
• United States
19 Sep 07
I'm not sure about the actual weight. I know that when toning you should use a tape measure and take your measurements and figure your BMI (Body Mass Index) and use that, and not an actual scale. It's so easy to get down when those numbers on the scale either don't move or start inching up, even when you have been dieting and exercising religiously. Very discouraging. If you tone up enough, especially in the arm and thigh area, that can make your clothes tight, as well, so that doesn't really mean you aren't sucessful. You just need to cut back on toning or buy new clothes. :) Good luck and hang in there!!!
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
24 Sep 07
Well they don't get tight around my legs and arms... I notice it around my belly :( That's what I'm working on! They say that cardio is the best way to keep the belly thin, but a lot of cardio really builds up my leg muscles which in turn makes me weigh more.. which is why the scale is not a good judge of anything!
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
10 Oct 07
Muscle is much more dense than is fat, this is why it weighs half again as much as fat does. Fat is loose and Gellatinous. As for setting a target it is so that you have something to shoot for. While you are building muscle you are still losing fat so you will lose because most of the muscle that you have now is natural and has been there already so it will not add to your weight. It takes years to pack on enough solid muscle to actually raise your body weight by even 2% or more without steroids or weight gaining shakes.
@kareng (80243)
• United States
12 Sep 07
Well to me I'd rather have muscle than fat. And yes, muscle weighs more than fat. But you will also have a toned body if lots of muscle. I would rather go by how I feel, how my clothes fit, and how I look over the number on the scale. If you are exercising and lifting weights, etc.,then you are burning calories and toning those muscles. Now when you start to have vessels popping and bulging muscles, you may want to stop, unless you really want to get into bodybuilding.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
12 Sep 07
Haha, definitely don't want to bodybuild. I want to be tone as well. Some of my body "role models" are people like Jennifer Aniston who stayed in good shape. Ppl who are too skinny turn me off, ppl with a little muscle and curves are what I would rather be like :) I guess I just am going to stop weighing myself. You know, every time I got on the scale this weekend it changed? It changed 3-4 times in the same 10 minutes! Leaves me to believe this isn't a reliable way to track your health. I guess I got on the scale b/c I want to be able to say I weigh a certain amount... but I guess if I get in good enough shape to really be proud of how I look, who cares if the scale is high if it is all muscle :)
@josephngsiewfatt (204)
• Malaysia
17 Jan 12
Dear Vivasuzi
It appears most of us are confused what should our weight be. Using the life insurance chart may only be a guideline. The crux of the matter are you healthy and strong. Are you suffering from high BP and other common sickness. Then consider measuring your waistline and your dimension of your thigh. They are a more accurate measurement of your weight. Using the water displacement techniques is still more accurate. The water displacement will measure the density of your body weight. This would reveal your bone density, your fats and your muscles. Ultimately you have to see that you can love your body for the rest of your life. OK? Thanks! Bro.Joe. GBU
