Does muscle REALLY weigh more than fat?
Asked by chriscib on May 21, 2009
in Fitness
I haven't seen any weight loss in over two weeks, yet I've noticed muscle definition in my arms and legs. My clothes fit slightly different too, but I would really like to see a change on the scale.
Answer
Muscle is not heavier than fat - one pound of muscle weighs the same as one pound of fat; however, muscle is much more dense, and so one pound of muscle looks like one firm baseball, while one pound of fat looks like three soft NERF balls. An increase of muscle does obscure a loss of fat, and so don't get hung-up by your weight on the scale. If you want to follow the actual changes in your body composition, either get tested at a high-quality gym or track your measurements all around your body (chest, waist, hips, thighs, etc.)
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