how much does muscle weigh?

[mazzano]

I have two questions.
1. How much more does muscle weigh than fat. I am working out daily and watching my diet, but gaining weight???
2. Many new programs suggest working out 6 days a week. I have been doing this, but am sore many days of the work out. Is it okay to workout with sore muscles?
Thanks for any response. M

 

[Maximus]

Muscle weighs .01% more than fat.

You should give your muscles 48 hours rest between workouts. You can still work out 6 days a week, just split your body parts.

 

[claridge]

I agree with the previous person. You should split your routines giving each body part at least a days rest if not more. Also theres "sore" and theres "SORE..." muscles. I think that if you are very sore after your workout that you cant even walk comfortably for example, Id be checking out my workout form, as in foot placement on the step etc. Perhaps your also gaining muscle mass (not a bad thing as we know) but I personally had to lay of the swimming for a while, my shoulders and arms can get quiet bulky. And stating the ovious trap we can all fall into, over estimating how "hard" we are actually working out as in Heart rate zone, and under estimating how much we are eating. (I think thats the right way round)

 

[CathydsRNA]

One lb of fat equal 1 lb of muscle, however, muscle is more dense than fat and therefore takes up less space than fat... about 22% less space ( or about 78% the same space taken up by the the same weight of fat. Therefore 5lbs of muscle would take up about the same amount of space as about 3.9 lbs of fat.

 

[Maximus]

LOL Cathy! One lb of fat equals one lb of muscle--that is cracking me up!

So here's a question: why is it when you eat one lb of fudge you gain 3 lbs?

 

[CathydsRNA]

I don't know. That is one of the unsolved mysteries of the universe.
Glad to hear you only gain 3 lbs with one lb of fudge!!!

 

[debra123]

>LOL Cathy! One lb of fat equals one lb of muscle--that is
>cracking me up!
>
>So here's a question: why is it when you eat one lb of fudge
>you gain 3 lbs?

Hi Maximus
you are cracking me up but that is a good question.I know that a pound is a pound is a pound muscle or fat but muscle takes up less space

someone told me just remember that a pound of fat takes about the amout of 6 golf balls and a pound of muscle takes up the size of one
Does that sound about right to you?.

I am sure glad there is no fudge in my house I would eat it all. I do best not having the goodies in my house.

Have a great day!!

Deb
:7 :+

 

[Maximus]

I don't know--I've heard so many different things about muscle weight vs. fat weight that I'm not sure what's the truth, but I'm always concerned that people think when they start working out they're not losing weight b/c their fat is turning into muscle. Many underestimate the importance of diet when it comes to fat loss. I always try to emphasize that "muscle weighs more than fat" is a myth b/c it's really a minimal difference, & folks don't push themselves as hard when they believe it.

 

[cjbate]

Amen, sister.

But the taking up less space thing does make sense because those fitness competitors are TINY and muscular and when I read their stats I am surprised by "how much" they weigh. It seems like much more than I would think they would weigh.

Jen