Now I am REALLY confused!!!

[KNS0724]

I have surfing through all of the threads for the past couple of hours and I keep seeing post about muscle weighing more than fat and as you transition into your new shape you will hopefully have more muscle and much less fat. Hence you may weigh more than you originally were hoping for but, you will probably fit into the size you were hoping for if not smaller.


I went to a personal trainer about a year ago. Free with the membership deal so what the **** I'll hear what he has to say. Obviously he was in much better shape than I.

After I went through all of my testing he asked me, "Kelly what weight do you think you should or want to be?". Of course from everything I had seen or read about and the doctor backed up.........I should weigh 130 lbs for being 5'5". In turn he said,"RIIIIIIGHT".

Apparently I am 138 lbs of muscle and bone. 130 is not happening for me. 160 would be my goal weight. I know he is right because at 160 lbs I am a size 5. No problem with that # at all.

NOW here is where my confusion sets in. Men can put muscle on much quicker than women. It's genetically easier for them. But, women actually have to work at least twice as hard to even obtain a 1/4 of the muscle mass a man will put on.

So through everything I have studied.......women body builders will only gain a 1/2 lb of muscle per year while they are in some serious training. Men much more. Even still how can we say, "Oh your working out......you've gained muscle"? Is that really true?

I would think if it were and we were gaining pounds of muscle each week we would be some seriously ripped females right now. I do believe the muscles we have hold onto water and waste until we flush it with our water and protien intake. My son who has a trainer at the U of M for running also does a pretty intense massage to help "push" any impurities out of the muscles to cut back on any soreness and pain.

I just really want to know..............how much muscle are we REALLY putting on?

Thanks for the input. Kelly

[Alexa]

Re: Now I am REALLY confused!!!

Very interesting post - I'd be interested to hear what anyone has to say in response.

I personally have always felt intense exercise = weight gain, but that could just be water and as I keep on doing it, I have often wondered whether it is always there.

[sadie147]

Re: Now I am REALLY confused!!!

I always weight more after I run. I think it has something to do with muscle holding onto water.

Oh and muscle doesn't weigh more than fat...a pound of muscle and a pound of fat are still a pound. Muscle just takes up less room

[sallyseachange]

Re: Now I am REALLY confused!!!

...a pound of muscle and a pound of fat are still a pound. Muscle just takes up less room

Brilliantly put Sadiejen! I always get tied in knots when trying to explain that. I think I'll have to plagiarise you now and again.

Very interesting post KNS.

[ttdriver]

Re: Now I am REALLY confused!!!

My number ONE pet peeve is when people say "muscle weighs more than fat." Jen is right; a pound of muscle weighs 16 ounces and a pound of fat weighs 16 ounces. The real deal is that muscle is DENSE and takes up less space, thus, you lose INCHES as you build muscle.

Body composition varies from person to person, even with people of the same exact WEIGHT. Women don't get bulky like men can because we don't have the testosterone that men have. Body builders take hormones, which is why they can pump up (IMO quite unattractively...but that's another show!)

Betty

[KNS0724]

Re: Now I am REALLY confused!!!

I understand that muscle doesn't weigh more than fat in the "traditional" context we tend to think in. I am aware if we fill a gallon container of fat on one scale and fill another gallon container with muscle the muscle will be heavier.

In the traditional sense............yes if you put a pound of muscle on a scale and a pound of fat on a scale they both weigh a..........POUND.

What I really want to know is why people say,"Oh you gained no need to worry you are gaining muscle". If that were the case I think many of us would be competing body builders right now. I think the more accurate statement is, "your muscles are retaining fluid".