Muscle vs Fat: The Truth Behind the Numbers

Quiz time! Which weighs more? One pound of muscle or a pound of fat? Second question. Is one more important than the other? Well, we’re here to tell you if you are pondering this question, the joke is on you. In the battle between muscle and fat, there is no clear-cut winner. Now that might sound odd, but it’s the truth. Both are important. It is also important that between the two, you have a balance. So let’s clear the air on muscle vs. fat and the truth behind the numbers.

Fat vs. Muscle – What’s the Difference

So, to answer the first quiz question, a pound of muscle weighs one pound, but so does a pound of fat. The key difference is density. Since muscle is more dense than fat, it naturally takes up less space. Thus, a pound of muscle occupies less physical space than a pound of fat. Same weight, but the outward appearance is a whole lot different.

Scales are bad

You read that right, and here is why. Many people rely on scales to monitor their weight loss weekly or even more regularly. However, those numbers can be misleading. Sure, you can lose weight by reducing your food intake while at the same time not exercising. However, these results are likely not what you intend. This weight loss is because of loss of muscle, not loss of fat.

Scales show the weight of your body, and that’s all. Scales have no way to break down particulars within the body. It’s helpful to understand just what your body is composed of:

Muscle is between 30 to 55%

Fat makes up 10 to 30%

Water makes up 10 to 25%

Bones account for around 15%

Your organs make up 15%

Knowing these basic stats will help you get the results you want. This guides you to a better understanding of what indicators we should be checking. First, monitor your diet, not the scale. Make sure you are consuming healthy foods and cutting the sugars and junk foods. Second, add exercise to your daily routine. This will help you maintain and improve your muscle quality and tone as you shed unwanted fat. Next, to make certain you are monitoring results correctly, take exact and regular measurements of your waist, thighs, and even arms.

If you are doing everything right, you should be losing between 5-10 lbs. of fat each month while gaining 2-3 lbs. of muscle. Of course, this is also determined by your own individual diet and needs, but this is a general target most anyone can achieve.

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