Short answer: They weigh the same (a pound is a pound!). But they sure don't look the same. In other words, a pound of fat has a much larger volume. But a pound of muscle appears leaner and more toned.
Muscle doesn't weigh more than fat, but it is more dense. That means it takes up less space in the body than fat does, giving you a leaner look. Muscle offers more health benefits than body fat, including a faster metabolism, improved strength, and better blood sugar control.
Texture: - Muscle: Typically feels firmer and denser. When you press on muscle, it feels solid and resilient. - Fat: Feels softer and more pliable. It may feel more ``squishy'' or jiggly compared to muscle. Temperature: - Muscle: Can feel warmer, especially if it's active or engorged with blood.
You can tell by checking for increased strength, firmness, or definition in muscles, and tracking body measurements. Muscle gain often feels firmer and more toned, while water retention and fat gain feel softer and may show up as bloating or general weight increase without added strength.
But a pound of muscle appears leaner and more toned. So, an extra 15 pounds of fat will take up a lot more space in your body — giving you a softer appearance. And muscle is denser, meaning it has a smaller volume for its weight. So 15 more pounds of muscle would make you appear firmer.
So even though you may be losing fat, you're gaining muscle. You might feel slimmer, even as the number on the scale rises. “The scale doesn't tell the entire story,” said exercise physiologist Christopher Mohr, PhD, RD. “Since muscle and fat take up different volume, they look very different on the body.”
There's no set amount of body fat you can lose in a month. When it comes to general weight loss, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), recommends aiming for one to two pounds of weight loss per week. That would be equal to losing about four to eight pounds per month.
“One pound of muscle is a lot less noticeable than you would think it is appearance-wise,” says Yu. You might not see a huge change beyond looking a little more toned, but you'll feel a change in your overall strength and agility, she notes.
Gaining 20 pounds of muscle in three months is possible, but takes meticulous planning and nutrition. In fact, strongman Jonathan Lawson was able to gain 20 pounds of muscle and lose body fat at the same time in only 10 weeks. Not only is it possible, but you can do it without the use of steroids or supplements.
The article highlights five homemade morning drinks that assist in losing belly fat by enhancing metabolism and promoting fat burning. These beverages include honey-infused lemon water, jeera water, buttermilk or chaas, cinnamon tea, and green tea.
2 to 3 Months: After two to three months of consistent strength training, your muscles will become stronger, and you may even notice a slight increase in muscle definition. 4 to 6 Months: You should see and feel your hard work paying off by now, and you will likely feel great about seeing the results!
A few people have high BMIs but don't have much body fat. Their muscle tissue pushes up their weight. Kahan points to very muscular people, like football players or body builders. “Their BMI shows up pretty high, and yet their body fat is actually pretty low," Kahan says.
There are several research-backed reasons why you might notice a slight weight gain after exercise. These include muscle gain, water retention, post-workout inflammation, supplement use, or even undigested food. In most cases, post-workout weight gain is temporary.
Similarly, you may notice increased muscle definition, less softness, and an overall leaner physique. Checking in on how your clothes fit can be another useful rule of thumb. Since muscle is denser than fat, if you've gained weight but your clothes fit a little looser, that's a good sign you may have gained muscle.
Lean muscle mass is more compact than fat. If you are muscular you can weigh quite a bit and not look fat. A person can be an ideal weight and have a lot of fat and look bulky. Another person can be overweight and have mostly muscle mass, and look lean and healthy.
And, if you're into big goals, you may wonder if it's safe to lose 10 pounds in a month. Here's the truth: The average person cannot safely lose 10 pounds in a month, says Michael Glickman, MD, a board-certified family medicine and obesity medicine physician and founder of Revolution Medicine, Health and Fitness.
🤔From 30% To 15% Body Fat | How Much Time? 🔑Short answer: Between 20-40 weeks (5 to 10 months) for most people that fully commit. The exact timeframe depends on your goals and past experiences with fat loss. If you just want to maintain muscle, you can push a bit harder and realistically get it done in 5-6 months.
The rule of thumb, Fernstrom says, is that losing 8 to 10 pounds translates to going down one size. Still, if you lose "up to 15 pounds, you may be OK in your old size," she says. But putting off buying new clothes until you really need them doesn't work for everyone.
“Muscle tissue is denser than fat tissue, so it takes up less space,” says Barron. “This is exactly why your weight may not change, but your clothes are feeling looser.” This is one of those situations where you should keep doing exactly what you're doing.