From Soft to Hard-Body: Muscle Weighs More Than Fat

Maybe you are like the few Americans who are pleased with what they see on the scale. We all know that 200 lbs on one person doesn’t always look the same on someone else. We’ve also been told that muscle weighs more than fat. So even if you are okay what the scale says, you may not be pleased with what that weight consists of.
 
The phrase “muscle weighs more than fat” is tossed around all the time. This phrase and what it means is often misused and misunderstood. One pound of fat and one pound of muscle weigh the same: one pound. However, muscle is more dense than fat. This means that 5 pounds of muscle on your body will look leaner and healthier than 5 pounds of fat. So, a muscular 200 pounds looks very different from a flabby 200 pounds.
 
Changing your body composition (what your body is made of) can mean the difference in fitting into those college jeans you have been holding onto. Even if you weigh what you did when you were 18, chances are it looks very different. Firming up and gaining muscle mass while losing fat can be just as challenging as losing weight in general, requiring dedication to a regular fitness plan.

Fat does not turn into muscle. When you change the composition of your body you are actually losing the fat and adding muscle, not magically morphing one into the other. So while it will not require a drastic cut in calories like typical weight loss, it will require hard work and a conscious effort.

Building muscle requires using muscles and gradually and consistently increasing resistance and weight. Because muscle burns more calories than fat, as you increase your muscle mass, your body will naturally burn more fat, furthering your transition from soft to hard body.

Finding an exercise routine that challenges your muscles sufficiently and makes this transition possible is not as difficult as it might seem. You don’t necessarily have to spend countless hours in the gym. With programs like P90X you can get the muscular body you’ve always wanted in your own home and on your own time.

Through the power of muscle confusion and sheer enthusiasm, trainer Tony Horton guides you through a body transforming process that will have your muscles working and potentially growing like never before. By alternating moves and exercises, you’re continually challenged and easily push through any plateaus.

The next time you step on the scale and a smug grin comes across your face; consider whether or not you had to peer over your tummy to see the number. Although your weight is acceptable, you may want to consider changing what that weight is made of. With P90X and the original Power 90, you can achieve a hard-body transformation that your friends will envy.