Which is worse: fat or muscle?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Bob Day - 03 Jul 2004 13:19 GMT

Which is worse for your heart: a pound of unneeded
fat or a pound of unneeded muscle?

-- Bob Day

Reply to this Message

Heywood Mogroot - 03 Jul 2004 21:32 GMT

> Which is worse for your heart: a pound of unneeded
> fat or a pound of unneeded muscle?

interesting question, but in my experience a pound of muscle adds
strength, resulting in a more efficient physiology, while a pound of
fat is deadweight subtracting strength.

My brother-in-law is a big weightlifter -- around 230lbs, and when I
peaked at 232 I'd say his muscle mass was a lot healthier than my fat,
pound for pound.

Heywood

232/192/182

Reply to this Message

geoff - 04 Jul 2004 08:52 GMT

Unless, of course, the famine hits, then fat is better . . .

-g

> > Which is worse for your heart: a pound of unneeded
> > fat or a pound of unneeded muscle?
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> 232/192/182

Reply to this Message

Mary M - Ohio - 05 Jul 2004 00:17 GMT

> My brother-in-law is a big weightlifter -- around 230lbs, and when I
> peaked at 232 I'd say his muscle mass was a lot healthier than my fat,
> pound for pound.
>
> Heywood

But you might have had the same BMI number! That's why I think BMI (body mass index)
numbers are screwed up. My trainer who has a perfect physique is considered "obese"
by BMI standards.

Mary M

Reply to this Message

Phil M. - 05 Jul 2004 15:13 GMT

> My trainer who has a perfect physique is considered "obese"
> by BMI standards.

I agree that BMI can be way off for certain individuals. The only true test
is to have your body fat percentage clinically measured. BTW, what is a
perfect physique? Perfect from an aesthetical view?

Phil M.

Signature

If you can empty your own boat
Crossing the river of the world,
No one will oppose you,
No one will seek to harm you. -Chuang Tzu

Reply to this Message

Heywood Mogroot - 06 Jul 2004 00:21 GMT

> > My trainer who has a perfect physique is considered "obese"
> > by BMI standards.
>
> I agree that BMI can be way off for certain individuals. The only true test
> is to have your body fat percentage clinically measured. BTW, what is a
> perfect physique? Perfect from an aesthetical view?

more like ergonomical view mayhaps

Reply to this Message

Mary M - Ohio - 07 Jul 2004 14:04 GMT

> I agree that BMI can be way off for certain individuals. The only true test
> is to have your body fat percentage clinically measured. BTW, what is a
> perfect physique? Perfect from an aesthetical view?

Yes, purely a subjective view too. :-)

Mary

Reply to this Message