how much gym work and how much riding?

[Triskeliongirl]

I absolutely agree with you velogirl, weight training is a good idea for all women, as is eating a diet high enough in protein when trying to lose weight to preserve lean body mass. I also agree with you that women are unlikely to bulk up by weight training due to lack of testosterone, most women have to work really hard and eat in a very specific way to gain even a little muscle. But, I want to correct one thing, a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat, and in fact it is more compact.

For example when I gained weight and ended up at 174 lb, I viewed it as an 'unintentional bulk'. By that I mean when you gain weight, for whatever reason, you gain muscle along with the fat to tote all that extra fat around. SO, when I lost weight, I wanted to do everything I could to preserve muscle mass as I lost fat. I did that, so now at 141 lb, I am wearing the same size clothes (6) as I did when I weighed 120 lb but carried less muscle. At both weights I was at 22% bodyfat. I also feel better at this weight, and find it easier to maintain.

Even for cycling, its the mass to power ratio we are looking for to optimize performance, not to simply get as light as possible. A light body weight, without the muscle to power your rides, doesn't do you that much good.

The best indicator of progress is not simply your scale weight, but your %body fat.

[/I]

while muscle may be heavier than adipose/fat, .

[Zen]

But, I want to correct one thing, a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat, and in fact it is more compact.

I'm pretty sure I said that very early on in the conversation

[Triskeliongirl]

I'm pretty sure I said that very early on in the conversation

Yes you did Zen. I am agreeing with you. Sorry if my comments offended so many. I was only trying to correct the language being used.

[velogirl]

Yes you did Zen. I am agreeing with you. Sorry if my comments offended so many. I was only trying to correct the language being used.

you didn't offend anyone that I know of and certainly not me. but it did seem that you mis-interpreted what I wrote earlier in the thread.

[Dogmama]

If a five ton canary is flying around inside of a two ton truck, is the total weight seven tons?

..wanders off, mumbling in a corner...

[Zen]

I'll answer.
No.
However, if the canary sits on the floor the answer is yes.

Now lets say a rooster sits on the peak of an A-frame house.
One side of the house faces east, the other faces west (duh).
If the rooster lays an egg which side of the house will the egg roll to?

[velogirl]

I'll answer.
No.
However, if the canary sits on the floor the answer is yes.

Now lets say a rooster sits on the peak of an A-frame house.
One side of the house faces east, the other faces west (duh).
If the rooster lays an egg which side of the house will the egg roll to?

If a rooster can lay an egg, then pigs can probably fly, too!

[velogirl]

But, I want to correct one thing, a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat, and in fact it is more compact.

[/I]

1 pound (of muscle) = 1 pound (of fat).

I didn't say 1 lb of muscle weighed more than 1 lb of fat. a pound is a pound is a pound. what I did say is that muscle tissue is heavier than fat tissue. in other words, 1 cubic inch of muscle weighs more than 1 cubic inch of fat.

[Pedal Wench]

Which weighs more: a pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

[Zen]

See posts #6 and #7

[Triskeliongirl]

But what you are saying isn't what you mean. You just said it again, muscle tissue is heavier than fat tissue, its NOT heavier, heavier would mean it weighs more, its DENSER (defined as weight per unit volume), which is the same thing as saying its more COMPACT (same weight would occipy a smaller volume). Sorry to be so annonying, I kind of have this thing about language being precise, especially with scientific terminology. What is important is that we all agree on the advice, which is that muscle is a GOOD THING to have!

1 pound (of muscle) = 1 pound (of fat).

I didn't say 1 lb of muscle weighed more than 1 lb of fat. a pound is a pound is a pound. what I did say is that muscle tissue is heavier than fat tissue. in other words, 1 cubic inch of muscle weighs more than 1 cubic inch of fat.