Muscle 3 x heavier than fat?

[Oneeyedvic]

You often heat the above being bandied about and I assume that there is some truth to it.

My question is: I have started dieting (as I am a fat git and have so far lost around 12lbs in 3 weeks). I am following the weight watchers programme and it is certainly working.

However, I am also excercising a lot now in the hope that when I get down to my ideal weight, i will be able to continue excercising but go back to eating a certain amount of junk food.

At what point will I stop losing weight, but start gaining as I am building muscles? Am currently walking 3 miles a day at a fast pace, doing 20 minutes of aerobic excercies and 30 minutes on a 'stepper' machine.

[Loosehead]

try measuring your fat percentage regularly so you can tell if progress is being made. In my experience of doing exactly what you are after about a month, actual weight loss is painfully slow but as you are adding muscle you should notice a fall in fat %. There are some fairly accurate body fat measuring scales out there.

[Ward-Minter]

one eyed man. I would consider doing some weights. Not too heavy unless you want to look like a meat head soldier boy.

The reason being is muscle burns more calories than fat pound for pound.

Therefore ergo, the more muscle you have as a percentage, the more calories you will burn even in a non-exercise state. i.e lose fat.

I think with the sessions you have mentioned you wont't build much muscle.

Further (and I am assuming) appearance is better than actual weight. Remember Frank Bruno was clinically obese!!! So don't be too pre-occupied with your actual weight.

I know you are a clever lad Mr Vic, so be sure to look and monitor your heart rate. I can't emphasize this enough. A heart rate monitor will be the best investment you could ever buy. If you just want to lose weight you may be surprised at what heart rate you have to work at (i.e just 60 percent of Resting heart rate)

If you are not aerobically fit yet your three miles may NOT be burning fat but muscle if you are anaerobic not aerobic. Look it up.

You may not appreciate my political viewpoint but I can assure you with a fat percentage of 12.5 I know what I am on about!!!