[qazwsx27]

By reading many posters, I assumed that muscle burned considerably more than a pound of fat. But I recently came across a couple of respected sources, that refute that claim.

The Myth about Muscle and Your Metabolic Rate

According to Adam Zickerman, author of Power of 10: The Once-a-Week Slow Motion Fitness Revolution, "three extra pounds of lean muscle burns about 10,000 extra calories a month.''

Zickerman also says that three extra pounds of muscle "burns as many calories as running 25 miles a week, or doing 25 aerobic workouts a month without leaving your couch.''

You've probably read similar claims that muscle "burns calories around the clock just to maintain itself, even while you are sleeping or sitting at a desk."

<--linkosuction-->

[betsysunqueen]

Sigh.

Every time I read about this subject it contradicts what I read the time before.

I'm just going to balance weight training and cardio and hope for the best.

[Mel]

The numbers that I have read vary, too. The standard answer is that a KILOGRAM (2.2 pounds) of muscle burns 50 extra calories per day at rest. I've also seen numbers as low as 13 calories per pound. The more interesting numbers are how many more calories muscle burns when it is being used. That number is really speific to the individual. Some studies have shown that the formerly obese burn 20-25% less calories than the never obese during exercise. Don't let the numbers discourage you- you just have to keep at it and find out how your body reacts.

It's highly unlikely that most women will ever build enough muscle to lose weight just by building muscle, with no changes in their eating habits. But that precious extra muscle does help, and your sure will look better with an extra 10 pounds of muscle than an extra 10-100 pounds of fat!