How can I tell if I'm losing muscle instead of fat?
Recently I've lost 10 lbs, but I don't know If i lost fat or muscle cause I don't really see any difference.
is losing 10lbs a noticeable difference?

Did you take a before picture
When you lose weight it comes off of your body in a whole, so if you are big enough you might not notice it.
One way to tell is to take measurements, I look at my waistline to see how I am doing

I didn't take pics, but I think I have a pretty good memory.
Im 5'9 or 10 ish. I used to be 181 lbs, now Im like 170. would i be considered big?

I didn't take pics, but I think I have a pretty good memory.
Im 5'9 or 10 ish. I used to be 181 lbs, now Im like 170. would i be considered big?

I think you might be kind of like me. Skinny-fat. But memory doesn't really serve you well here. Since you see yourself so often you don't notice any change, unless it's drastic. That is why people reccomend pictures. I didn't even notice how thin I looked in November until I analyzed my pictures.

How can I tell if I'm losing muscle instead of fat?
Recently I've lost 10 lbs, but I don't know If i lost fat or muscle cause I don't really see any difference.
is losing 10lbs a noticeable difference?

If you work out your change over time in body fat percentage, you can tell from your change in mass how much of what you've lost is lean mass.

Don't bother with electronic fat measuring scales - they're rubbish.

You can also measure your biceps and other muscles to see how they change.

Here is a very effective and easy way that almost anyone can do:

1. Get a tape measure
2. Measure your abdomen right at the belly button
3. Measure your biceps at the widest point (not flexed)

Take the ratio of abdomen to biceps.

For example, if your abdomen was 36" and your biceps were 14", the ratio would be 36/14 = 2.57 (this works automatically no matter if you are using inches, centimeters, or any other unit).

Track that ratio and your weight. 99% of the time, the following will hold true:

weight goes up, ratio goes up = gaining muscle and/or fat
weight goes up, ratio stays same/goes down = gaining muscle and losing fat
weight goes down, ratio goes up = losing msucle
weight goes down, ratio stays same/goes down = gaining or maintaining muscle and losing fat

Jeremy

Jeremy, that's brilliant!

Here is a very effective and easy way that almost anyone can do:

1. Get a tape measure
2. Measure your abdomen right at the belly button
3. Measure your biceps at the widest point (not flexed)

Take the ratio of abdomen to biceps.

For example, if your abdomen was 36" and your biceps were 14", the ratio would be 36/14 = 2.57 (this works automatically no matter if you are using inches, centimeters, or any other unit).

Track that ratio and your weight. 99% of the time, the following will hold true:

weight goes up, ratio goes up = gaining muscle and/or fat
weight goes up, ratio stays same/goes down = gaining muscle and losing fat
weight goes down, ratio goes up = losing msucle
weight goes down, ratio stays same/goes down = gaining or maintaining muscle and losing fat

Jeremy

wow, that's awesome. so simple & sounds like a great indicator!

Here is a very effective and easy way that almost anyone can do:

1. Get a tape measure
2. Measure your abdomen right at the belly button
3. Measure your biceps at the widest point (not flexed)

Take the ratio of abdomen to biceps.

For example, if your abdomen was 36" and your biceps were 14", the ratio would be 36/14 = 2.57 (this works automatically no matter if you are using inches, centimeters, or any other unit).

Track that ratio and your weight. 99% of the time, the following will hold true:

weight goes up, ratio goes up = gaining muscle and/or fat
weight goes up, ratio stays same/goes down = gaining muscle and losing fat
weight goes down, ratio goes up = losing msucle
weight goes down, ratio stays same/goes down = gaining or maintaining muscle and losing fat

Jeremy

I remember John talking about this on his updates. Now I understand it better. Thanks.

Thanks for the excellent tip, I was wondering about this exact question just yesterday. I have a question about the measurements. For the waist it seems fairly straight forward but for the bicep, when you say not flexed, should the arm be straight? Out to the side, down by the side, or should I bend it at a 45 degree angle without "flexing" the muscle? Or does that count as flexing? I'm sure this is a bit obvoius, but I'd like to start doing this and want to get it right from the start if possible.

Thanks!

Scott

thanks everyone. Especially jeremy with the ratio thing. Really interesting stuff. I better start measuring myself.

thanks everyone. Especially jeremy with the ratio thing. Really interesting stuff. I better start measuring myself.

Some photos are also good. I am glad that I've taken some over the past few months.