Very Brief Q.

Cheeky_gal

Briefly, I've begun using my brothers bench press at home and his reacting pretty disgusted. He can't figure out why I (been a girl) would want to use a bench press. Anyways, he told me that I should be careful that although yes at first the muscle will burn fat, but eventually when I stop working out or whatever, the muscle will convert to fat! Is this true?

tribulus

No, he's talking rubbish.

Hanley

Cheeky_gal wrote: »

Briefly, I've begun using my brothers bench press at home and his reacting pretty disgusted. He can't figure out why I (been a girl) would want to use a bench press. Anyways, he told me that I should be careful that although yes at first the muscle will burn fat, but eventually when I stop working out or whatever, the muscle will convert to fat! Is this true?

I'm sorry to say this, but your brother doesn't have a clue what he's talking about.

Muscle will never, EVER turn into fat under any circumstances.

Besides, if that's his belief, should he not be worried about his muscle turning into fat too?

Cheeky_gal

No TBH I think he's just trying to turn me off lifting weights for fear I'll turn into Superwoman or something. :rolleyes:

justsomebloke

truthfully it sounds like your brother needs to start reading the fitness forum:D

Cheeky_gal

jsb wrote: »

truthfully it sounds like your brother needs to start reading the fitness forum:D

LOL! I went into him there a few mins ago and said to him that he was wrong that muscle can NEVER convert to fat that I've even asked the advice of professionals and he goes "well they're talking absolute BS, they obviously know nothing, I know for FACT if you stop exercising muscle turns to fat". He seems pretty adiment on this but I'm more likely to go along with you guys TBH as bad as that sounds!

Hanley

Cheeky_gal wrote: »

LOL! I went into him there a few mins ago and said to him that he was wrong that muscle can NEVER convert to fat that I've even asked the advice of professionals and he goes "well they're talking absolute BS, they obviously know nothing, I know for FACT if you stop exercising muscle turns to fat". He seems pretty adiment on this but I'm more likely to go along with you guys TBH as bad as that sounds!

Please, PLEASE tell him to come on here and say it.

Seraphina

this is hilarious. i know its a common misconception, but every time i hear someone say it, i wonder how anyone could be so stupid as to think that one tissue type could ever turn into another?

Cravez

He's probably fearing that you will become stronger than him and probably discouraging you from becomming so

Firstly, what would happen if you stop lifting weights is your muscles will start to enter a state of 'atrophy' or simply put, become smaller due to the lack of stimulation or activity to the muscle.

Secondly, the whole thing of "ex-weightlifters becoming fat" or whatever nonsense is because those who stop training but still continue with their large 6 meals a day plan & eating habits will eventually become fat. Theres no activity to use those calories & usually those who do weightlifting require more calories for growth/repair so if they have no need to to use those calories but still eat the same as they did when they were weightlifting then they will put on weight/fat. Muscle will not turn into fat, your eating habits will make you fat.

Johnerr

muscle cant turn into fat, fact

Tell your bro if he doesn't stop talking ****e his teeth will turn into skin.
About as much chance of your muscle turning to fat.

eroo

you lose muscle over time as you get older but if you keep doing strength training,you will not lose muscle and will in fact increase muscle mass...

Boston

From the same school of thought which believes sex standing up can prevent pregnancy.

ali.c

Anyhow lifting weights had added advantages for women too or so i have heard. Weight bearing activities encourage your body to maintain bone density (or so i have heard) which is a bigger problem in women than it is in men.

Meh if it was my bro* i'd just ask him to produce one scientific study that backs up what he is saying.

*well thats a lie, i probably just call him a muppet and tell him to PFO....

djhaxman

Cheeky_gal wrote: »

LOL! I went into him there a few mins ago and said to him that he was wrong that muscle can NEVER convert to fat that I've even asked the advice of professionals and he goes "well they're talking absolute BS, they obviously know nothing, I know for FACT if you stop exercising muscle turns to fat". He seems pretty adiment on this but I'm more likely to go along with you guys TBH as bad as that sounds!

Lol, this old chesnut again, I had this at work from a lad who has been training for a good while, and had to go online and show him an article to prove to him that its not possible.

As for your brother, I'd like to know who told him/where he read that its a FACT. Sounds like he's a bit insecure that you may get stronger than him.

Go for it!

g'em

Boston wrote: »

From the same school of thought which believes sex standing up can prevent pregnancy.

rofl

Cheeky he's talking out of his orifices. Muscle and fat are two different tissues (muscle tissue and connective tissue) so what he's saying is akin to saying that unused nerves can turn to fat or skin can spontaneously turn to muscle i.e. biologically and physiologically it won't happen. And if he still doubts it I'll be more than happy to explain it to him in one of my Biology classes

Jumpy

g'em wrote: »

rofl

Cheeky he's talking out of his orifices. Muscle and fat are two different tissues (muscle tissue and connective tissue) so what he's saying is akin to saying that unused nerves can turn to fat or skin can spontaneously turn to muscle i.e. biologically and physiologically it won't happen. And if he still doubts it I'll be more than happy to explain it to him in one of my Biology classes

You are a teacher? I am willing to bet that everyone shuts up when you tell them to

g'em

Jumpy wrote: »

You are a teacher?

tutor/ lecturer And technically was - I moved over to the Admin darkside but I still teach from time to time if cover is needed. I never really needed to tell anyone to shut up, usually it was the other way round - my classes quickly discovered that asking me about anything diet/ fitness related was a great way to distract me and waste whole classes

Roper

I think the misconception comes from the fact that pretty much every big guy who stops training has difficulty controlling their calorie intake for a while after using so many calories to create muscle. Its a bit like the way they proved a Witch should weight less than a duck in The Holy Grail. I stopped lifting and got fat, ergo my muscle has turned into fat.

Killgore Trout

I hear that myth a lot. Mainly it's perpetuated by people who focus on exercise/training as a remedy to getting fat rather than a regualr lifestyle choice, they stop training once the desired results are achieved. Once they stop they put on weight again and blame the "muscle turning into fat" rather than admitting it's the sitting on their árse, and convince themselves they'd be better off not trying that again.

Cheeky_gal

Cheers everyone for all the replies!

I printed off all the comments in this and showed them to him and you'll be glad to know he has accepted that "yes, muscle can never ever convert to fat"!

Good stuff!

Pherekydes

Now ask him if the soreness in your arms from 2 days previously is due to lactic acid in the muscles.

figroll

Excuse my ignorance in advance, but is there something in this common 'misconception'? What about the increased amounts of energy pathways that are no longer required? Do these pathways encourage glyogen to be stored in the muscle and then when unused get stored as fat? Also, what would happen if someone turns from intense work (like weight lifting) to long slow work like jogging/running/cycling.. does your body change to encourage type1 muscle fibres therefore not require this glyogen as much, and stores it in fat cells instead? ...just wondering! :-)