Can you be losing weight but not showing on scale?

YOUR BODY COMPOSITION IS CHANGING Your weight may stay the same, even as you lose inches, a sign that you’re moving in the right direction. However, if the scale doesn’t change, you may not even be aware that you’re getting real results, especially if you are not taking your progress.

Does weight loss always show on scale?

It’s possible to get thinner without actually seeing a change in your weight. This happens when you lose body fat while gaining muscle. A typical scale shows your weight, but it doesn’t tell you how much of that weight is muscle, fat, water, bones, or organs.

Does muscle gain Show on scale?

But when you gain muscle, the number on the scale is likely to increase. In fact, even if you’re also losing fat, you may see an increase on the scale. Muscle is more dense than fat, but it takes up less space. That means if you gain muscle, your scale weight may go up even as you’re losing body fat.

Is it possible to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time?

Given this, losing fat (caloric deficit) at the same time one is gaining muscle (caloric surplus) seems impossible. However, if we go a few steps deeper into the science, it IS possible! To appreciate the nuance here, let’s get into some specifics on losing fat and gaining muscle separately, and then we’ll combine them.

What is the conflict between losing fat and gaining muscle?

The conflict comes about over the following: To lose fat, your body needs to be in a caloric deficit. This deficit forces your body to use pre-existing fat stores for fuel. To gain muscle, your body needs to be in a caloric surplus. This surplus provides the energy your body requires to repair and build bigger muscles.

Why am I so frustrated with my weight loss results?

When it comes to losing fat or gaining muscle, people are often frustrated by what they think are “poor” or “mediocre” results. Not due to lack of progress, but because: It doesn’t have to be this way.

Is your body fat percentage staying the same when you lose weight?

Your body fat percentage isn’t budging. If you’re losing weight but your body fat percentage is staying the same, it’s probably a sign you’re losing muscle. “Your body won’t shape the way you want. You’ll notice shrinking circumferences, but the pinch-able fat is the same,” says Dr. Nadolsky.