In general, weight gain from fat will result in a softer appearance, while weight gain from muscle will leave you looking leaner and feeling stronger. The most accurate way to assess any change in your body composition is through body composition testing.
You can tell by checking for increased strength, firmness, or definition in muscles, and tracking body measurements. Muscle gain often feels firmer and more toned, while water retention and fat gain feel softer and may show up as bloating or general weight increase without added strength.
Despite what you may have heard, the answer is no. A pound of muscle and a pound of fat weigh exactly the same.
Building muscle while staying lean requires a moderate calorie surplus and plenty of protein. You should also lift weights, focusing on compound movements and employing progressive overload. Take your time and be patient, but remember that gaining fat isn't the end of the world. Read more Working It Out here.
Texture: - Muscle: Typically feels firmer and denser. When you press on muscle, it feels solid and resilient. - Fat: Feels softer and more pliable. It may feel more ``squishy'' or jiggly compared to muscle. Temperature: - Muscle: Can feel warmer, especially if it's active or engorged with blood.
So even though you may be losing fat, you're gaining muscle. You might feel slimmer, even as the number on the scale rises. “The scale doesn't tell the entire story,” said exercise physiologist Christopher Mohr, PhD, RD. “Since muscle and fat take up different volume, they look very different on the body.”
The BMI calculation is just one measure of health. It cannot tell the difference between muscle and fat. For example, if you have a lot of muscle, you may be classed as overweight or obese despite having low body fat. This is why you may get a better idea of your overall health from measuring your waist.
Muscle and Cardio
Noticeable changes (2-4 months): More noticeable changes typically occur within several months, including weight loss and muscle tone. Your genetics, muscle fiber makeup, and the quality of your workouts affect your strength if you are well-conditioned.
This is because exercise—especially higher-intensity exercise—can produce a temporary inflammatory response in your body. This can also trigger temporary water retention.
Most beginners will see noticeable muscle growth within eight weeks, while more experienced lifters will see changes in three to four weeks. Most individuals gain one to two pounds of lean muscle per month with the right strength training and nutrition plan.
2 to 3 Months: After two to three months of consistent strength training, your muscles will become stronger, and you may even notice a slight increase in muscle definition. 4 to 6 Months: You should see and feel your hard work paying off by now, and you will likely feel great about seeing the results!
For the majority of people, it takes roughly 130 quality hours to get fit. A lot of people ask me where I got that number. It's equivalent of training hard, an hour a day, 5 days a week, for 6 months. Your hours can't be half-ass hours, either.
Noticeable Changes (Months 2-3): After two to three months of consistent training, you'll likely start seeing more significant muscle size and strength changes. At this time, many people notice that their muscles appear fuller and more defined.
There are other terms for this, such as build mode, but bulking is a common term for this caloric surplus. Dirty bulking is when an individual is in a caloric surplus to build muscle (build mode). However, the individual is eating foods that are carb dense, unhealthy, and ultra-processed out of convenience.
In a clean bulk, it's quite normal to gain some fat since you're consuming more calories to support muscle growth. However, if you notice you are accumulating mainly the areas of excess fat in the stomach, some changes can help you optimize better gains while minimizing excess fat.
In other words, a pound of fat has a much larger volume. But a pound of muscle appears leaner and more toned. So, an extra 15 pounds of fat will take up a lot more space in your body — giving you a softer appearance. And muscle is denser, meaning it has a smaller volume for its weight.
To lose weight effectively and safely, aiming to lose 1 to 2 pounds (lbs) per week may be best. This means that losing 20 lbs may take 10 to 20 weeks. To lose weight, people will likely need to follow a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Some popular diets are effective initially but challenging to maintain.