Bone and muscle mass are denser than fat. You could be particularly strong with sturdy bones and look skinny, but weigh a lot. Some people also develop fat deposits in...more aesthetic fashion. You might gain a layer all over rather than just in your gut.
Weight can be influenced by various factors beyond just appearance. Muscle density, water retention, and distribution of weight throughout the body all play a role. Someone with a higher percentage of muscle mass may weigh more than they appear because muscle is denser than fat.
You've Been Putting on Muscle
Don't get us wrong—1 pound of muscle is equivalent to 1 pound of fat—muscle just takes up less room than fat. This can be the cause of a smaller waistline but the same (or a higher) number on the scale.
A few people have high BMIs but don't have much body fat. Their muscle tissue pushes up their weight. Kahan points to very muscular people, like football players or body builders. “Their BMI shows up pretty high, and yet their body fat is actually pretty low," Kahan says.
Gaining weight while maintaining the same body measurements can be attributed to several factors: Muscle Gain: If you've been exercising, particularly strength training, you may have gained muscle mass. Muscle is denser than fat, so even if your body measurements remain the same, your overall weight can increase.
The Impact of Muscle on Silhouette.
Muscle is denser than fat, meaning a kilogram of muscle takes up less space in your body than a kilogram of fat. So, even if you gain muscle and your weight on the scale increases slightly, you can appear slimmer and more toned.
Feeling fat can be a symptom of body dysmorphic disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a complex diagnosis, leading sufferers to experience obsessive thoughts and behaviours related to their body and appearance.
Similarly, you may notice increased muscle definition, less softness, and an overall leaner physique. Checking in on how your clothes fit can be another useful rule of thumb. Since muscle is denser than fat, if you've gained weight but your clothes fit a little looser, that's a good sign you may have gained muscle.
The phrase 'skinny fat' or metabolically obese normal weight (MONW) is used to describe someone who appears to be lean, but actually has a high body fat percentage. If they were to calculate their body mass index (BMI) or even weigh themselves, they may appear to be healthy, but this can be deceiving.
You're losing fat but gaining muscle
If you are eating well and going to the gym but aren't seeing a shift in the scale, it may be because you are gaining muscle, which is more dense than fat. This means you could weigh the same, even if your body composition has changed.
“Your skin is the largest organ in the body and absorbs fluid easily,” says Dr. Keith Kantor, a leading nutritionist and CEO of the Nutritional Addiction Mitigation Eating and Drinking (NAMED) program. “After a swim or a shower, your body can absorb 1 to 3 cups of water, increasing your true weight by a few pounds.”
Weight gain and short-term fluctuations may happen for a variety of reasons, such as aging or making lifestyle and dietary changes. However, fast weight gain can be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a problem with the thyroid, kidneys, or heart.
If your clothes are looser but your weight is stagnant (or you're a little heavier), there's a chance you're undergoing body recomposition, a fancy term for building muscle mass and losing body fat, says Hamilton. While building muscle is a long game, focus on resistance training and upping your protein intake.
How Long Does Water Weight Last? The span can vary depending on the cause. Temporary water weight caused by high sodium intake or premenstrual syndrome can last a few days to a week. Permanent water weight caused by underlying health conditions may last longer and require medical treatment.
Since dense muscle tissue takes up less space than fat, it's possible you may weigh the same (or even more) yet appear slimmer than another person with the same weight, a similar height and frame because of the difference in your body composition.”
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!
Basically, if you subtract the weight that comes from fat (your body fat percentage) from your total weight, you will have your lean body mass.
Reduce Your Health Risks
Obesity increases your risk for many health problems. Losing the extra weight can help eliminate those health problems or lower your odds for them. Weight loss can reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol. It can also slash risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and osteoarthritis.
But the problem might not be your angles, it could be lens distortion. Because of the proximity of your face to the camera, the lens can distort certain features, making them look larger than they are in real life. Pictures also only provide a 2-D version of ourselves.
Water weight is not usually a cause for concern, but it can be uncomfortable and recurring. Reducing salt and carbohydrate intake, keeping hydrated, and frequently exercising are all good ways to lose water weight and prevent it from returning.