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.
It's likely that you're gaining muscle mass. Muscle is more dense than fat, so you'll take up less space while weighing more if you're losing fat and gaining muscle in its place.
They may still perceive themselves as very heavy, even when the reflection in the mirror reveals a much smaller person. This phenomenon is sometimes called “phantom fat” or “phantom fat syndrome.” The medical term is body dysmorphic disorder.
You may be gaining muscle mass
As you gain more muscle mass, you may also lose body fat. Sometimes, muscle gain may even surpass fat loss and you may notice that you are gaining weight. Therefore, stepping on the scale may not give you an accurate picture of how your body composition has changed over time.
Since the scales are showing that you are gaining weight, it is likely that you are gaining muscle mass and losing fat. Since muscle weighs more than fat, the scales may show an increased weight even when you are losing fat.
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.
The verdict… Assessing numbers and inches both have their place in helping you pioneer your way to a healthier body - but don't get overly attached to either. Focus on weight loss if you're overweight, and if you've hit a healthy BMI but still have excess fat, switch to inches.
Mostly, losing weight is an internal process. You will first lose hard fat that surrounds your organs like liver, kidneys and then you will start to lose soft fat like waistline and thigh fat. The fat loss from around the organs makes you leaner and stronger.
A pound of lean muscle mass and a pound of body fat tissue might weigh the same, but they take up different amounts of space. This means that muscle and fat may look the same on the scale, but they'll look different on your body. While your clothes may feel looser, the scale may tell you otherwise. Count this as a win.
The “whoosh effect” is a term for the noticeable weight loss that some people report while following low carb diets such as a keto diet. Some people believe that the whoosh effect happens when fat cells lose fat and fill with water. Researchers have not scientifically proven the whoosh effect, however.
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.
The rule of thumb, Fernstrom says, is that losing 8 to 10 pounds translates to going down one size. Still, if you lose "up to 15 pounds, you may be OK in your old size," she says. But putting off buying new clothes until you really need them doesn't work for everyone.
How much weight can I lose in 1 month by drinking hot water? There is no specific weight loss amount attributed solely to drinking hot water, but it can aid in overall weight loss efforts by increasing metabolism and hydration.
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.
If you're doing cardio and strength training, you may build lean muscle tissue at the same time you're losing fat. In that case, the scale may not change even though your body composition is changing.
What it likely is: a normal fluctuation caused by fluid level changes, or just a plain old inaccurate home scale. Try moving the scale to a different area in the bathroom or house and you'll get a slightly different number each time you step on it.
On average, one can expect to lose between 0.5 to 4 inches in a month. (up to 1.8 kg) It can be more or less also. It varies from one person to another.
Your Body Is Extra Prepared for Your Second Try
If you've lost weight in the past by exercising or changing your diet and try to use those strategies again to lose weight, your body ndash; mainly hormones and metabolism – will adjust to prevent similar damage and you'll see fewer weight loss results.
A planned cheat day can sometimes shock your body into breaking through the plateau and going back to weight loss mode. It can also give you a mental break from being so careful with what you eat. Finally, a cheat meal gives you the chance to eat some of the high-calorie treats that may have been scarce recently.
Weighing weekly helps you manage your weight
A systematic review of 12 studies found participants who weighed themselves weekly or daily over several months lost 1–3 BMI (body mass index) units more and regained less weight than participants who didn't weight themselves frequently.