scale question

zfitgal

Hey everyone quick question...

when being a scale watcher is it possible to lose body fat and stay the same weight because of muscle mass?

and if this is the case how do you really know if your making progress?

how do you know it's it's time either raise or lower calories?

TrishSeren

I believe in theory, yes, but as someone who's never done it I couldn't tell you.

Most people use photos or measurements as a guide instead of weight. Here's a perfect example.

kimny72

Over a long period of time, it is possible to build muscle and look slimmer without losing weight. But in the short term, muscle building happens slow, especially for women. If you are eating in a deficit and are a woman, you really aren't going to build enough muscle to keep the scale from moving.

If you haven't lost weight for a week or two, that's perfectly normal. If it's been more like 4 weeks, you're not really in a deficit. Try tightening up your logging or aiming a bit lower.

AnvilHead

Unless you’re taking anabolic steroids, you’re not going to gain muscle fast enough to completely offset fat loss on a 1:1 basis.

AnnPT77

AnvilHead wrote: »

Unless you’re taking anabolic steroids, you’re not going to gain muscle fast enough to completely offset fat loss on a 1:1 basis.

. . . unless you're willing to lose that fat really, really, really, really, extremely, super slowly.

You might want to read this thread, and think about whether it applies to you:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat

If it doesn't, that nice Mr. AnvilHead is right.

tinkerbellang83

From your other post your weight not moving is most likely a result of water weight from your body recovering from surgery and mentioned you were mainly doing Cardio since you were able to re-start doing activity (changes in activity also cause water retention). It's highly unlikely that you're gaining muscle.

maronesax1972

I just reached my goal weight three weeks ago. I’ve cut my cardio and went heavier on the weight training. Since reaching my GW, I’ve seen my BF go down 0.2%. I think it’s a long journey once you’ve cut. But my plans are to take 2% more, off my BF and allowing about 5 pounds of muscle to be added, so yes...some weight gain. Oh, and I am expecting this to take 18 months or so.