Do You Gain Weight When You Build Muscle?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Muscle Gains. Muscle mass is denser than fat mass and

you will undoubtedly gain weight from lean muscle gains

. While your clothes may feel looser, the scale may tell you otherwise.

How much weight do you gain when you build muscle?

For most gaining

1/2 pound of weight a week

represents a fairly quick rate of healthy weight gain. And for some, especially women the rate of muscle gain may be even slower (1). At this rate, the average person can gain roughly 25 pounds of muscle in a year.

How do I know if weight gain is muscle or fat?


When you gain muscle, you’ll notice that your muscles naturally look more defined and are more visible

, Berkow said. (To see your abs specifically, you’d have to also lose fat.) Your muscles would also be larger in size or feel “harder.” If you gain fat, you’ll notice more softness, she said, and you’ll gain inches.

Why do I look fatter after working out for a month?

When you’re working out intensely and were regular for a month, after that time period, you will notice microtear in the muscle tissues.

To reduce any permanent and severe damage, the body automatically generates extra fluid to those muscles

, and thus your body can start looking fatter after a month’s workout.

Why am I gaining weight if Im working out?


Muscle mass is denser than fat mass and you will undoubtedly gain weight from lean muscle gains

. While your clothes may feel looser, the scale may tell you otherwise. This is a win! You’re working a well-rounded program that includes both strength and conditioning and now you’re reaping the reward.

What are the signs of weight gain?

  • fever.
  • skin sensitivity.
  • shortness of breath.
  • difficulty breathing.
  • heart palpitations.
  • sweating.
  • changes in vision.
  • rapid weight gain.

Can you lose weight and gain muscle at the same time?

Contrary to popular opinion,

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

. It’s a process known as body recomposition, or “recomping,” Ben Carpenter, a qualified master personal trainer and strength-and-conditioning specialist, told Insider.

Can you feel yourself gaining fat?


You definitely can’t feel fat being used or deposited

– it is a microscopic biochemical process happening on a minute scale, so don’t worry about this as a sign of gaining or losing fat.

Why am I not losing weight when I barely eat?


Not eating enough calories every day also causes you to lose muscle tissue

. This loss of muscle weight may cause you to think your diet is “working,” but the loss of muscle tissue slows down your metabolism, soon stunting your ability to lose weight.

How long does it take to see results from working out 5 days a week?

“We’re all individual in our make-up, thus the rate at which we see changes to our body will be different in each person.” That being said, Hughes explained that if you stick to your workout regime and you’re training between three and five times a week, you can expect to see results

within a month or two

.

How much weight can you gain in 2 months?

With weight gain, you’ll want to aim for a gain of about a half to one pound each week. That means in a two-month time span you could gain anywhere from

5-10 pounds

. You may also want to set smaller, more frequent goals along the way to let you know how well you’re progressing is going.

How long until I see results from working out?

Within

three to six months

, an individual can see a 25 to 100% improvement in their muscular fitness – providing a regular resistance program is followed. Most of the early gains in strength are the result of the neuromuscular connections learning how to produce movement.

Why am I bulking up and not losing weight?

3.

You’re building muscle faster than you’re burning body fat

. It’s an unfair fact of life that it takes longer to burn fat than it does to build muscle. Students unaccustomed to strength training often start out with a higher body fat percentage than regular exercisers.

Why can’t I lose weight when I exercise and eat right?

One of the main reasons why burning calories through exercise may still not result in weight loss is due to

overexertion, or inflammation of your body

. If you exercise too hard on a daily basis, there is an excess of inflammation in your body. All the added up inflammation makes you gain more weight than lose.

Do you get bigger before you get smaller?

Most people can tell if their weight gain is due to muscle or fat, or both. If your legs feel really firm, then it’s muscle.

If your increased size is due to muscle only, you won’t get smaller

. If it’s due to fat only (which is not very likely if you have been exercising for more than 3-6 months), you will get smaller.

Where is the first place you gain weight?

According to our experts, the reason you gain weight so rapidly

in your midsection

and not in, say, your calves and forearms is because the adipocytes (or fat cells), which are found throughout the body, are more plentiful in the hips, butt, stomach, and thigh area for women and stomach for men.

How much weight gain is noticeable?

“Women and men of average height need to gain or lose about three and a half and four kilograms, or

about eight and nine pounds

, respectively, for anyone to see it in their face.

How long does it take to notice weight gain?

Start off by increasing your calories by 500 per day. Weigh yourself weekly, slowly increasing your calorie intake to keep gaining weight. Though everyone’s different, this approach tends to help people gain about 15 pounds (6.8 kg) in

6 months

, on average.

Should I build muscle or lose fat first?

It depends on your body fat percentage (which most gym trainers will measure for free).

If you’re living with obesity (over 25% body fat for a man or more than 32% body fat for a woman), aim to lose fat first

. The higher your body fat percentage, the harder it is to gain muscle while minimizing fat gain.

Where do you lose fat first?

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.

What is the fastest way to lose weight and gain muscle?

  1. Keep your caloric deficit small.
  2. Be patient.
  3. Eat 25-plus grams of protein four times per day.
  4. Consider trying intermittent fasting.
  5. Do compound strength exercises at least three times per week.
  6. Use cardio for recovery.
  7. Adjust your exercise program’s structure.

Am I bloated or gained weight?

One easy way to tell the difference between bloating and belly fat is that,

with bloating, only the stomach expands due to the excess gas accumulation

. You will likely notice other bulges with excess fat, particularly on the abdomen, thighs, hips, and back.

What does a fat belly feel like?

Bloating will usually cause your belly to feel hard and tight, whereas

abdominal fat will feel soft

.

What are the signs of losing weight?

  • You’re not hungry all the time. …
  • Your sense of well-being improves. …
  • Your clothes fit differently. …
  • You’re noticing some muscle definition. …
  • Your body measurements are changing. …
  • Your chronic pain improves. …
  • You’re going to the bathroom more — or less — frequently. …
  • Your blood pressure is coming down.
Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.