Why Am I Losing Weight But Getting Fatter

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Trainer Kelsey Wells posted a before-and-after photo to show that it's possible to look more toned without actually losing weight. Kelsey Wells/Instagram

When you're going to the gym, eating well, and taking steps to improve your health, it's normal to want to track your progress and see the results. You might think that weighing yourself is the best way to measure that progress, but that's not always the case.

Causes Of Unintentional Weight Gain

There are a number of reasons why it's not a good idea to fixate onthe number on the scale. One easily forgotten reason is that your weightonly indicates your body mass index (BMI), not your body composition, which is the amount of muscle versus fat you have on your body.Your body composition makes a huge difference in what you look like even though it can't be measured by the scale.

To the scale, a pound is a pound. Muscle does not weigh more than fat — but it does take up less space on your body, which is why you might look leaner after building muscle even if your weight doesn't change.

The following women have posted photos to remind others that, at the end of the day, you shouldn't rely on your weight to measure your progress toward your fitness goals.

Losing Weight But Look Fatter

1. Leanne Now this is a very common question I always get asked. “How much weight have you lost since the start of your fitness journey?!” Uhmmmm. The truth is that I have stayed almost the exact same weight as when I started. As weird as it may sound, my weight has not fluctuated and if anyone were to ask me just how many kg’s I have lost.... the truth is none. This is living proof that the number on the scale is not an accurate measure of progress. Although I may have been the same weight in both the pictures, it is pretty clear that I certainly do not look the same. You see, this is why I find the scale to be so problematic. It does not take into account SO many factors, like for example how much of your weight is actually muscle and how much is fat, the time of the day you are weighing yourself, the time of the month, whether or not you have eaten etc etc. at the start of my fitness journey, I remember placing so much emphasis on that number on the scale. Losing a few kgs meant the world to me and gaining was a terrible fear. These days my approach could not be more different. I hardly ever weigh myself, and if I do it’s in hope that the scale will actually go up ( muscle gains 💪). How do I measure my progress? Besides taking progress pictures, my main benchmark is according to how I FEEL. I feel energetic, full of energy and confident- these are my main pointers of progress! So ladies, don’t let a pesky number on the scale dictate to you your self worth. It is not accurate, and can often hinder your progress. ⭐️⭐️ A post shared by @ wholesome_lee on Nov 5, 2017 at 10:40pm PSTNov 5, 2017 at 10:40pm PST

This is why I find the scale to be so problematic. It does not take into account SO many factors, like for example how much of your weight is actually muscle and how much is fat, the time of the day you are weighing yourself, the time of the month, whether or not you have eaten, etc., the blogger wrote.

2. Adrienne Osuna *For all the people that don't read the post...YES TWO POUNDS. Body recomposition. Lost fat gained muscle! NEGATIVE COMMENTS ARE DELETED AND BLOCKED*. People have been messaging me telling me they've seen this pic all over 😬like on Facebook pages and groups, twitter, other accounts here ect. I don't mind people sharing it!! But I DID NOT use anyone's products to do this...in fact I didn't even diet to do this 😂 this was all hard work in the gym lifting heavy weights and intermittent fasting. And for anyone just seeing this for the first time YESSS really 2 lbs, the scale doesn't measure fat vs muscle! Keep going girls 🙌🏼💖💜 . . . . . . . . #weightlossjourney #momsthatlift #powerlifting #eattoperform #iifym #allthefood #bodybuilding #strongmom #flexibledieting #squats #fitnessjourney #strongwoman #girlswithmuscle #girlswhopowerlift #dietingsucks #fitbit #fitfam #bodypositivity #powerliftingbuiltthisbody #deadlifts #liftheavythings #intuitiveeating #bodybuildinglife #gymislife #progressnotperfection #beforeandafterweightloss #powerlifter #beyondthescale #nsv #heavylifting A post shared by ↠a d r i e n n e o s u n a↞ (@adrienneosuna) on Feb 17, 2017 at 9:07am PSTFeb 17, 2017 at 9:07am PST

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Osuna shows the scale can't account for your body composition. As she writes in her caption, she lost fat and gained muscle by hitting the gym, lifting heavy weights, and practicing intermittent fasting.

3. Holly Louise #transformationtuesday . This my journey to date. In the first photo I did no little to no exercise and had a terrible diet. I felt crappy - physically and mentally. Currently, I do 5 x weight training sessions per week and follow a flexible dieting approach. I feel strong, healthy and happy 😊 . This transformation shows us why the scales aren't a true measure of progress alone. In the time between these photos I have completely changed my body composition - even though I still weigh exactly the same. . The reason why I look smaller is that muscle is much more dense than fat. What this means is that 1kg of fat takes up a lot more space in the body than 1kg of muscle. When you build muscle and lose fat you may not notice much of a change in the scales but you will notice a big change visually and in your body measurements. . So ladies, don't rely on the scales as your main measure of progress! It's all about how you look and feel, not what you weigh! 💪🏽 ___________________ #thefitpharmacist #health #wellness #happy #flexibledieting #nutrition #mindset #smile #womenshealth #inspire #motivate #gym #training #getfit #healthyeating #gethealthy #fitfam #fitspo #timetogetfit #passion #huawei #mate9 A post shared by H O L L Y L O U I S E (@thefitpharmacist_) on Nov 21, 2017 at 2:22am PSTNov 21, 2017 at 2:22am PST

When you build muscle and lose fat you may not notice much of a change in the scales but you will notice a big change visually and in your body measurements, Louise writes.

Personal Trainer Rachael Attard Reveals The Real Reasons Why Your Legs Aren't Getting Leaner

4. Sophie Brewster The day I became a qualified personal trainer to NOW 👑 ⠀ 2 years on and a passion and a career have become 1 🖤 A post shared by Sophie Brewster WBFF PRO (@sophiebrewster_) on Feb 12, 2018 at 2:55pm PSTFeb 12, 2018 at 2:55pm PST

Brewster's photosshow just how much of a difference gaining muscle can make in your appearance. She notes that transformation happened as a result of her working as a personal trainer.

5. Mahaba Sidi This is a little reminder that number on the scale is just number. Your weight doesn’t equal your progress! You should focus on your look, not your weight. - On left pic I wasn’t really working out, wasn’t eating healthy and was eating less than I’m eating at the moment. - I am currently eating around 3000 calories a day as I’m trying to gain muscle and train 5 days a week. I eat healthy most of time and allow myself 🍕&🍫 sometimes. I train my legs/glutes 3 times a week, my upper body once a week and do about 15-20 min cardio before or after my workouts 2-3 times a week. - Whatever your goal is, you can achieve it. Just keep working hard, be consistent and be patient 🙌🏾 • • • • #tansformationtuesday#avantapres#beforeandafter#sameweight#emnlspirit#fitsporation#afrogirlfitness#girlswholift#montrealfitness#montrealfitnessgirls#trainharddowork#youcandothis#liftingweights A post shared by 🔹Mahaba Sidi🔹 (@maha_sfit) on Feb 20, 2018 at 11:14am PSTFeb 20, 2018 at 11:14am PST

Why Am I Gaining Weight While Working Out?

Patience is a virtue, but if you want to see change, it requires hard work day in and day out. Whatever your goal is, you can achieve it, Sidi writes in her caption. Just keep working hard, be consistent, and be patient.

6. Nessa Sphere Let's talk food and calories 👀🙌🏼 I get lots of questions about how much you should eat. It is not easy to answer this question. It depends on a lot of things: your weight, your height, your age, how active you are during the day, how often and how intensive you workouts are and what your goal is. But one is definitely easy to estimate. It's how much you shouldn't eat. You can't starve yourself ‼️ When I see people saying that they eat

Osuna shows the scale can't account for your body composition. As she writes in her caption, she lost fat and gained muscle by hitting the gym, lifting heavy weights, and practicing intermittent fasting.

3. Holly Louise #transformationtuesday . This my journey to date. In the first photo I did no little to no exercise and had a terrible diet. I felt crappy - physically and mentally. Currently, I do 5 x weight training sessions per week and follow a flexible dieting approach. I feel strong, healthy and happy 😊 . This transformation shows us why the scales aren't a true measure of progress alone. In the time between these photos I have completely changed my body composition - even though I still weigh exactly the same. . The reason why I look smaller is that muscle is much more dense than fat. What this means is that 1kg of fat takes up a lot more space in the body than 1kg of muscle. When you build muscle and lose fat you may not notice much of a change in the scales but you will notice a big change visually and in your body measurements. . So ladies, don't rely on the scales as your main measure of progress! It's all about how you look and feel, not what you weigh! 💪🏽 ___________________ #thefitpharmacist #health #wellness #happy #flexibledieting #nutrition #mindset #smile #womenshealth #inspire #motivate #gym #training #getfit #healthyeating #gethealthy #fitfam #fitspo #timetogetfit #passion #huawei #mate9 A post shared by H O L L Y L O U I S E (@thefitpharmacist_) on Nov 21, 2017 at 2:22am PSTNov 21, 2017 at 2:22am PST

When you build muscle and lose fat you may not notice much of a change in the scales but you will notice a big change visually and in your body measurements, Louise writes.

Personal Trainer Rachael Attard Reveals The Real Reasons Why Your Legs Aren't Getting Leaner

4. Sophie Brewster The day I became a qualified personal trainer to NOW 👑 ⠀ 2 years on and a passion and a career have become 1 🖤 A post shared by Sophie Brewster WBFF PRO (@sophiebrewster_) on Feb 12, 2018 at 2:55pm PSTFeb 12, 2018 at 2:55pm PST

Brewster's photosshow just how much of a difference gaining muscle can make in your appearance. She notes that transformation happened as a result of her working as a personal trainer.

5. Mahaba Sidi This is a little reminder that number on the scale is just number. Your weight doesn’t equal your progress! You should focus on your look, not your weight. - On left pic I wasn’t really working out, wasn’t eating healthy and was eating less than I’m eating at the moment. - I am currently eating around 3000 calories a day as I’m trying to gain muscle and train 5 days a week. I eat healthy most of time and allow myself 🍕&🍫 sometimes. I train my legs/glutes 3 times a week, my upper body once a week and do about 15-20 min cardio before or after my workouts 2-3 times a week. - Whatever your goal is, you can achieve it. Just keep working hard, be consistent and be patient 🙌🏾 • • • • #tansformationtuesday#avantapres#beforeandafter#sameweight#emnlspirit#fitsporation#afrogirlfitness#girlswholift#montrealfitness#montrealfitnessgirls#trainharddowork#youcandothis#liftingweights A post shared by 🔹Mahaba Sidi🔹 (@maha_sfit) on Feb 20, 2018 at 11:14am PSTFeb 20, 2018 at 11:14am PST

Why Am I Gaining Weight While Working Out?

Patience is a virtue, but if you want to see change, it requires hard work day in and day out. Whatever your goal is, you can achieve it, Sidi writes in her caption. Just keep working hard, be consistent, and be patient.

6. Nessa Sphere Let's talk food and calories 👀🙌🏼 I get lots of questions about how much you should eat. It is not easy to answer this question. It depends on a lot of things: your weight, your height, your age, how active you are during the day, how often and how intensive you workouts are and what your goal is. But one is definitely easy to estimate. It's how much you shouldn't eat. You can't starve yourself ‼️ When I see people saying that they eat