How Do I Know If I'm Gaining Muscle or Fat?
If You're Gaining Weight, Experts Explain How to Tell If It's Muscle or Fat

If you're unsure whether the weight you might be gaining is muscle or fat, there are a number of ways you can tell the difference. First, there are a few things you should know. Everyone's bodies store fat differently. As we've reported on in the past, based on genetics, some people store more visceral fat — fat that's around the organs within the abdominal cavity — and others store more subcutaneous fat, or the fat you can pinch with your fingers (you can read more about that here).
Another note? If you're actively trying to put on muscle, chances are you'll be able to tell if you're getting leaner or bulking up, which we'll touch on ahead. People also wonder, on the other hand, if building muscle will impede on their weight-loss goals, which we'll discuss as well. We spoke to two experts on the differences between putting on muscle versus fat, why muscle can actually help with weight loss, and why you can't necessarily go by the number on the scale to track your progress.
How Muscle Forms vs. How Fat Forms (And How You Can Actually Gain Both at the Same Time)

Myth Buster: Muscle Doesn't "Weigh" More Than Fat

How to Tell The Amount of Muscle and/or Fat You Have

How to Tell Physically If You're Gaining Muscle or Fat

Building Muscle Helps With Fat Loss

A Note on Basing Progress Solely on Scale Numbers

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