{"id":802329,"date":"2024-06-21T13:37:31","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T13:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-body-composition-exercises-for-fat-loss-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-06-21T14:12:19","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T14:12:19","slug":"blog-signs-of-muscle-gain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs of Muscle Gain (and Fat Loss)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=&#8221;50px&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Open Sans||||||||&#8221; link_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; ul_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">You\u2019ve been working out consistently and your weight hasn\u2019t moved much \u2013 is your hard work paying off?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">It can be tough to assess objectively whether you\u2019re gaining muscle. It\u2019s common to keep track of your weight while working out, but <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-accurate-are-body-fat-scales\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">weight isn\u2019t the most accurate metric<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> for measuring muscle gain or fat loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Understanding how muscle gain works and noting some signs of muscle gain can give you a better sense of how you\u2019re progressing. Want more accuracy? A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/dexa\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">DEXA scan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is the best way to accurately assess your changing body composition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Let\u2019s dive into the science of muscle gain!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_science_of_muscle_gain\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">The science of muscle gain <\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#The_science_of_muscle_gain\" >The science of muscle gain<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#How_does_muscle_gain_work\" >How does muscle gain work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#How_does_fat_loss_work\" >How does fat loss work?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#How_do_I_know_if_Im_gaining_muscle_or_fat\" >How do I know if I\u2019m gaining muscle or fat?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#How_long_does_it_take_to_build_muscle\" >How long does it take to build muscle?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#How_do_I_gain_muscle_and_lose_fat\" >How do I gain muscle and lose fat?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#Top_signs_of_gaining_muscle_and_losing_fat\" >Top signs of gaining muscle (and losing fat)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#You_feel_stronger\" >You feel stronger\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#You_look_leaner\" >You look leaner\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#Your_measurements_have_changed\" >Your measurements have changed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#Your_workouts_are_getting_easier\" >Your workouts are getting easier\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#You_have_more_energy\" >You have more energy\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#Your_metabolism_has_increased\" >Your metabolism has increased<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#Your_recovery_time_has_decreased\" >Your recovery time has decreased\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-signs-of-muscle-gain\/#Accurately_measure_your_muscle_gain_and_fat_loss\" >Accurately measure your muscle gain and fat loss<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_1069957472.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;An athletic woman completes a heavy deadlift with a barbell in a gym with low lighting. &#8221; title_text=&#8221;shutterstock_1069957472&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_muscle_gain_work\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">How does muscle gain work?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Muscle gain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/319151#how-does-muscle-grow-in-the-body\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">muscle hypertrophy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">) has two key conditions:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Weight-bearing exercise<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A caloric surplus\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Consistent, challenging strength training damages muscle fibres. The caloric surplus provides your body with the fuel it needs to repair these fibres \u2013 creating larger, stronger muscles in the process. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/12\/7\/2023#:~:text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Adequate protein intake<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> as a part of the caloric surplus is also key; without this, muscle loss can occur.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">While <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyoneactive.com\/content-hub\/gym\/muscle-mass\/#:~:text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">optimising muscle gain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is a little more complex than this, the popular generalisation stands true: lift heavy, eat more. To get an idea of the types of strength exercises you should incorporate into your routine to start building muscle, check out our guide to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-body-composition-exercises-for-fat-loss\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">body composition exercises<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_fat_loss_work\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">How does fat loss work?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">While fat loss is often thought of as complicated, it only has one main condition:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A caloric deficit<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">This means that for fat loss (or any weight loss) to occur, you need to consume fewer calories than you expend. This can be achieved through a combination of diet and exercise, or from diet alone. Understanding the number of calories your body requires to function daily (your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/calculators-tdee\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">TDEE<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">) is essential to maintaining a calorie deficit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Calorie deficit not working? These <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-reasons-your-calorie-deficit-isnt-working\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">common calorie deficit culprits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> could be behind your stalled weight loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_know_if_Im_gaining_muscle_or_fat\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">How do I know if I\u2019m gaining muscle or fat?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-fat-vs-muscle\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Fat and muscle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> are fundamentally different tissues, but it can be difficult to assess which is behind your weight gain with only the number on the scale to go by.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The signs of muscle gain below can be a good starting place for assessing the source of your weight gain. In general, weight gain from fat will result in a softer appearance, while weight gain from muscle will leave you looking leaner and feeling stronger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The most accurate way to assess any change in your body composition is through body composition testing. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/dexa\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">DEXA scan for body composition<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> can accurately measure your lean mass, fat mass, visceral fat, and more, eliminating any guesswork. Monitoring your body composition can be a great way to ensure you\u2019re maintaining a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-what-is-a-healthy-body-fat-percentage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">healthy body fat percentage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> as you prioritise muscle gain.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_to_build_muscle\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">How long does it take to build muscle?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">How long it takes to build muscle will depend on where you\u2019re starting from.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you\u2019re a beginner or relatively new to working out, you can expect to see signs of muscle growth within the first 8 weeks of hitting the gym \u2013 assuming you\u2019re doing so consistently. For more experienced gym-goers, you may notice you gain muscle at a quicker rate. However, if you\u2019ve kept the same routine for a long time, it\u2019s possible to experience a plateau in your gains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">While it takes time to see noticeable muscle growth, strength training is cumulative, and every workout contributes to your progress. Even before you notice any change in muscle size, a host of other benefits \u2013 from boosted protein synthesis in the hours following your workout to improved muscle awareness \u2013 happen far more quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">How quickly you gain muscle depends on a variety of factors, from your genetic and hormonal makeup to your age, gender, and ratio of fast to slow muscle twitch fibres. Be consistent, and don\u2019t be discouraged if you don\u2019t see visible changes right away \u2013\u00a0 make sure to check the signs below for other indicators of muscle gain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_gain_muscle_and_lose_fat\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">How do I gain muscle and lose fat?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">This is a larger topic than we\u2019ll be getting into in this blog!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">For more information on gaining muscle, you can check out our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-build-lean-muscle-mass\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">guide to building lean muscle mass<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">. Looking to lose fat? Check out our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-lose-fat-with-a-dexa-scan-for-body-fat\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">guide to fat loss<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">For other common body composition FAQs such as whether you can gain muscle and lose fat at the same time, check out our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-fat-vs-muscle\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">body comp guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Top_signs_of_gaining_muscle_and_losing_fat\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Top signs of gaining muscle (and losing fat)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_2265474709.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;A mature woman in green workout clothing holds a yoga mat and water bottle under her left arm while flexing her right bicep, smiling. &#8221; title_text=&#8221;shutterstock_2265474709&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Let\u2019s take a look at the top signs of muscle gain. Many of these can also be signs of fat loss \u2014 provided you prioritise maintaining muscle mass as you cut.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_feel_stronger\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">You feel stronger\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">It might sound obvious, but one of the clearest signs of muscle gain is that you feel stronger and more capable \u2013 inside of the gym and out. Keeping a note of your workout routine \u2013 including weights, reps, and times \u2013 can be an easy way to track your progress. If you\u2019re noticing consistent improvements here, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re succeeding at gaining muscle. This can be one of the most satisfying parts of strength training, so make sure to soak it up!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_look_leaner\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">You look leaner\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">It\u2019s common for your weight to increase as you build muscle. This can feel discouraging \u2013 particularly if you\u2019re simultaneously targeting fat loss \u2013 but is a normal part of building muscle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you\u2019re concerned about whether your weight gain is muscle or fat, you\u2019re not alone. One of the easiest ways to assess this as home is visually. If you\u2019ve taken before and after pictures, comparing these can prove more objective than relying on memory. Similarly, you may notice increased muscle definition, less softness, and an overall leaner physique.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Checking in on how your clothes fit can be another useful rule of thumb. Since <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-fat-vs-muscle\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">muscle is denser than fat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, if you\u2019ve gained weight but your clothes fit a little looser, that\u2019s a good sign you may have gained muscle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_measurements_have_changed\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Your measurements have changed<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">While perceptions of our bodies can be flawed, measurements provide a more objective method of checking in on body composition changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Different measurements can shed insight into different types of body composition changes. For example, while an increased weight measurement might be indicative of fat gain, increased measurements in your biceps, upper thighs, or chest might be a sign of increased muscle in these areas. Similarly, decreased measurements at your waist or hips could be a sign of fat loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">While measurements aren\u2019t an infallible method of assessing your body composition, they\u2019re accessible and easily done at home, allowing you to check in more frequently than you could with advanced testing such as a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/dexa\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">DEXA scan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_workouts_are_getting_easier\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Your workouts are getting easier\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Whether you can lift heavier, complete more reps, or complete your workout in less time, your workouts feeling easier is a sign of increased strength and power. Progressive overload \u2013 a steady increase in your weight, reps, or both \u2013 is a tried and tested way of continuously challenging yourself in your strength workouts. This helps to avoid a plateau and maximise your gains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Increased muscle mass can also benefit your endurance, helping cardio workouts and daily activities feel easier and less tiring. If you\u2019re noticing any of these, you\u2019re on the right track \u2013 keep it up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_have_more_energy\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">You have more energy\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A less-emphasised benefit of gaining muscle is the accompanying increase in energy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Increased muscle mass is linked to improved energy levels, lower stress, and even a stronger immune system. The benefits of building muscle and improving your body composition are extensive \u2013 we\u2019ve listed some of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-build-lean-muscle-mass\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">top muscle-building benefits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">This boost in energy can make it easier to find the energy to work out, leading to further gains \u2013 and also be beneficial across other areas of your life.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_metabolism_has_increased\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Your metabolism has increased<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Increased muscle mass is also linked to an increased energy expenditure \u2013 a faster metabolic rate. This means the number of calories you burn from simply existing (your basal metabolic rate, or BMR) can increase as you build muscle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If your metabolic rate has increased, you might find yourself feeling more hungry, needing more food throughout the day, or finding it easier to maintain or even lose weight. To work out or recalculate your BMR and assess your caloric needs, you can use our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/calculators-tdee\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">custom BMR &amp; TDEE calculator.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_recovery_time_has_decreased\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Your recovery time has decreased\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Another sign (and benefit) of muscle gain is that your recovery time may decrease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">For many beginners, post-workout fatigue, aches, and even injuries can prove discouraging and affect adherence to a new program. Luckily, with consistent training, recovery time starts to decrease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">As you work towards gaining muscle, your body needs time to rest and repair. Scheduling rest days for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bodybuilding.com\/content\/the-science-of-muscle-recovery-how-long-should-you-rest-between-workouts.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">recovery time<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is crucial to providing your body with the time (and fuel) it needs to build and repair muscle fibres and facilitate muscle growth. How long it takes your body to recover depends on a variety of factors, including:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">How long you\u2019ve been training<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">How well (and long) you sleep<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Your stress levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The volume, intensity, and duration of your training<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Alternating muscle groups in your workouts, scheduling regular rest days, and getting enough water and protein can all help speed up your workout recovery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Accurately_measure_your_muscle_gain_and_fat_loss\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Accurately measure your muscle gain and fat loss <\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/shutterstock_2254569021.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;A multiracial team of 4 personal trainers in blue gym clothes smile with their arms crossed. &#8221; title_text=&#8221;shutterstock_2254569021&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Hopefully, these signs of muscle gain and fat loss have given you a sense of where you\u2019re at on your fitness journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you\u2019re looking for a more accurate overview of your body composition, then a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/dexa\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">DEXA scan for body composition<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is the best place to start. My Vital Metrics offers data-rich insights based on the gold standard in body composition technology, equipping you to take your muscle gain to the next level.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">To find out more or to book your free fitness &amp; nutrition consultation, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">reach out to My Vital Metrics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> today! <\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve been working out consistently and your weight hasn\u2019t moved much \u2013 is your hard work paying off?\u00a0 It can be tough to assess objectively whether you\u2019re gaining muscle. It\u2019s common to keep track of your weight while working out, but weight isn\u2019t the most accurate metric for measuring muscle gain or fat loss.\u00a0 Understanding [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":802337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38,12,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-802329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-body-comp","category-dexa","category-fitlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=802329"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802329\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":802342,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802329\/revisions\/802342"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/802337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=802329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=802329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=802329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}