Muscle vs. Fat: Why the Scale Doesn’t Show Your Real Progress

If the scale is making you second-guess your progress, this 3-minute podcast episode will change your perspective. 

If you’re exercising and not seeing the scale drop, don’t panic—fat loss happens before weight loss becomes noticeable. The scale doesn’t tell the full story of what’s happening in your body.

Why the Scale Can Be Misleading–Muscle is about 75% water, while fat is roughly 15% water. Since water is heavy, muscle naturally weighs more than fat. Muscle is denser, it's more metabolically active.

This means you will lose inches before you see the scale change.

If you’ve started strength training—whether it’s barre, Pilates, lifting weights, or even resistance-based workouts—your body will retain water to repair tissues. This is a normal and necessary part of the process.