muscle gaining while losing fat/weight.

[Paradise555]

So I have been noticing while at the gym that as of late I feel like I hit a plateau in losing weight. However it seems like I am gaining muscle and losing fat around my belly. How/why can this be. It doesnt seem like it is happening over night but in the last 2-3 weeks. Ideas?

[Dominique]

An easy way to determine whether you’re losing fat in your midsection would be to take measurements (waistline). You may also be able to notice it from pants that were previously snug and in which you are now "floating". Or from your belt (check whether you need to tighten it one hole closer). You may also want to consider using the Fitbit Aria smartscale, or a similar BIA scale, which estimates your body fat. The nice thing about the Aria is that it automatically syncs weight and body fat data to your Fitbit account, so you’ll end up with a full history of your weight (loss) history. I’ve had one for almost three years and it has proven very useful. Keep in mind that BIA is not the most accurate method for determining body fat, but even if it doesn’t yield values that are accurate in absolute terms, it’s still useful for spotting trends, at least in my experience. As to whether you would be gaining muscle precisely in your midsection, it all depends on the kind of resistance training you have been doing. Muscles in that region are not the biggest in your body, so their potential for growth is somehow limited (compared to larger muscles such as quads). 

[Paradise555]

I have been noticing my shirts been becoming a little bigger in the course of a month as well as my pants. I have been noticing while I have been doing weights at the gym that I am doing more heavier weights as of late as well. 

[Dominique]

Looks like you have been doing all the right things and are reaping the expected results! Kudos!