Is it really all muscle mass?!

Hi everyone. I have a question about weight gain.

I am a dancer, I have been dancing since I was three, I am a freshman dance major. I dance and do conditioning intensely 5 days a week. I eat mostly salads, protein bars, and various forms of snacks like special k bars or frozen yogurt or, when I have horrendous chocolate cravings, a Twix or 3 Muskateers (but that is for maybe a week every month).

Before I started my college dance program, I weighed 124 lbs, at age 17 going on 18, with a height of 5'7". Now, at age 18, with the same height, I weigh between 136-140 lbs. I have built a LOT of muscle, I lift weights 3 times a week and do pushups every day before and during my dance classes. I have really built up my ab muscles as well, as I do an insane amount of crunches and stuff too. Overall, my legs, core, shoulders, and arms are a lot stronger. But should I have gained so much weight?

My problem areas have ALWAYS been my thighs and my butt. I have most of my fat stored on my inner thighs/on my butt by my hips. It isn't a lot, but it bothers me a lot. No amount of dieting or exercise has reduced it enough.

My boyfriend and anyone else who cares to comment likes to tell me I am so lucky to have a butt that may be larger than average, but is extremely toned, and my legs are also really muscular, but I hate it.

My clothes fit the same, no one has told me that I look fat or anything, but should I have gained this much weight? I used to have disordered eating and dancers have to look thin and healthy. It depresses me and I just want to be able to love my body, help!

It could very well be muscle.  You are still young, and your body may still be in development.  Have you grown any?  I think the rigorous work involved with dancing in addition to your workout regimine, you are going to be in great shape as long as your diet is clean.

Its definitely muscle.  Women are meant to have a little bit of fat on thighs and hips, so don't even worry about it; its for childbirth.  I'm sure you look amazing with all the dance and conditioning you do, so just walk proud.  If your clothes are fitting the same, you are DEFINITELY just gaining muscle.  Embrace how strong your body is and what you can do with it, because dance is a beautiful gift.