Working out...not losing weight. What's up?

Did you take measurements when you started? Sometimes you can weigh the same but your inches are smaller (and that is a victory). Weight loss has two components: eat less AND move more. You won't get results easily if you are only doing one of those two things. The funny thing about weight loss and exercise is that people often underestimate the number of calories they consume while overestimating how many calories they burn in a workout session. It's easy to overeat your workout if you don't know how many calories you actually burned. Cardio and weight resistance is needed: not just cardio. And your body will adapt quickly so you will have to keep changing up your routine up to get results. 

To lose a pound of weight a week, you need to bypass and/or burnup 3500 calories. That means cutting back on your food intake by 500 calories a day AND exercising to tone up your new physique. If you do BOTH, success is inevitable.

Get a FitBit, Jawbone, or a heart rate monitor. Figure out your max heart rate (easily found by googling) and work out at 80 to 85% max heart rate. You'll find if you do that, you won't need to work at it 45 minutes but more like 20 to 25 minutes. You'll get better results in less time.

Weight loss happens in the kitchen. Maintaining your weight loss happens in the gym. Do both.

I use My Fitness Pal to track my food and the first day I used it I could not believe how many calories I was consuming in a day. I thought I was eating healthy but even too much healthy food can pack on the pounds.

How long have you been working out regularly? I began the 21 Day Fix in January and it took longer than I had expected to see results on the scale and in how my clothes fit, even though I was rigorous in following the diet plan and exercising 19 out of those 21 days. For me, my thighs were the most stubborn part...it seemed like they got bigger...so frustrating. But, I kept at it. It just seemed to take time, like a month, before I began to see any tiny changes in my body. BUT, then the changes started happening! I have now lost 12-15 pounds and I see the difference in the mirror. I truly think that some bodies are just tougher to convince to drop the weight. The funniest thing is that my body seems to lose from the top down...my chest shrunk before my thighs...I tease that I am melting like a snowman...so not fair!

The only way (I've found) to lose weight is to consistently eat less calories per day than you burn. I wear a Fitbit and it's shocking how few calories you burn while exercising. Another thing which always surprises me is how many calories there are in foods, especially fruit.

  The first time I measured out a "serving" of cold cereal I was shocked. Who knew that my cereal bowl was *that* many calories (and closer to two servings). oy. Keep track of your calories for a few days, you may be surprised. 

You cannot outrun your fork. It is known. Track your food for a month and then see where you are. Real portion sizes are shockingly small and working out makes you hungrier. It's a delicate balance.

Eliminate most sugar and go lower carb. Get your carbs from healthy veggies. No pointless crackers or chips or cookies.

Lift weights heavy. Your strong muscles will help your metabolism and burn fat long after you stop working out.

Do a little cardio, but endless cardio is counterproductive. HIIT is more effective and takes way less time.

Be CONSISTENT. That's the only way. It takes patience and lots of time.

Good luck!

Love this!

Totally agree. I lost 4 pounds and now I'm at a standstill. (Only have about 8-10 pounds to lose) I've got to get serious about what I eat. I'm not terrible but definitely need to refine my diet.

^^