Freshman 15

Hello. I have been home after my first year at college for a month already. Unfortunately, I gained the awful fifteen pounds in a whole school year. I have been trying desperately to get rid of it! I generally eat around 1,600 - 1,800 calories, and I go to the gym (about three times a week) and I usually burn about 600 calories on the elliptical everytime. I am pretty health conscious for the most part (I follow the Common Sense Diet where I avoid the foods that I know I should not be eating), and I am pretty active throughout the day. However, I have not seen any results especially after I've begun working out since the beginning of July. All I can think about lately is getting rid of this nasty weight that I've gained. I feel uncomfortable in this body, and I am absolutely determined to lose the fifteen pounds before September. Is there any advice you guys could give me?

We need your stats (age, height, current weight) in order to give you any info! 

Just a little FYI: if you`re going by the elliptical`s calorie burn estimation, those tend to be pretty generous. A heart rate monitor is spot on accurate, but CC`s activity calculator will usually come close enough.

I am in the exact same position as you! One year killed me, and I need to get going in losing weight and having a better year next year...

Good luck!

I'd say try changing up your workout plan because if you keep doing the same exercise your body gets used to it and you grow no new muscle (which is what really burns fat) Maybe try running one day on a treadmil or stair steppers instead of the ellipticle . Also add in some weight training, if you already aren't...If you already do weight training try really pushing yourself (not too much you don't want to get hurt). With the weight training try focusing on your legs more than anything else, they are one of the largest muscles in your body if you build those muscles you gain more muscle per workout than you would just focusing on arms/abs/chest like a lot of people do.

Other than that stuff stick too it, and if your calculations are correct and your counting your calories correctly you should definately start to see results.

are you eating back your calories from working out? if not, on days you work out you could be eating 1000-1200 calories which is too low especially if you're generally active

thanks for all the suggestions so far!

i am a 19 years old female. 5'4 and 140 pounds.

i definitely agree with veritas389 because i usually just stick to the elliptical. and i don't generally eat back my calories from working out. i try to stick to eating 1,600 calories everyday. thank you so much guys!

I would up your calories.  You are still technically growing, so I would eat something more like 1700-1800 calories and see what that gets you.

I definitely agree with veritas...you should change up your workout and add weight training!  That should get your weight moving off of you.  Also, you could try HIIT (high intensity interval training) or even just interval training...do a search for it in the forums, and you will find a lot of info.  It would definitely change up your cardio and get your body to burn some fat!

Good luck!

Edited to fix a sentence

you need to eat back your calories to probably at least 1500. I was eating 1200 a day this past year and burned about 300 during a workout so my net intake was 800 I'm pretty sure this threw me into slowed metabolism after a few weeks. Your NET intake should be maybe 1700 on average otherwise you'll starve yourself a bit. good luck