know why, or have suggestions, of why these lbs arent coming off?

Hi guys,

First, I'm pretty sure I need to change my routine. Maybe that will help me lose a few extra pounds. I'm not a big girl. I'm at the mid/high range of normal. I'd love, like everyone, to knock off those few pesky pounds before beach time. -- A month.

No, I haven't just started dieting. I'm always working out and eating my best. I work cardio 40-60 minutes a day.. and walk to work, 40 mins. However, since I'm a student and I work, I'm usually eating fruit, nuts and granola bars. And a coffee in the morning. 

As for working out for th next few days.. I'm cycling tonight, taking this weekend off due to the work/packing/baseball game, next week, I'll run and walk outside (30-45 mins) and ride by bike to work and around town. Then at the end of next week my sister is visiting, so taking that off.. then I'll be back to my days at the gym. 

So I was just hoping someone could give me some ideas of why I haven't been able to lose any weight, nor tone up. Thanks

Losing weight depends on you consuming slightly fewer calories (less energy) than you use up.  So you need to know two things.... 1.. how many calories you typically use up each day and 2.... how many calories you're eating.  

If you're over 21, use the CC calculator to work our your energy needs and set yourself an activity level of 'moderate' to reflect the workouts and the walking.  If you're under 21 this site is more appropriate..... http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html.... read off the number next to 'moderate' activity and deduct 500-700 cals for your weight-loss intake target.

Next step use the CC food log to keep an accurate record of what you eat.  Fruit, nuts and granola bars are OK in moderate amounts but you also need wholegrain foods, meat/fish/beans/eggs, oils, vegetables, salads, dairy products.... as big a range as possible.  Nuts and granola bars can be deceptively calorific.  Weigh and measure your foods rather than guessing or relying on packet/restaurant information too often.  You have to be accurate if you're already a healthy weight for your height.

NB... Eating too much is the usual reason for not losing weight.  However,  eating much too little (crash dieting) can be counterproductive in other ways.   So find a good balance, a sensible target and take it from there.

Good luck!

First thing you have to know is what is your average caloire intake versus your average calorie burn.  Without some amount of a calorie defecit, you will not lose weight.

Second, don't focus on weight loss but on FAT loss.  Maybe to kickstart your fat loss, switch out some of your aerobic workouts and start a weight lifting routine and not some namby-pamby 3-5 pound weights but as much as you can lift with good form.  Focus on multi-joint exercise that work the major muscle groups such as squats, lunges.  Bunch of people will give you more info in the fitness forum.

Are you counting calories? I know that before I started counting, I'd go to the gym, but felt like that gave me permission to eat more - and I was already eating too much!

Also, if you are already at a healthy weight, fat loss is going to be slow.

And lastly, if you want to "tone up," lifting weights is going to help a lot - lift heavy (relative to you) and don't be afraid of the free weights. If you have a gym, ask a trainer to show you some different exercises, like deadlifts, squats, lunges, stepups, shoulder press, rows, pullups, and pushups or bench press.

Have you done any weight training?   It sounds like you're pretty active, but weight training is probably one of the best things you can do to tone up and lose weight.  It builds muscle, which raises your metabolism.  On the front end, 20 minutes of weight training doesn't burn as many calories as 20 minutes of cardio, but on the back end, long term, the benefits are amazing.

Hey, thanks guys. 

I'll keep it up. 

Sounds like you have the same problem I have.  Not sure if other posters mentioned this but I am not eating ENOUGH calories based on my activity level etc.  For example, I'm 5'2, 129 lbs and I eat about 1200 cals/day.  I workout with cardio and weights.  My clothes do fit better, I look better but weight wise - no change.  I took a look at how much calories I should be taking in based on activity level and it is NO WHERE NEAR what I'm eating.  I need about400- 600 more cals/day.  Check out the calculators here on the site.  Hopefully that helps.