I need advice!!!

I am currently 170 lbs, 5'6" and i want to reach a weight of 125.  I have tried dieting, I have been going to the gym now since january, working my butt off on the eliptical and treadmill along with light weight training.  I have seen NO difference whatsoever. I am beyond frustrated and don't know what to do.  Any one have some advice??

we need more info

How much are you eating? how much do you exercise?

Read some of the older posts, many have the same problem you do.  Usually they aren't eating enough to fuel their workouts. 

i am eating roughly 2000 calories a day, give or take a few, and a typical day at the gym for me is about 2 and a half hours.  1 hour - 1 hour 30 mins running on the treadmill at 5 mph, and the rest of the time doing light weight training (low weight high reps to tone)

* i go to the gym 3-4 times a week

Low weight high reps does not tone... that is a myth. You need to do 8 - 12 reps with heavier weight to tone up. Anything more does nothing but build endurance.

You should also take up doing HIIT instead of wasting an hour and 30 min on a treadmill. Running/Jogging that long really is not the efficient way to burn fat, only calories, and even that will not burn as many calories as a 30 min session of HIIT.

You should definitely never spend more than an hour in the gym. Doing any more is probably getting around the point you are burning muscle for energy.

Have you used the calorie count tools that help you figure out how many calories to consume, based on how active you are, your body type, and goal date?

Go to Tools, then calorie target, and answer the questions.

Also, I'll put in a quick note that you may find 125 to be too aggressive a goal.  I'm not sure because I'm not looking at a height by weight guide-but I am 5' 4" and considered a small frame, and I use to weigh 130.  At that weight I was very thin.  You're taller than me-so that will be very thin.  I know it's all individualized and based on frame, and BMIs, etc, so who knows!  But just be sure you check the healthy weight guidelines and make sure your goal is safe.

Original Post by skaredsic:

Low weight high reps does not tone... that is a myth. You need to do 8 - 12 reps with heavier weight to tone up. Anything more does nothing but build endurance.

You should also take up doing HIIT instead of wasting an hour and 30 min on a treadmill. Running/Jogging that long really is not the efficient way to burn fat, only calories, and even that will not burn as many calories as a 30 min session of HIIT.

You should definitely never spend more than an hour in the gym. Doing any more is probably getting around the point you are burning muscle for energy.

 This person is giving excellent advice, and I would recommend following it.

Have you check to make sure you have a reachable goal as far as weight? Just checking.

Next play with your cal. intake, your body might want more some days and other days less. Listen to what your body is telling you. I am not one to say 'EAT MORE YOUR STARVING' but I am the first to say mix it up and be sure.

Also, maybe get a trainer to help you out.

Check with your doc. have blood work there could be something going on.

Good Luck

 

I am 5' 5.5" and I weigh 138.4 currently.  I am trying to get down to 130ish. I am eating about 1500 cals per day and doing circuit training 3 days a week; currently using between 8 and 15lbs depending on the exercise. 

My suggestion would be to drop your calorie intake slightly and increase the weights.  You may be eating too much, especially if you have a desk job like me.  A year ago May I was down to 127 for my wedding.  I had lost 20 lbs for my wedding.  I gained a lot of it back afterwards because of my own lazy behavior and love of wine, but I'm back at it again now.  I just want you to know that it is possible (if hard to maintain in my case ).

I liked this tool for determining the calories you should be eating to maximize your fat burn: http://www.phord.com/cc/index.php.

Wow! That too for how many calories you need to burn is cool. Thanks for the tools.