What am I doing wrong in my exerise/weight loss attempts?

[Anonymous]

I use an old app called tap and track. Don't use burned calories---just the ones you start out with. That way, you have some leeway if you misjudge portions. Look to lift heavy 3 days a week. Do some sort of interval workout 2days a week, and take a nice 4-5 mile hike or 25+ mile bike ride one weekend day---the rails to trails in your area are glorious. Just watch out for the idiot Greg Lemond wanna bes in spandex.

You need to move your attitude to this is how I live now---if you have kids, get them out there with you. Get a good jogging stroller if they're under 5. If they're older, they can run/hike/bike along with you. The bike trailer works wonders. The kids DO NOT need a million planned activities. Trust me.

This way, you will end up with active, happy, skinny kids and you too will change your lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consider swapping a few treadmill days with yoga or pilates. Both of these will increase your strength, as well as your flexibility. And help prevent injury. Stronger muscles burn more calories at rest, so they are worth it.

As for diet... different things work for different people.

I find it easier to control my appetite if I don't eat many carbs. My sweet tooth subsides if I stay away from sweets and treat fruit as a dessert. If you can manage to slowly shrink your portions, your appetite will also slowly shrink. (Or in my case, get horribly sick--to the point of being unable to eat--for a week to reset your appetite; but I don't recommend or wish that on anyone.) I'm also in the camp of whole dairy is better for you than fat-free.

Eat as many veggies as you'd like. All meals and snacks should have fiber, protein and good fats.

and if after tracking your calories for a few weeks, you find that the math isn't adding up right, get your thyroid function tested.

I second the rec for yoga or pilates. They are actually a form of strength training, but I enjoy yoga much more than lifting weights. A good flow class will also get your heartrate up.

You can still "splurge" on the weekends--but make sure you know just how much you're splurging. It's not a free pass to just eat whatever you want. Have a few treats, yes, but don't let your weekday diet just go to hell on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

You need to strength train! Walking on the treadmill is nice, but you need to add muscle. If you add muscle, it will naturally increase your metabolism and you will burn more fat. Even if you wind up gaining a few pounds from adding muscle, you will look a lot leaner.

Strength train first. Then after your weight workout, do some cardio. Not 90 minutes of walking. Since you enjoy walking, how about trying the Couch to 5K program which will work you gradually up to running 3.1 miles? You will burn some calories and help your heart but it will also leave you time for strength training.

I also think that if you are an otherwise normally active person of normal height and you are walking 90 minutes a day, then 1500 calories a day is on the low side. I think you could and should probably eat more calories than that. Too few calories are a terrible idea because it sets your body up for thinking it is starving. Add some healthful calories, focusing on veggies and protein. If you went up to 1800 daily, every day, and added strength training, I think it would make a big difference.

Good luck!