Does any one know how long after you actually burn calories that it takes to show up on the scale? I am finding that it is taking a few days, and it is a lot one time and a little the next...

How many days should you rest between workouts? I am having a harder time when I do consequtive days. My muscles feel sore and the workout is much harder. Should I be alternating?

Do low cal drinks, like Crystal Light, hinder progress? I think it is easier to get all my water intake if I alternate with water and CL. What do you think?

Any help is appreciated and thanks in advance!

By the way, I weighed 192.5 this a.m. Can't wait to see the 180's!!!!

Well, after I run, I usually weigh about the same as when I got up, even though I've had breakfast. If you're tired and sore, don't work out every day. Doing something EVERY day is a plan I've just worked up to - and I vary it between incline speed walking, weights, and running. I think it depends on what you're doing, and at what intensity.

As for Crystal Light - I've used this since almost the start of my weight loss. After a couple of weeks, I halved the suggested mix - so two singles in two liters of water instead of one in 500ml. NOW (as of Jan1st) I've halved it again - one single in 2 liters of water - that took some getting used to, but now I like it. Just enough flavour to make me drink it, while knowing I'm getting more water than CL

Good luck!

First, good luck on your weight loss journey! You can do it!

As for your questions...

Just burning calories doesn't help if you aren't lowering your calorie intake, too. You have to cut back by 3500 calories to lose a pound a week. Your body naturally burns calories just sitting there. So, if you need 2000 calories to maintain your current weight, then you need to cut back by 500 a day to lose a pound. So, you can either eat 1500 or eat 1800 and exercise to burn the other 300 away each day. If you want to lose two pounds in a week, then you should drop your weekly calories by 7000, or 1000 a day. So, if you need 2000 calories to maintain your weight, then you can drop it down to 1300 calories and day and burn off the other 300 with exercise. Ahh, math... Then again, this is the way it is supposed to be. Sometimes our bodies think differently. So, just because you burn 300 calories today, doesn't mean you'll see a pound gone tomorrow on the scale. My weight goes up and down each day. Sometimes I'll be the same for three days in a row, sometimes I'll be down two, then up one, then down three, then up one, then up three. Just depends. The trick is to weigh yourself once a week at the same time on the same day in the same clothes (or naked). ;-)

I walk or do some sort of cardio every day, but I only do strength training every other day. It gives my muscles time to rest in between.

I am currently trying to eat about 1500 cal a day, and burning about 500 every other, sometimes 600. It depends because sometimes I go to the gym 4 in a row...But my BMR is about 2050. So this should be effective. I need some more time I guess to see how my body adjusts. Thanks for the great advice ladies! I love crystal light, I will try to cut it down!