I have recently become motivated to work out. I go to the gym 5 days a week. I spend 45 minutes on cardio (elliptical, walking and running) 45 minutes on weight machines and take an ab class 2 days a week.

This is a huge change from the sitting around and eating I did up to this point.


But I haven't seen any effects yet! I'm starting to get frustrated. I know it takes time, but can I get a sign?


Have you seen this problem before?

When you first start exercising, you're turning fat into muscle, which weighs more. So you can even likely gain. I gained 5 pounds the first 3 weeks I began exercising. It wasn't until the 4th week that my weight started to go down. You might also benefit from taking measurements. Because while you won't see the difference in weight as quickly, you might see it in your measurements.

How recently is recently?

Things take time. We live in this culture of instant gratification and tend to expect things to change overnight. One good thing I've found is to take pictures. You see yourself everyday and might not notice subtle changes, but they jump out at you in photographs. Not to often, but I find I can see the differences if I compare pics from every month or so.

It's great that you're exercising, but unless your diet is where needs to be your progress will be hindered. This I say from personal experience. For years I have lifted, cardioed like crazy, but didn't get what I wanted from it. Mostly because my diet wasn't great.

Keep on working you will see results.