I have been working out for a yr and a half now and I weight more now than I did when I started working out. I am frustrated and depressed that despite everything I do and how much I watch what I eat I can't loose weight. Now I can't find jeans that fit! I try on a size 8 and my thighs are so big from the muscle (and fat) that they are so tight! Not to mention that I have a butt now it can be hard to fit pants that don't look like a thong going into the crack! These pants can be big in the waist and too long! I am so sick of not finding pants that fit! Does anyone else have this problem since they began working out hard core? I just want to fit into cute clothes and not be embarresed about my new J-Lo booty...

Tell us what you're eating. If your thighs are fat and not heavenly muscular ... we'll probably be able to help.

Susan: This is what I eat in a typical day...

7:15am- 1/2c egg beaters w/ 2 slices of f.f deli turkey breast diced and mixed in w/ egg beaters, 1 med piece fruit (apple, orange or peach).

10:45am- 6oz low carb yogurt (80cal, 1.5g fat, 4g carb, 12g protein).

2:00pm- 10oz lean cuisine meal (between 150-250c, try to get the low carb line)

4:00pm- 1/2c f.f cottage cheese with berries mixed in (100cal, 10g carb, 12g protein)

7:30pm- chicken and vegi stir fry with 1/3c cooked barley (I use barley instead of rice now since it is better for you and has a lower GI index rating). I also make my own low cal stir fry sauce.

8:45pm- hunt's sugar free jello snack (5cal, 2g carb).

I don't know what else to do to get this weight off. I am at my witts end!

What kind of weight are we talkin' here? And how tall are you?
How many calories is that ???

I had a friend who had been in the marines and worked out alot. She was in the situation you're describing. To get pants that fit her thighs and butt they would be too big in the waist. May I suggest you 1) Be happy that you have a little waist 2) Get a few good pairs of jeans that you REALLY like that fit your legs and butt well. Don't worry about what the tag says as far as size, just find ones that look good, and 3)take them to a tailor. They can bring in the waist so the fit you like a glove all over. You'll be able to show off your muscular thighs and butt from all that hard work without worrying about the gaping waistband.

SusanB:

I am about 5'5 and around 145lbs (I don't weigh myself b/c I am worried that I will drive myself totally crazy with #'s, so I go by how my clothes fit). I try to keep my calories between 1200-1400 per day trying my hardest never to go over 1600. I workout 5-6 days per week doing 1hr kickboxing class, 1hr step class, 1 1/2hr weight training class and 1 1/2 hr boot camp class and I also have a yoga practice at home. I also run a couple days a week about 2-3 miles. So I workout all the time and I make smart healthy choices about what I eat so I can't figure out why my weight is stuck...

Another little footnote about those classes. I do each one of those each week. So step is on Tues, boxing on Wed, yoga on thurs, step on fri, weights on Sat and boot camp on sun...

I'm not real excited about those lean cuisine things. I'm kind of a whole, natural food nut.
What's your protein percentage?

I'd say anywhere between 60-90g per day. On some days I'm sure it's higher. Everytime I eat I try to combine a protein and a carb.

Maybe see if you can up that protein. What about vegetables?

I would guess that with your activity level, that your weight is stuck because you are not eating enough.

Cut out the Lean Cuisine (all processed, hardly any nutrition left junk) and make a huge salad. You are not getting nearly enough veggies in your day. You need to eat real life food, and less processed.

I also don't see much fat. Too much fat free stuff is really bad for you. You have to remember that fat is not the enemy, and America has become even fatter since all the *fat free* foods have come out.

Fat free does not mean calorie free, and most fat free foods have nearly the same, or the same calories as the *real* food.

I'd add some good fats, like Olive Oil. A good way to do that is on that salad I spoke of above. ;o)

Thanks all for the comments and opinions. I will begin to add some olive oil into my cooking. I always use Pam spray but maybe a little oil will help. Thanks again!