Help! I'm exercising and still not losing weight!

Question: I exercise 1/2 hour every morning on the elliptical and 1/2 hour on the treadmill yet my weight doesn't come down. What am I doing wrong?

Dr. Tsai: First, you should congratulate yourself for exercising a total of 60 minutes every day! You are exercising your heart and other muscles. You are probably also reducing your fat stores and building up muscle. Keep in mind that muscle is heavier than fat, so your weight may not be changing but your body composition is becoming healthier.

To lose weight, you need to increase the calories you are burning or reduce your caloric intake. You may need to intensify or prolong your daily workout. Try increasing your speed on the treadmill to allow you to obtain more of a workout within the same amount of time. You should also keep a food diary for a few days to determine what, how much, where, and when you eat and drink. You may discover hidden sources of extra calories that are sabotaging your efforts to lose weight such as the afternoon latte or stress-induced eating. Both diet and exercise are important factors in achieving weight loss.