Workouts - when do you start seeing results?

[ChrisnSteph]

I've been working out for about 3 weeks. I even meet with a trainer once a week. I do cardio for 30-35 minutes 4 times a week, plus do weight/machine/ball work. When the heck am I going to start noticing a difference? Shouldn't my bum be a little firmer by now, or my abs a little more defined? I don't see anything different. It's really discouraging. I'm so not a patient person!

 

[ZuZugal]

I'm right there with you. I'm ready to see some results too.
I do the elliptical 4 x a week for 40 min.
abs class 3x a week for 30 mi
bodyworks class 1x a week for 1hr

I was hoping to be a big loser....but gained a pound instead!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Did you take measurements? There may be changes that you can't see yet. That said, 3 weeks is a VERY SHORT amount of time to see changes unless you are considerably overweight.

Most plans go for 12 - 16 weeks at a time...

My guess is that at about 6 - 8 weeks you will see visible changes, as opposed to just tape measure changes.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Visual difference: it took about a month

Physical difference: heck I felt a difference immediately. My trainer is a butt-kicker.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I'm right there with you. I'm ready to see some results too.
I do the elliptical 4 x a week for 40 min.
abs class 3x a week for 30 mi
bodyworks class 1x a week for 1hr

I was hoping to be a big loser....but gained a pound instead!

Yep... totally expected and acceptable.. your fat is turning into muscle, and muscle is heavier than fat. At some point it will start a changeover to weight loss as you become leaner and meaner. When will that be? Hard to say, but it will happen as long as your diet is right.

Good luck to all!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Well, I feel a little more encouraged now. I hate working out, but I do feel so good after I leave the gym. I want to be bathing suit ready by the end of May, so I'm working really hard! Ok, time to get off my butt and go to the gym!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I worked out 3-4 times a week from early last March until our WDW trip in July. I did firm up, but did not lose any weight. In fact, I lost all motivation after that. Now I have decided to start nutrisystem so I can lose some weight. Hopefully the kids' schedules will lighten up so I can go back to the gym too.
Robin M.

 

[Soubrette]

Yep... totally expected and acceptable.. your fat is turning into muscle, and muscle is heavier than fat. At some point it will start a changeover to weight loss as you become leaner and meaner. When will that be? Hard to say, but it will happen as long as your diet is right.
Good luck to all!

Actually, fat doesn't turn into muscle. They are two different things. When you exercise you build muscle which weighs more than fat. But the more you increase muscle mass, the more you speed up your metabolism, thus are more likely to lose fat.

When I started working out reguarly, I tried to quantify my "results" in increased energy and how good I felt. It wasn't really until 2 months in that I started to notice visible changes.

 

[sweet angel]

Up until this month, I was hitting the gym faithfully 4-5 times per week. Elliptical or treadmill for 40 minutes each day, plus another 30-40 minutes of weight machines. I've lost 10 pounds...no inches...don't look any firmer. You really wanna talk about frustrated? My blood pressure is way down though.

I just ordered Slim in 6. Hopefully I can start that next weekend, and use it for the days that I don't feel like going to the gym.

 

[momof2inPA]

It depends. With heavier weights, you'll notice bulk more quickly, and it depends how lean you are to start out. At two months, you should see some results.

 

[sweet angel]

It depends. With heavier weights, you'll notice bulk more quickly, and it depends how lean you are to start out. At two months, you should see some results.

Yeah...I'm not lean. Unless lean = fat. I've notice that I see more of a change (in my arms, at least) since I lightened the weights and added reps.

 

[terryX]

I've been working out for about 3 weeks. I even meet with a trainer once a week. I do cardio for 30-35 minutes 4 times a week, plus do weight/machine/ball work. When the heck am I going to start noticing a difference? Shouldn't my bum be a little firmer by now, or my abs a little more defined? I don't see anything different. It's really discouraging. I'm so not a patient person!

I would say that 80% of your results are due to your DIET!

 

[momof2inPA]

I'm right there with you. I'm ready to see some results too.
I do the elliptical 4 x a week for 40 min.
abs class 3x a week for 30 mi
bodyworks class 1x a week for 1hr

I was hoping to be a big loser....but gained a pound instead!

Add some weights to your routines-- at least three times per week.

 

[FluffyPumpkin78]

It depends on a few things...

How much weight do you need to lose to begin with, your body shape, where you lose weight.

Also, exercise alone is not usually enough either. You need to make sure your not taking more calories in than your burning.

 

[momof2inPA]

Yeah...I'm not lean. Unless lean = fat. I've notice that I see more of a change (in my arms, at least) since I lightened the weights and added reps.

I do heavy weights, low reps (8-12), like a guy. Light weights/more reps takes too much time. At the gym, I do about 1 1/2 hours of weights and abs(including back exercises) and 1/2 hour of cardio, five days per week. I could see results after about 6 weeks.

 

[JunieJay]

I worked out 3-4 times a week from early last March until our WDW trip in July. I did firm up, but did not lose any weight. In fact, I lost all motivation after that. Now I have decided to start nutrisystem so I can lose some weight. Hopefully the kids' schedules will lighten up so I can go back to the gym too.
Robin M.

I'm not sure how old you are, but ever since I turned 40 I have to do both strength training AND aerobics AND diet in order to look good. It sucks, quite frankly, but there you have it. One without the other two will not work.

 

[grlpwrd]

I've been working out for about 3 weeks. I even meet with a trainer once a week. I do cardio for 30-35 minutes 4 times a week, plus do weight/machine/ball work. When the heck am I going to start noticing a difference? Shouldn't my bum be a little firmer by now, or my abs a little more defined? I don't see anything different. It's really discouraging. I'm so not a patient person!

I think it has a lot to do with how much time you spend doing cardio, strength, stretching, etc. and yes, diet does matter. More strength training, I think, will yield better results and you also have to mix it up (rotate) your workouts still.

Are you getting enough protein in? This makes a big difference if you're trying to build and firm.

Oh, and it usually takes about 6 weeks to notice some change.

 

[Mermaid02]

I have been using our elliptical for over a month (every freaking day- I'm up to an hour at a time) and I haven't noticed a visible difference yet BUT I am wearing a pair of jeans that haven't fit in 3 years and people at work have noticed a difference in my appearance. I bet there's more of a difference than you think!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Actually, fat doesn't turn into muscle. They are two different things. When you exercise you build muscle which weighs more than fat. But the more you increase muscle mass, the more you speed up your metabolism, thus are more likely to lose fat.

When I started working out reguarly, I tried to quantify my "results" in increased energy and how good I felt. It wasn't really until 2 months in that I started to notice visible changes.

Ok, you are correct. I meant muscle was replacing fat.

 

[deekaypee]

Congratulations on your successes so far. Like PPs have said, I'll bet your progress is more noticeable to others than to you. And ITA with what all the PPs said 1) about such changes taking time, 2) about measuring your progress by other means--measurement, blood pressure, stamina, even your mood--and 3) about paying attention to what your exercise routine is and what you're eating.

But I'd also like to invite you to join us over on the WISH boards, if you haven't already. You'll get lots of encouragement, tips, and camraderie!