Ok what am I doing wrong?

[RoadRaven]

Just make sure you eat 5 to 8 servings a day of fresh fruit and veggies - frozen counts, canned doesn't, fresh is best.

Why doesn't canned fruit count?

[Technotart]

Canned doesnt count because it is boiled - which removes a large part of the nutrients and leaves behind mostly sugar...

[RoadRaven]

Ah, ok.
Thanks.
I thought the fruit here at the local cannery was processed so quickly the nutrients were mostly still there --- research on the way methinks

[Technotart]

That and they add things like fructose and other things - even when packed in juice, along with various preservatives.

[newrider]

The book that helped me change my metabolism was The New Fit or Fat, by Covert Bailey. I was surprised at how gently I needed to exercise to keep it aerobic, rather than exercising beyond 60-85% of my maximum heart rate and having it become anaerobic exercise. Exercising in the 60-85% range is what burns fat, and above that builds muscle (but doesn't do much to burn fat). It's surprisingly easy to overexercise, and build muscle but not change metabolism and lose fat.

He's all about decreasing fat consumption, which can only be stored as fat; and aerobic exercise that changes metabolism, so we burn fat (and everything else) more efficiently. I dropped 30 pounds over the course of a year walking ala Covert Bailey. Am taking up cycling to alternate with walking, and looking forward to long adventures on a new road bike soon. The good thing is, it's a lifestyle change: reducing fat consumption, increasing aerobic exercise, something I can keep doing and feel good at, rather than a diet I suck at sometimes, and gain weight back again when I go off.

Just what is working for me!

[Technotart]

Sounds like one I need to read - I think thats the biggest part of my issue - I eat just fine for the most part - occasional dives into the bit of junk food, and I ride or workout a lot, but I think I am doing exactly what you desscribe - building muscle instead of burning fat - I have lots of new muscle to show, but I am not thinner!!!

[newrider]

If you don't already have a heart rate monitor, it's a very useful tool/toy for keeping tabs on your heart rate during exercise.

And great therapy, too. When a lot of life is out of control , I can go out and control my HEART RATE for an hour or so. Tell me that's not powerful!!!!