Why hasn't my increased activity led to weight loss?

Q. I have a new job. I am constantly moving around and pretty much on my feet all day. I am a lot more active than before, but it hasn't resulted in any weight loss. My diet has not changed. What's the deal?

A. It surely sounds like you are more active at work. But you might only be burning slightly more calories over a full day. You need to consider whether your activities before and after work have changed. For example, do you need to walk a shorter distance now to get to your new job than you did before? Are you so tired when you get home, you are not as physically active?

To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you take in.

Here is a great way to start on your path to weight loss. Cut out all simple sugars from your diet. And set aside at least 30 minutes most days of the week for moderate-intensity exercise.

If you haven't exercised in a while, start low and go slow. This means just do some walking, or ride a stationary bike with little tension. Start out for 10 to 15 minutes and build up to 30 minutes.

Then, increase your pace of walking or break into a jog. If you chose the bike, start adding more tension to the wheel and spin faster. Ideally, you want to get to 45 to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.

Be patient. The pounds won't drop off quickly. If you are not losing weight as you had hoped, you are still taking in too many calories. Pick a couple of high-calorie items to eliminate every day. Or you may be someone that does better with calorie counting.

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