Why are my workouts not working?

Question

I do pilates about 4x a week for about 30 minutes and yoga for 20-30 minutes 4-5 times a week as well. I do cardo once a week as well (i have a fast metabolism, so i can't do cardio that often) I am still really skinny too. My diet is pretty good- i eat 4 fruits a day and 4-5 vegetables a day! My dinner is usually rice, chicken, and a salad. I eat apple and peanut butter and a banana and peanut butter. I will have eggs and turkey sausage. Im not eating anything bad.. so I am so confused. I have been really dedicated to my workouts too, since last June. I should be able to tone up from pilates.. so i dont get whats wrong. Its frustrating that im not seeing results. Any ideas? Should I increase my time to 45 minutes of pilates? Or? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!

kaylaS91 · Accepted Answer

You'll probably have to change up your workout, make it more intense in terms of core exercises. Seeing as how you're concerned that your fast metabolism makes it so that you can't even do any cardio, why are you having such a low calorie intake? Muscle is built from fat. If you eat pretty lean and low-calorie meals, your body will have not much energy/fat to build anything from.

Up your calorie intake, namely protein. Throw in some plank, hanging leg-lifts, leg raises, etc.. Yoga and pilates are both for toning and giving you a leaner look so doing both of them regularly is probably not going to get you any closer to what it sounds like you're going for.

lumos · Accepted Answer

To me it seems like your workout isn't intense enough and your diet isn't "big" enough. That kind of diet and training would only help someone lose weight, not tone up. If you want to tone up you need to eat more and lift weights etc.

InquisitiveMale · Accepted Answer

Most women need to be somewhere in the range of 15% for a toned stomach- 12%ish being completely ripped. Get down to an appropriate body fat percentage and then use resistance training to enhance and show your abs.

Given the right base, abs are the easiest thing in the world to achieve.
Given the wrong base, abs are quite literally impossible to achieve.

p. s. eat smart, not just healthy...

WeaponZero · Accepted Answer

There's no actual strength training in your regimen. You need ACTUAL strength training to build muscle. Also adding muscle requires a calorie surplus. It sounds like you're eating to lose weight and training to lose weight. Of course you won't tone up because that requires adding muscle to your body.

ichot · Answer

Are you doing your exercise at a high intensity?  How many full range leg raises can you do from a HANG?

nativepride73 · Answer

To build muscle you need to have more strength training in order to build up. Trying mixing up other workouts into your schedule so that your body can experience a change and result in more muscle development. Doing the same exercises everyday its only going to add to your muscle memory and stunt your ability to gain more muscle and tone up. Also, try running a bit more too, that will help a lot for you to tone up.

oldanddecrepid · Answer

Sometimes, we don't see the subtle differences in our bodies when we work-out but they are there!

If you were relatively skinny in the first place, then toning can take awhile. You should ask someone else to look at your body (boyfriend or girl-friend) and then get them to look again in two months. They can likely note the areas you have tightened-up better than you can.

Sometimes we look for huge improvements rather than just improvements period.

Shaft50 · Answer

I think you might have to change up your routine... keep your body guessing and do something different for a couple of months... weights, hiking, swimming, etc. I have a feeling that your body is becoming conditioned to the same exercises and because there is no change, there is no growth or development...

mishiii · Answer

Pardon my inquiry when you say your workouts are not working, what is your goal? What are you trying to do what are you aiming for

Zanecyber · Answer

what type of results are u wanting? if u want muscle and leaner, doing crunches and 20 mins of running isn't going to do anything for u, and lean meats proper protein to carb ratio, dont starveself that also isn't going to do anything,

Octavius · Answer

Are you trying to get toned muscle or what exactly are you after?

Hakkattack01 · Answer

Just keep at it hun! We all doubt our workouts at some point whether at the beginning or, half way through when the desired results a are not being achieved. Stay strong alliecheergirl123 ;-)

BelleGirl21 · Answer

Sounds like you need more protien and some heavy weights!

BoobMan · Answer

What results are you going for Allie? Hard to say what to change without knowing your goals and where you are against them.

orphan · Answer

your diet is nothing but sugar. if you're trying to burn fat then: fruit, peanut butter, and rice (white)... all bad.

RasAlGhul · Answer

So you objective its win some clean mass right? but stay lean? that hard too do.. the best way its get your hc ( more rice and chicken) if u want grow u have to eat more than u need

MrC63AMG · Answer

You need to work harder thats why the more u work harder the faster u see results

crazyperson19 · Answer

yes it sounds like it is. and it shows by your pictures

Anonymous · Answer

What are you trying to improve on? Just all around healthiness? Or are you trying to look better?

Anonymous · Answer

Some bodies, just aren't meant to be built, like chemically, they don't work that way

nevavanilla90 · Answer

Weight training and lifting will build your body

apple24 · Answer

maybe your not push as hard!

Shyguy_1988 · Answer

More strength training and protien?

Why are my workouts not working?

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