5 Reasons Your Workout Isnt Working

By Jessica Smith for Shape.com

Have you been working out consistently for months (maybe even years) and yet the scale is creeping up? Here are five ways your workout could be keeping you from losing weight, and what our experts recommend to start shedding pounds again.

5 Reasons Your Workout Isn't Working

5 Reasons Your Workout Isn't Working

1 of 5 Your Workout Routine Is Making You Eat Too Much Is your workout causing you to use the "I burned it, I earned it," excuse when it comes to your diet? "Studies show that people tend to eat more calories when they take up exercise," says Michele Olson, Ph.D., professor of exercise science at Auburn University Montgomery, and creator of the Perfect Legs, Glutes & Abs DVD. Think your 45-minute morning run was enough to burn off that slice of chocolate cake on the dessert menu? Consider this: the average, 140-pound woman burns about 476 calories (at a 10-minute mile pace) running for 45 minutes. The average restaurant dessert clocks in around 1,200 calories (or more), so even if you only eat half of a slice, you'd still easily eat away your run -- and then some -- in less than 10 minutes. The solution: Make your workouts count by pairing them with a healthy diet that stays within the appropriate calorie range your body needs in order to lose or maintain your weight. Olson recommends writing down what you are eating to keep track of calories consumed, and then subtracting the calories you burned, for your true daily number. More from Shape.com: Marisa Miller's Supermodel-Worthy Ab Workout Free Exercise Mix! Rev Up Your Workouts with this Playlist 7 Common Muscle Myths, Busted! Flickr photo by Michelle Tribe

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