workout frustration - any tips?

[chocolate_and_controversy]

I've been working out since January, trying to lose about 7 pounds that I gained a few years back when I started a new medicine, and just generally slim down. Every time I look in the mirror I'm a "before," not an after, and I'm sick of being flabby and jiggly. I've been eating right, drinking tons of water and working out regularly for 7 months, and all that's happened is that I've bulked up! I hate the way defined muscles look on anyone, and even bigger, bulkier thighs were the LAST thing I wanted. Now my thighs and lower abs are even bigger than when I started, my clothes look and fit even worse, and somehow those areas are STILL jiggly! I can feel muscle there, it's like there's a thick layer of muscle underneath the layer of fat, and the fat just won't come off.

I know it's supposed to take 12 weeks before exercising makes a really noticeable change, but after 7 months, I'm getting really depressed. Do any of the girls out there know how to get slimmer thighs - SLIM, not muscle-y or bulky or thick - and toned butt/abs without the f***ing bulk? (I don't want to look like a freaking Nike ad!) Thank you in advance to anyone who can help.

[Melbourne Clique]

If you're not losing weight you've been eating too much (despite a healthy/balanced diet)... cut down on your portion sizes.

[Avadore]

You can't spot treat with weight loss unless you are strength training, but it seems that you don't want to add muscle, correct?
Do you know how many calories you are consuming daily? Do you know how many calories you are burning?

[Haole]

First, do not get bummed and discouraged.

Different people have differing body types and metabolisms inherently. You may never have the kind of body you ultimately want no matter what you do but you are obviously wanting to optimize your energy into desired returns. This potentially isn't something that one can just do on their own in many cases.

Sounds like you're doing too much anaerobic-oriented strength training but you weren't clear in your post. As missbe1 suggested, try concentrating your training on prolonged cardio, high repetition and varied circuit training, etc. Something as simple as spinning at 90 RPM on a stationary bicycle for 30-40 minutes once a week while watching TV or listening to some of your favorite musical pump? Or start as a warm-up for 10 or 15 minutes before your preferred routine to get your juices flowing? Get your heart rate up to 75%-80% maximum and keep it there. One of the biggest stumbling blocks many people have is diet and it has a profound effect on results for any given training goals. Diet is a crucial part of any fitness regime. Things as simple as starting one's day with a high fibre, low fat breakfast, not eating anything at least two hours before one goes to bed, eating small "clean meals" throughout the day rather than three big squares, etc. can make a difference right off the bat. Stay away from fast/processed foods, anything with high fructose corn syrup in it, etc. Stripping glutinous foods from your diet (or exchanging "enriched white or wheat bread for spelt or kamut bread, white rice for brown and/or wild, etc.), if you haven't already, may certainly help. Things like learning to enjoy steamed green vegetables and a tin of sardines as a meal, learn about combining the right types of foods and their benefits. Incorporating Coconut/MCT/etc. oils into one's diet, investigating supplements like digestive enzymes and other supplements that optimize digestion and metabolic activity might be worth it, discontinuing use of certain foods altogether, really simple things can make all the difference as a start. Things like simple sugars are virtually never good as training aids, for instance. Caloric intake in relation to energy required/expended as Avadore mentioned should be a consideration and this does not necessarily mean having to eat "less" in terms of quantity. Different blood types respond to and/or react adversely to certain foods to a degree. Try to learn to listen to your body and what it tells you about what foods work for you and help you to perform better. Some people perform better at different times of the day, some better with music, appealing environment or lack thereof, silly little things or changes in such can really help sometimes. Stretching, yoga, even Pranayama/breathing exercises can be of great benefit.

Some of these suggestions may be out of the question, unrealistic, unsavory or uninteresting altogether but the moral of the story is to find what works for you.

Keep a diary and record all these seemingly irrelevant details (food eaten/type of workout done/duration & intensity/how you felt/etc., etc.) daily so you have a reference to look back on and review.

It might be worth getting a professional evaluation done, not only on your training regime and what you want to achieve with it but on your diet/food sensitivities/etc. and perhaps even join in on some boot camp/motivational group training sessions or something other than what you're doing now to find other methods you might enjoy to at least mix it up. When training becomes too repetitious and boring, results are sacrificed.

It's impossible to give advice over the internet not knowing you at all but stay positive, motivated and set realistic, incremental and longer-term goals! It really helps to make working out as fun as you can because if trying to attain your goals seems like work all the time it's just going to discourage you.

BTW, until recent years I was involved in a few sports at an advanced level throughout my life and was a professional endurance athlete for a number of years in my youth so I'm not talking out my ass here.

Good luck to you!