I have a situation that I am hoping to get some advice on. Here's the "skinny". I am 25 years old and have been working out for about 2 and a half years. I lift weights 3 days a week and hard cardio 3 to 4 days a week. I do not eat red meat or pork and keep daily caloric intake around 1200 to 1800. Yet I still have a chuncky belly and a stubborn layer of fat all over, which is disappointing now that I have some real muscle going for me. I only weigh between 130 and 135, but I have a very small bone frame and I'm on the "heavy side" of my healthy weight range. Thermogenics have zero effect and I'm stumped. Any thoughts?

Ok are you eating at least 5-6 meals per day? How is your carb intake? Are you drinking enough water?

I eat something about every 2 hours. I drink between 100 and 150 oz of water every day. I stay away from sugars, breads and pastas, so carb intake is at a minimum, unless before and after lifting. (Even then I keep it below 50g with shakes) Im really in the best shape I have ever been in. Now, I'm pretty sure I have a low-ish metabolism by heredity - though it used to be ridiculously high - and I know being female counts against me, but as far as I know... Im doing everything right.

You may not be taking in enough calories. If your burning 500-600 calories a day and your only taking in 1200 or so, your body may thinks its starving and it will hold onto the fat it has and burn muscle insted.

It sounds like your exercising enough. What I suggest is that you keep a record for a 2 weeks of everything you eat (Including amount) and when you eat it. If you like you can send it to me and I can have a nutritionist take a look at it, or if you know one yourself, show it to them, see what they have to say.

I have been keeping track for over a year. I started when I was changing eating habits for allergy reasons. I'm a lot more likely to be careful if I have to keep record of it, so it's just habit now. If you know a nutritionist, I'll take you up on that offer.

Your diet looks good. What time of the day do you do cardio? I suggest as soon as you wake up. Also don't eat anything 3 hours prior to bed. What kind of thermogenic did you go on? I suggest a ECA stack.

I workout after work. I get up too early to do it before. I don't eat anything before bed and I have tried several types of thermogenics. Hydroxycut, Twinlabs Diet Fuel, several others I can't recall... The side effects aren't worth trying new kinds to me. All they do is make me edgy. Same ingredients, different mixtures. I am starting to think I am just broken?

My only suggestion is to try it in the morning.....