Suggestions on changing my workout . . .

Hi,   I was hoping for some suggestions on how to change up my exercise routine.  I have been doing 25 minutes of cardio 7 days a week with weight training about 3 of those days for about 6 weeks. 

To be specific, I warm up on an elliptical for 3 minutes, then move to the treadmill for the 25 minutes at 3.5% incline and walkiing at 3.5-4 speed the cooldown is included for 5 of those minutes.

With the weights, there are 8 machines that I use and complete 3 sets of 12-15 reps.  The weight varies slightly within 10 pounds or so.

I have been lossing slower than most, but am commited to the workout everyday.  I had read that changing your routine can help with stalls and I need some help, lol.

Thanks for the suggestions, looking forward to them!

Shell

More cardio at a higher intensity if you can.
Even if it is just adding in a couple sessions of a few seconds where you increase your speed.

You know even though we have had surgery it still all boils down to calories in and calories out.
I'd keep doing the weights, just add some more cardio.  Maybe throw in a stationary bike as well.

If you increase the intensity then you should also add a rest day in there, so that you can properly recover.

I'm not sure what 3.5-4mph is like for you, people have different leg lengths, different abilities etc, but that is a determined walk speed for me.  It's not really a run for me until I get past the 5 mph mark then it becomes a jog and at about 6 it starts to be a run.  Others are faster and my run may be a jog for them.  What I'm getting at is you want to be breaking a sweat if you can.  Run/jog/fast walk some intervals.  set your walk speed at the fastest speed you can walk without it being a run.  Then throw in some sessions of run, with recovery walk breaks.

Check out the couch to 5k program http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
You can apply this to any aerobic type of activity, you could do it on the elliptical, on a stationary bike or on the treadmill or outside. 

Thanks a lot for the info.  Yes, my inseam is pretty short, so 5 mph is running for me.  I am going to add the bike today as well as the interval training you suggested.  I walked next to someone like you yesterday, he jogged at 5.5 for 25 minutes---I would be in an all out full run at that speed.

I agree about the surgery, what a great tool, but you still have to work very hard and I am not afraid of that----I really need to get healthy!

Thanks again, and I'll keep you posted,
Shelly

I agree that you need more cardio. My program recommends working 4-5x a week for 45 min. and that you do two strength workouts and two cardio.

Definitely you have to change things because your body gets good at whatever you are doing and now it's not as much work. If it's not as much work, you don't burn as many calories.

There are two ways to change it up:

1) do something different
2) do the same thing only more

If you like your workout routine, then (2) is the best. You do "more" in one of two ways. You can increase the time. You can increase the intensity. You could even do both. So doing cardio for 45 min instead of 25 would work as would doing it for 25 min. but at a faster speed.