overwhelmed by all the conflicting information out there

Keep doing what you're doing, if it is working. The amount of conflicting advice is staggering. I mostly ignore it in favor of a general calories in/calories out philosophy. It is hard to argue physics. Don't let the conflicting advice discourage you--that used to happen to me, and it makes it harder to stick with things that are working, even when you know they are working.

First of all if you like to run who the hell cares if it won't help you lose weight, do it cause you like to do it. And second of all I don't believe for one minute that it doesn't help you lose weight, your moving which ='s burning calories.
You have to find what works for you and stick to it. Don't worry about what others say or do, that's on them. When it stops working for you then you need to figure it out again. Mix it up, lower calorie intake, higher calorie intake, mix up your exercise routine add something or take away something.
You need to ignore most of what you read especially if they are trying to sell you something. It's their job to lie to you to get you to do what they want or purchase what they want you to purchase from them.

Don't try to read everything out there. It can get really confusing and just make you give up. If giving up isn't an option for you then do what works for you. Even asking questions on here wil get you the same results as the web, different answers based on what each on of us does that works for us. Just stick to what's working and I know you can do it.

Don't freak out. Some things work for some people and not for others. Unfortunately, a lot of it is trial and error to find what is right for you. Of course, people who have found what is right for them will shout it from the housetops that it is the ONLY way to do it and that all other ways are wrong...examples that I have seen: paleo diet, vegetarian/vegan, clean eating, low carb, meal replacement shakes, weight training only, cardio only, eat more, eat less, eat nearly nothing, HCG, etc.

Personally, I do a lot of cardio, including C25K, and count my calories. I try to keep my diet mostly clean...lots of vegetables and lean meat, though I do use some processed foods as well. I like weight training, but I don't get a very high calorie burn from it (and I have not seen a significant afterburn, even though I REALLY hoped I would). I do, however, want to keep my muscles, so I will be doing more weight training...but I don't go to a gym and I get very good results from using either bands or free weights. Actually, when I did go to the gym, the machines didn't help me much.

Try out what feels right to you, use some intuition. It may take some time, but you will find what is right for you if you keep trying.

Sorry you are feeling so frustrated. I agree with what another said, if you enjoy running, run. If you like to walk, walk. I feel like there is a lot of confusing info out there too and i think some very well meaning people give some of us who are just trying to be healthy too much info lol. I love to run and won't stop regardless of what anyone says

Just based on my experience, drinking lots of water, getting moderate amounts of cardio and weights (even if it is just body weight at first), and trying to cut my portions and eat more natural and lessed processed foods have worked.

Make small changes you can live with and soon you will find what keeps you lean and healthy. Good luck to you and don't give up. You will find what works for you!

What are some things you have done to get past allll the conflicting information? How do you make sense of it all and actually lose weight?

I ignore anything that doesn't work for me and only apply those things that do as long as they are healthy.

Well, there's a lot of popular things out there about weight loss. there is a lot of bro-science that runs around your friends mouths. There are so-called experts, and often they don't help the situation. Then, there are actual people doing science and looking to understand how fat is actually burned on our bodies. Those guys, the scientists, the ones conducting the studies in a controlled environment, are the ones to listen to. They know what they are talking about.

What you might be hearing about running, is that it's really not good for fat burning. First of all, I've never seen a fat runner - you know, one that runs 5 miles everyday. Never seen it. So, screw all those people.

But, I do know what they are talking about. From a fat burning perspective, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is where it's at. At least, that's what the science says. What is it? Look it up. But, if you were running, you'd run really fast for 1/4 mile or something, then slow and jog for 1/4 mile, then run really really fast for 1/4 mile, then slow jog for a 1/4 mile......you get the idea. That is HIIT training. For fat burning, it is superior. So, when people say running is great for weight loss, iot's because there are better alternatives - FOR FAT LOSS. That doesn't mean though, that you wont lose weight.

For strength training, you do need weights. But, just do your best. The Insanity program doesn't use weights. So, maybe try something like that and see how you like it.

Mostly, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WORKOUT ROUTINE IS THE ONE YOU ENJOY AND WILL DO CONSISTENTLY. So, don't worry about it so much.

Education is powerful and important. I think you should always be looking to better yourself in every way. So, reading and learning is a good thing. Maybe right now though, just focus on something small, and work your way into it. I just kind of take what makes sense and what seems to work for me, and do that. When I get bored with that, I look for something new, or for a slight modification to what I am doing to add a new dimension.

It's funny when you work out for a while, and you think you're all badass, then a friend say, Hey, why don't you come and try out my yoga class, and you laugh and think it's lame, then you get there and it kicks your butt, and then suddenly you're all into yoga for a while. It just kind of ebbs and flows. Don't get to mired in the details.

I'm so overwhelmed and confused, and I'm starting to lose motivation a little bit. :-/

Why is it when it comes to weight loss everything one does is wrong or incorrect? It's so aggravating. I like to run, so I run. I was doing a little surfing to find a hill repeat schedule only to find running is a waste of time, and you won't lose any weight. Great. Don't even get me started about diet because it's the same thing. It also seems that strength training MUST be done in a gym, or at the very least with weights. Anything else is sub par and a waste of time.

Running isnt a waste of time as long as you have proper nutrition to back it up.
People have the misconception that you cut calories then run for an hour every day to lose weight.
It doesnt work that way.
If you decide to run daily just make sure you have the proper nutrition to fuel the workout.
Dieting causes stress.
Running causes stress.
Stress raises cortisol.
Cortisol is catabolic meaning you have a hard time growing/maintaining lean mass.

If you want to run then do HIIT sprint intervals.
This has shown to have better HGH output at the end of the day and is known to help build/maintain muscle.

If you are obese, dont run.

After a while it's like, "Well, what the hell am I supposed to do to lose weight?!" That leads to sitting on the couch trying to figure out what to do, also know as analysis paralysis.

What are some things you have done to get past allll the conflicting information? How do you make sense of it all and actually lose weight?

I have been losing, but, of course, that's supposed to stop and stall out any day now. Arghh!!

for me and my crew?
We figure out our TDEE and cut 20% from that.
If we work out like crazy we eat above TDEE to fuel the workout.
We also only workout 3-4 days at most a week.
REcovery is better for you while you cut calories.
Stress and all that......

Do what has been working for you and screw the rest! Can I be honest here? I have lost over 100 pounds without counting calories or points or anything. I know counting those things works for a lot of people, but I just didn't feel up to it. I had other ways to get the weight off. So, I did what worked for me. I listened to my body. You should do the same thing. If it's been working, stick with it!

It reminds me of when I had my first child. Everyone was telling me to do do this and do that - to the point that I wanted to scream! After awhile I figured out what worked for HER, and parenting got a lot easier. I still take parenting advice in stride, but I don't feel the need to follow all of it.
Same goes with fitness advice. Some people enjoy living on 500 calories of lettuce and carrots, others are convinced that they can lose weight by eating at McDonald's everyday - me - at aim for the middle. Just try to workout, eat the best I can, and take advice into consideration when it's sound.
Just ignore the rest of the noise.