[nucutiepie]

I try to do 30-45 minutes of cardio 4-6 days a week, either on the elliptical, bike, or treadmill. I prefer running intervals on the treadmill for 3 miles, except I've had stress fractures in my feet so I can't always handle running, and have to do the elliptical or bike instead.

Then lifting - I lift three days a week, either at a class such as Body Pump (its apparently at gyms all over the world, you use a light barbell for an hour) or a similar weightlifting class, or on my own. If I lift on my own, I use dumbbells and stand on a core board for standing exercises, and balance on a stability ball for chest presses, flies, and the like, so that I strengthen my abs and back while I'm lifting. Then I also do crunches and other ab work, lots of it on the stability ball.

Sometimes on my non-lifting days I add yoga or pilates.

ETA: Diet-wise, I eat a lot of whole foods (veggies, salmon and chicken, tons of fruit) and whole-grain carbs (whole-wheat bread if I'm going to have it, whole grain cereal in the morning), scrambled eggs with mozzarella cheese, lowfat yogurt, skim milk, etc. I do have a chocolate weakness.

I just get frustrated because of my body type - I'm an apple shape, so i have skinny arms and legs that tone up easily, but I'm "busty" and my stomach never looks completely flat... even now, when you can count my ribs. I would try to lose weight but I worry about looking gross if my ribs poke out too much! Maybe midriff tops just aren't for me... anyone have any suggestions?