I have been working out for a long time now, I would say about 8 years. I am 23 years old, but I started early doing aerobics and running because of my mom. ANYWAY, I have never been extremely fit LOOKING, the way that I felt inside. I have never had a nice flat stomach or the chiseled look and right now, that is what I am working on. I had started lifting heavily about 3 months ago, but slowly, I am increasing in size (legs, arms, even waist) so I quit lifting a week ago. I don't want to get big, I want to look really sleek and fit. I know girls aren't supposed to get big, but I am abnormally strong for a female and I also get bulky pretty quick.

I started running more and I'm wondering if you all think this is an approach that may work. Before this week, I would run 45 minutes about 3 to 4 days a week and lift on my whole body twice a week......Now, I want to run 5 days a week and maybe lift weights once on the weekend, to maintain tone. I am 5'5" and 134 pounds and would like to drop my weight to 120 or 125ish. My body fat percentage is 19.7%, which I know is not a lot, but I dont feel THAT muscular. I feel like 134 is a little heavy for my height.

Thanks for your help!

I think you will need to diet heavily to acheive your goal. I don't see anything wrong with either 1 or 2 weight workouts per week. How far do you run in 45 minutes? You may want to try increasing your running pace so you are working much harder during your 45 minute run and/or varying your running distance so that at least on day a week you are running a much longer distance and time, and a little less the rest of the week. You might want to try the Atkins or South Beach Diet. Everyone I know who followed them religously was able to loose 8-12 pounds in the first 2 weeks. Although 19.7% body fat is very good you should be able to drop your body fat to 12-15% without any bad effects (most women stop menstrating, and start loosing bone mass when their body fat drops below 12-15%, but, of course, everybody is a little different, so your unhealthy level may be a little lower or higher than that).

WOW.....your body weight, and height is exactly mine! Except I vary from 130 to 134. Thats crazy. My main problem area is the back of my thighs and I want a tighter butt...and chisled abs. "sigh" Its taking forever.

Also, my goal is about 120 as well.

lol ya 120 is so hard to achieve, jeez...its been my goal for what seems like an eternity......what are you doing to reach your goal?? and is it working??

I've been burning 1000 calories every other time I go to the gym with Cardio- running, eliptical, stair master. On the other days I do weights with my legs, and arms. I do my abs every time in the gym.

Amber, give your abs a breather sometimes and train them like you train your legs/arms with resistance.

snookums: You may want to progress to shorter bouts of interval training.

running is a GREAT way to lose weight, for me at least. i know people who try running but don't see the results they want, and that's mainly because they dont set goals. every week you have to increase intensity and distance. also, there are a lot of excersises that can help to train you to run better. if you really want to you could do 1000's. 1000's are a hard work out but they help. you run 1000 meters 6 times. almost as fast as you can, giving it about 90% of what ya got. it's difficult and mainly people in cross country or some sort of race training do these, they help more of speed, but after i did these every other workout seemed like a piece of cake. just a thought, idk if ya need it, but set goals thats the main idea