Doing Cardio...but only becoming more toned/tight

So, about a month ago I started to more regular cardio - 40 mins jogging, 3-5x a week. However, I just seem to be gaining more muscle, and not trimming down at all. I'm 159 and 5'5 and I've got a serious ponch tummy (which I'd LOVE to flatten). I also do light weights and sit ups/crunches 2-3 times a week.

Any suggestions? Or is this fairly normal?

O, I should mention I'm also a vegetarian and eat very, very healthy (now).

I hate to tell you this, but its going to take a long time to get rid of the poochie-ness in your tummy. I had to lose 40 pounds before mine was ALMOST gone its still not completely gone! I don't know how much weight you've lost but I find it really hard to believe at 159 and 5'5" you have that much stomach. Not trying to be mean but I would kill to be that tall! I'm 5'1"-5'1.5". Remember you just have to keep doing your best and giving it your all because it seems like the one spot you want to lose the most weight in will always be the last place for it to come off. Good luck!

try some interval running a few times a week rather than always doing a steady run it's the best way to burn fat

I can say from experience that i work out 5- 6 days a week. I do cardio for 45 minutes that 30-40 minutes of pilates. Then sit in the hot tub at our local gym for 20  minutes. I have just started seeing results after 2 months.

BUT my thighs are larger that when i started. I measure myself 1x a week. I know that its muscle but I only want to tone. But the cardio is how I lose the weight. People have told me that once I start shedding the fat my legs with thin out. IM STILL WAITING!! lol

Good luck to you! keep up the good work!

I suspect that there is some type of trade off going on--you are losing fat but toning/strenthening lean muscle. Have you measured? I'm just entering my 8th week of CC (and really on 6 where I have consistently been following the program) and after a quick drop of about 5 lbs, a very slow 3-4 (scale went back and forth for 2-3 weeks), seem to be showing a good loss again. I feel great, look better, etc., and if the scale was my only 'measure,' I'd be disappointed. But the muscle and exercise, while making it seem as though I'm losing "too slowly" (not that there is such a thing), will pay off now that my body has reacted to the increase in exercise and can settle down to the weight loss side of things. I was pretty active before but not always consistenly, and the consistency of the past 6 weeks has made a huge difference.

So, have faith. I fyou are eating enough, in another month, if not sooner, you will begin to see real results and you will be so grateful that you stuck it out!!

Don't be too concerned about overall weight especially if it is muscle weight.  Muscle weighs more than fat :)  Jack LaLanne suggests using a tape measure to keep track of the results not a scale.  Check out the June 30th webcast at http://www.modavox.com/boombox_va/lalanne.asp .  You also need to know what your BMR (Basic Metabolic Rate) is.  This is how many calories your body needs just to maintain its current size.  Age, sex, height, weight, general activity level all affect this number.  Since you don't have much information about yourself, it is hard to judge how many calories you will need.  For women to loose weight a 1200 calorie diet with exercise should take off the pounds.

Chris LaLanne advocates about a half hour of cardio 3x per week along with weight lifting more frequently.  Light weights may not do the trick.  There should be some effort to getting in the last few reps.  2 to 4 sets of 10 to 15 reps should give you maximum benefit depending on muscle group.

Lastly, genetics will also play some part.  Check out pictures of other family members.  If you are fighting the family tree you may have a much harder time.

Best wishes

I'm with you on that tummy pooch thing. I had one even when I weighed 127 in high school (a long time ago, sweetie!) But that cardio will pay off -- you are getting healthier every day!! Keep at it -- it WILL come off.

Look at it this way-- the more muscle you build, the more calories (read: fat) you'll burn in the course of a day!