I am 5Ft 9" and weigh 10 stone. I have been trying to tone up but can't seem to do it. I do weights, swimming, cardio at lesat 4 times a week... what else can I do?

Sounds like you have the exercise portion down, The most important thing is Diet. What you eat is going to rule no matter how much you exercise. Eating at least 5 meals a day will make your body work harder to reduce any fat build up around the muscle, once the weight comes off, the muscles will start to show and you will looked toned. The diet is the hardest part of any exercise program.

My partner is about your height and now a little under your weight (you're about 140lbs I believe)... she did weights and ran/walked as well.

Pilates changed her core. You can get dvds easily, even your local library might have them for checkout. Within two weeks of pilates she got that line that runs down your abs. within 8 weeks of pilates and tae bo, she got the first of her six pack abs. it took time and it took her doing very different things to keep her body guessing.

For ex, in pilates the motions are about control and breathing. I'm fairly fit and active until she had me try a tape with her. That ended with a big, strong guy whining in the middle of the tape "what kind of sado masochistic bull$h!t is this!?" when all the pretty girls are holding a pose for a set that I cannot even do.

So... she was in a similar spot. Had a little weight to lose, some at the rear and lower back. Not a lot, but enough to bother her. Took her 10 weeks. For the first 7 she did pilates, along with her normal walk/running. The last 3 she's done tae bo and pilates almost daily. The tae bo is mostly to mix things up, especially shoulder and arm definition, the pilates is core strength.

She can do a slow controlled situp now, straight legged with no help or restraint, that she could not do ten weeks ago. I've done some pilates here and there, and I'm always impressed. Just about to cycle into the stott pilates series she has to get things cranked in for summer.

Just something to think about. In the past, she always tried to run off any stubborn weight. This time she's gone at it from all angles, and from what I've seen, running 5-6 miles four times a week with hard weights twice a week doesn't even come close to what running/walking 3-4 miles 3-4 times a week does with the pilates almost every day.

I swear some of those poses are forbidden as torture by the geneva convention. ;)

And the other thing, as mentioned, is food control. My wife's theory is that she runs so she can eat chocolate and have that awesome glass of wine with the chicken picatta. We try to eat healthy, but we don't eat sticks and twigs. So on the really yummy stuff, we cut back portions a little, cram in some good veggies and fruit (try to make this half of dinner), and think about how the food is prepared. If I sautee the asparagus in olive oil, then the chicken is not fried also.. baked or grilled.

Also, don't neglect a good multivitamin if you aren't taking one. My wife swears she feels the difference when she's on it regularly.

So... probably time to keep your body guessing. If you've been doing the same old thing, its adjusted. Time for new moves and new workouts?

Glad you are doing all you are doing right now. Sounds like you are on a good track for strong living.