I'm new to this whole fitness thing and I've been doing cardio everyday. Lately I like this machine at the gym...it's kind of like an elliptical I think. There's different resistance settings and each group of settings has a different category. For example, I think 1-2 is cross country skiing 4-6 is elliptical 7-whatever is something else. Anywho, I really like that machine (because it's more interesting than running on a treadmill, I think), but my leg muscles are so soooo sore that I can hardly move them without being in pain. Am I maybe doing too much cardio? Wrong machine? Not enough stretching? Or am I just that out of shape (which I don't think is the case because I've been running at least three times a week for about a year now).

Also, is there any "general rules" for toning up? I'm going to college in August so I'd like to look/feel better about myself and all that and I think that if I keep at it, I could do it.

Well, you are using different muscles than running, so you will be sore.

Before you start your workout, make sure you get a good full body stretch (and it's also a good idea to get a good stretch in after your workout). Hmm.. and it's hard to determine how much cardio is too much, but if you are going to be at the gym everyday, I would vary your workouts and give muscles a time to refuel. You could do a cardio workout every other day, and on the alternating days, lift some weights. Congrats sounds like you are going good!! :rockon:

You may be overdoing it if your muscles hurt for more than a day. You may need to give yourself a rest between workouts, or work out the top half on the rest day. You could slow down to the level where you are not feeling terrible discomfort (just a little after-exersise "rubberyness") And then do that for a month or so, and then start to do more than that. I used to run too and each week would start at about 2 miles and work myself to 10 by the end of the week, but I only ran every other day-- Perhaps look up lactic acid (made by your muscles, not from cows) and also fartleks. There may be herbs and things like minerals that may give your muscles more endurance-- ginsing is a reccommended herb for running.