Hikerchick, thank you very much for the link, it's quite helpful. I think that I'm doing too much cardio, and not focusing
enough on strength training. Actually, I know that I'm doing too much cardio, because even after my workout, I often do cardio again later on because I really enjoy it-it calms me down if I'm stressed out, and if I'm bored it gives me something to do. The stomach of the 40 year old mom on that site looks great-I guess that's pretty much how I'd like mine to look. Thank you all-you're very helpful, I don't feel so discouraged now
Baffled, I think you're right about me probably not pushing as hard as I think I am. I'm going to get into heavier lifting for sure. I think the reason I feel that I should lose more weight is because I've been assuming that since I don't have any defined muscles, they must all be covered in lots of fat. I think I'm way too critical of myself, even if I get a complement-I always respond with something like, "thanks, but I still have to work on this and this etc."
Thank you all for your help, I don't feel so discouraged now. I do a lot of reading on this site, and I definitely plan on posting often. You've helped me a lot, so I hope to do the same for someone else