Paula:
You don't describe the nature of your cardio sessions: are they always the same, steady state, medium intensity work outs? Do you ever vary the nature of your cardio workouts? If you have been doing step and walking for years, then you have a good level of fitness, but you no longer see results because your body is totally used to the demands these forms of exercise make upon it. Sounds like it is time to get into some interval training and experiment with other forms of cardio exercise. Cathe has one of the most demanding Interval tapes out there: Interval Max. This sort of exercise program done twice a week will jolt your system, helps burn more total calories, and improves your overall fitness level. Two such sessions per week could work for you. Because interval max is very tough, you have to work up to it. Other interval videos that I have used and that are more do-able in the short term are Reebok's Intense Moves with Ginn Miller and karen Voight's Energy Sprint, both of which you can get from Collage Video and maybe some stores too.
Variety is the key here. Keep a step workout, some walking, add 2 interval wokouts, include Cathe's Power Hour and MIS once a week each, and you can take the weights as high as you can while still maintaining form (these workouts focus on lighter weights, higher reps for lean muscles, so maybe avoid Cathe's Slow & heavy for now). Try a kick box workout, a dance class, whatever moves you, but keep mixing it up.
Cathe has a series called the Xtrain Express which provides tons of variety, maybe you could pre-view that on this site and see if it is for you?
Hope some of this helps
Clare
