so I have decided not to really worry about my my scale says and I want to bulk up and tone up. I was hoping that someone could help me out a bit. Right now I do 30 mins on the ellipitcal here at home. I was going to the gym to work the weights 3x a week. I really don't think that I was working them enough. I haven't upped my weight in like three years-yup three years! So I am starting to move that up.
I am also doing more lunges with weights and dips with weights here at home. I know that we are suppose to give our muscles a rest but why is that so important? I know some people lift every day.
My main problem areas that I need to work on are my inner and outer thighs and the abs. Can anyone recomend anything else that I should be doing?
I do crunches on a ball.
I want to look in the mirror and see muscles and be toned.

When you exercise, the muscles are damaged. During the rest period, the muscles rebuild and get stronger.

If you don't allow enough recovery time, the muscles don't have enough time to regrow. The recovery period varies from person to person. Men recover quicker (more testosterone) than women.

The 'big' muscles (thighs, chest, back) should not be worked more than twice a week. The small muscles can be worked more often.