Expert: Ken Alan - 11/13/2004

Question
I am trying to lose the "flab" around my waist and my inner thighs. My fat seems to target those two points on my body and just linger. I've tried sit-ups and crunches and leg lifts and nothing is helping me. It is getting quite bothersome because those areas look so disproportionate to the rest of my body. I was wondering if you could help me figure out a way to shrink my problem areas in a healthy way.  

Answer
Hi,

Good question.  Common problem.  Continue to do crunches for abs and leg strengthening to firm those muscles.  To lose the fat, you have to engage in more cardiovascular exercise.  This burns calories (fat)most effectively.  Cardiovascular exercise is anything that gets you breathing harder than normal but not so hard that you cant keep doing it for at least 20-30 minutes.  And the longer you do it (40 - 60 minutes), the more calories you burn.  Dancing, swimming,walking, biking, skating, jump rope, skipping, jogging, hiking, rowing, climbing stairs, step-ups, etc.  

Watch your diet, start some C-V exercise 3-4 x weekly, and your body will change.   Get with a personal trainer (worth the investment) if you're not sure exactly what to do or if you are having any problems.

Hope this helps.