Question: I hate my legs! Is there any way I can just lose weight there? I like how my arms and shoulders look, but my lower body looks out of proportion. Help!

Answer: What you are referring to is “spot reducing.” Thighs, hips and midsection are typically the three areas that most people want to “tighten,” or “lean out.” Unfortunately, the human body doesn’t recognize that your “trouble spot” is troubling you! Fat is lost throughout the body in a pattern dependent upon genetics, hormones, and age. Overall body fat must be reduced to lose fat in any particular area. Although fat is lost or gained throughout the body, it seems the first area to get fat, or the last area to become lean, is the midsection (in men and some women, especially after menopause) and hips and thighs (in women and some men).

I often see gym members who give up after a few months because they get frustrated that they didn’t lose that area of focus. Training the muscles more often and harder will deliver more oxygen to the working muscle and reduce fat, but not necessarily at the rate you want it. Once you can’t lose anymore fat in the upper body (for this question in particular), your lower body will kick in, so… DON’T STOP TRAINING! IT WILL HAPPEN!