you ask we answer

Q: I work my abs hard and although I am far from a six-pack, I think my stomach should look and feel flatter. What do you recommend?– Chrystal Gaines, via email

A: Even if your abdominal muscles are strong and toned, spot reduction is an inefficient approach to fat burning – especially in women. In general, body fat is lost in the reverse order that you put it on, a pattern that is most predictably determined by your age, sex and genetic predisposition. Since you cannot effectively “target” an area for fat loss, the best way to shed body fat is with a challenging, full-body workout that encourages muscle development in all parts of your body – not just your abs. The more lean tissue you possess, the higher your resting metabolic rate, and the more fat you will burn from all parts of your body.

Answered by:

Dr. Chris Lydon is a graduate of the Yale School of Medicine. She is also a health writer and physique model.