Spot Toning and Spot Reduction - Myth not Truth

The bottom line is, doing 1000 ab exercises a day will not help you reduce fat in your abdominal area. It will only give you stronger muscles underneath a layer of fat.

Exercises can target certain muscles, but in order to reduce the fat over those muscle groups you need to lose weight. If you do not lose the weight, all you will have are very strong muscles that are covered in a layer of fat. The muscle tone will never show through.

Unfortunately, genetics, not exercise, determines how the fat in our bodies are distributed and where it is gained and lost.

Some people are considered pear shaped, and therefore more easily deposit fat in their hips and thighs. Others are apple shaped, and deposit fat more easily around their stomach. Most men are apple shaped and most women are pear shaped.

So do not try and fight your genetics by trying to spot reduce areas of your body. Ignore the infomercials that say they can tone only one part of your body. "Reduce" those thighs or abs by losing weight throughout your body and lowering your body fat.

The best way to reduce fat in unwanted areas is to participate in a cardiovascular program 3-4 times a week for 45 minutes alongside a weight training routine. The more calories you burn, the more weight your can lose.

There are 3500 calories in 1 pound. The means you need to burn an extra 500 calories a day to lose 1 lb each week. The good thing is, that as you exercise and workout more, muscle actually burns more calories than fat. By ignoring the myths about spot toning, you can get your whole body fit and turn it into a fat burning furnance.

You can read more about food that can help you in the fat bruning process by reading our article on fat burning foods.