A: Congratulations on achieving your perfect weight! Unfortunately, spot reduction or exercising a specific body part does not lead to loss of fat in that area. For example, doing an excess of abdominal crunches will not lead to a loss of “pudge” around your waist. It’s common to lose the most recent fat collected first, so the last to go will be the first adipose tissue that was deposited – in your case, around your abdominals. Patience, continued exercise and consultations with a nutritionist to ensure a proper balance of carbohydrates and protein are key to reshaping that midsection.

ANSWERED BY:

Erin Boynton, MD, FRCSC, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. She was the first woman to work as an orthopedic surgeon in the NHL, MLB and CFL.