Tone your midsection. Many of us, especially women, have particular trouble with stretched-out skin around the middle. If you've had a kid or two, we don't have to tell you that! Targeting your abdominal muscles with a variety of crunches and other middle-body exercises on a regular basis can not only help tone your tummy but also reduce the appearance of flabby skin. We recommend doing 3-5 sets of 9-15 abdominal exercises at least twice a week. Remember: The key is intensity. In other words, perform each and every rep slowly, carefully and precisely so by the end of the set your abs feel worked.

Be realistic. As you age, your skin's elasticity weakens. If you've lost a great deal of weight after being out of shape for many years, your skin stretches. If you've been pregnant, the skin around your middle may not bounce back to its original shape. All of those factors, plus genetics, dictate how easily you will be able to tighten up loose skin with exercise. If exercise doesn't seem to be cutting it you may want to ...

Consider cosmetic surgery. In most instances we at Fit by Friday would not suggest, let alone endorse, cosmetic surgery to improve your appearance. However, if you have vast folds of loose skin because of considerable weight loss or because you're older, this is an option worth considering. For instance, some people who have lost several hundred pounds have had surgery to remove 25 pounds or more of excess skin. If you still have significant amounts of saggy skin even after several months of dedicated exercise, a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon may be your next step.