My entire life I have had a spare tire, even during short-lived bouts of skinniness! All my fat concentrates in my belly, making wearing a bikini (and during my heavy stages even a one piece) an impossibility. Not that this is cause for too much concern, but I would like to be comfortable tucking shirts into pants without worrying about my distended gut. How can I lose the tire for good?

I don't want to do anything totally radical (like 100 crunches a day) and can only dedicate 20 minutes tops to this belly-banishing project.
--jellybelly

If you're really serious about reducing your waist line, crunches aren't going to do it for you, my friend. Crunches strengthen the underlying muscles beneath your jelly belly; they DO NOT help zap the fat off of it. The only way to deflate that spare tire is to restrict your caloric and fat intake by following a sensible eating plan and by doing regular aerobic exercise sessions. For best weight loss results, aim for 3-5 aerobic workouts weekly that last anywhere from 30-60 minutes.

By aerobic, I mean walking, jogging, cycling, skating -- anything that uses your larger muscle groups in your legs, back and chest in a rhythmic, repetitive fashion, gets you breathing heavy and can be sustained continually for a relatively long period of time, say 15 minutes or more. You can use your imagination on that one....

And while we're on the topic: belly fat IS cause for concern. Studies have shown that where you store your fat is probably as important as how much you have. People who tend to store their excess fat around the tummy (the so-called apple shaped body) are at greater risk for coronary heart disease and diabetes than people who tend to store their fat below the waist line (the so-called pear shaped body). If you tend toward the apple shape, reducing your weight will not only improve your appearance, it may help you live longer too.

Here's a quick and easy method to determine your risk of cardiovascular heart disease based upon fat storage: Take your waist measurement to the nearest half inch and your hip measurement to the nearest half inch; measure the smallest part of your middle, a few inches above your navel, and the largest circumference of your hip area that includes your buttocks.

Now divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement to determine your waist-to- hip ratio. If you're a woman and it's greater than .8 or a man and it's greater than .9, you should work hard to reduce your body fat and thus reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and Type II diabetes.

Post your questions and comments on the Fit by Friday message board!