I just had a baby two years ago. Before I had him I was 120 pounds; now I am 160 and want to lose the weight. I am working out now, but I am afraid I'm just going to get bulky. What kind of workout can I do to get slimmer?

One of the few down sides of having a baby is that extra "baby fat" that goes along with the event. The best advice I can give to brand-new moms (which doesn't help you) is to return to an exercise program as soon as possible and to breast-feed as long as possible, since breast feeding burns so many extra calories.

Contrary to what you may have heard, few exercise programs will make a woman bulkier. Women simply don't have the abundance of male hormones needed to pack on big husky muscles. In order to "hulk" up you'd need to spend two or three hours in the gym on most days of the week, lifting with the heaviest weights possible -- and even then it's unlikely you'd be able to pack on enough muscle to be considered bulky.

In fact, if you're really serious about reducing body fat, I strongly recommend beginning a weight-training program, along with a calorie-reducing diet and a regular aerobic program, as soon as possible. The reason is simple: The more muscle you can pack on to your frame, the more calories you will burn, even at rest. (Though you won't build bulk, you will be able to put on some muscle.)

Since weight training is the quickest way to build muscle, it's an essential part of a weight-loss program. For every extra pound of muscle you can pack onto your frame, you'll burn an additional 150 calories a day. It may not sound like a lot, but it has a way of adding up.

Muscle is also denser than fat, so it takes up less room. You've probably heard people say that they've lost inches but that the needle on the bathroom scale hasn't budged. It's why I always tell people to throw out the scale and concentrate on body fat and the composition of their body weight rather than body weight itself. There's a big difference between a healthy, muscular 145 pounds and a soft, out-of-shape 145 pounds. That is yet another reason to add strength training to your weight-loss arsenal.

To sum up, the perfect weight-loss formula is pretty straightforward.

Step 1: Reduce your calorie intake by eating less fat, plenty of fruits and vegetables, a reasonable amount of protein and complex carbs such as breads, cereal and pasta.

Step 2: Exercise aerobically. Aim to burn off 1,000 calories a week through activities such as walking, jogging, cycling, jumping rope and aerobic classes.

Step 3: Weight train at least twice a week. Do at least one moderately heavy set for each of your major muscle groups, including the upper back, chest, shoulders, arms, abs, thighs and calves. It's not earth-shattering news, I know, but it really works.

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