Why isn't my workout working?

Q: I do 100 to 150 crunches three times a day, and I don't see any results. What gives?

A: That's certainly a lot of crunches, so you figure you should have abs of steel.

Well, maybe you do — but likely they're covered in fat. It's entirely possible that your muscles form a sweet six-pack, but you just can't see it.

You don't say whether you're doing cardio activity, but it sounds like you're putting all your eggs in one basket.

Hundreds of crunches won't help you shed weight. Along with sit-ups, weight loss is the other key factor in getting tight abs, experts say.

As mentioned above, there's no spot reduction. So make sure you're watching what you eat and burning enough calories through cardio to shed weight.

And keep in mind that not everyone has the genetics to have perfect, swimsuit-model abs. But the right diet and exercise plan can help you whittle your middle.

Q: I work out at home on a treadmill six days a week for about 50 minutes each time at a level 5 incline. I've lost 50 pounds and I want to keep it off. I'm trying to tone up but not seeing the results I would like. What else should I be doing?

A: Your ongoing commitment to exercise will go a long way in helping you keep the weight off. And having a treadmill in your home probably helps you keep that commitment because it's convenient.

So keep walking. But consider working at different inclines and paces to keep your workout challenging, says Testa. Experiment with some of the settings on the machine, which will give you different programs to follow.

For added results, you may want to add some other activities to the mix. If you prefer to work out at home, you could try exercise videos, for example.

As for toning up, don't forget about resistance training to build shapely muscle. You could go to a gym and use the weights and machines there, buy some weights for your home, or work with exercise bands and tubing.

Smart Fitness appears every other Tuesday.

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