Fighting fat

You can burn just as many calories as your neighbor if you pick a moderate-intensity exercise like brisk walking — you'll just have to devote more time to exercise so that you burn enough calories to lose the weight.

There's no single exercise regimen that's best for everyone. The key is to find the right plan for you — one that you'll stick to.

SWEATIN' IN THE SAUNA
Q: I go to the sauna after I work out because wishful thinking leads me to believe that sweating will shed fat! But, in reality, am I really just wasting my time going in the sauna and sweating for 15 minutes, or is it actually doing something for me?

A: In response to the high heat of a sauna, your body will sweat to try to keep you cool. So you'll shed weight, but it's just water weight. When you gulp water after leaving the sauna because you're dehydrated and thirsty, you'll quickly put the weight back on.

This has been shown time and time again by wrestlers trying to "make weight," says Ainsworth. The weight is gone when they get on those scales but it quickly returns when they drink.

So, yes, if your goal is to lose weight and keep it off, you're wasting your time.

But a good sweat in the sauna isn't without merit. It may help you to relax. Just remember to replenish your fluids afterward.

Smart Fitness appears the second Tuesday of each month.

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