Every day I am at the gym, I am approached by someone wanting exercises for six-pack abs. They are often surprised when I have them focus on a different group of muscles. I am happy to offer suggestions but at the same time have to offer some wisdom. Gaining six-pack abs usually requires giving up the six-pack of beer or soda (unless of course it is Beck’s Light at 64 calories). I can help anyone strengthen muscles and build muscle tone in specific areas, but losing the fat that surrounds those muscles is up to the individual. All the sit-ups in the world will not give you a six pack if you have layers of fat over the abdominal muscles. The way you store fat is based on genetics, hormones and gender. Typically, although not exclusively, a males stores more abdominal fat and women tend to store fat it the hip and thigh region. A reduction in the consumption of calories combined with exercise which burns fat and builds muscle is the way to reduce the amount of fat your body stores. Short of liposuction, it is impossible to assign fat loss to particular areas of your body. A muscle doesn’t “own” the fat that surrounds it. So, if you are concerned about the fat that is stored in your arms, I might suggest that you do more squats. That is not to say that you should avoid working the biceps and triceps, which are needed to lift the beer bottle to your lips, but the larger muscles of the butt and thighs will burn more calories which will contribute to your over all fat loss and metabolic boost. Ask me instead how to strengthen specific muscles. Fat loss is systemic. Strength is specific. And beer is caloric!