Every Monday, the Northern Star will publish answers from health experts to submitted questions regarding health enhancement, diet and fitness. If you have a question about getting in shape, e-mail [email protected].

Q: Does muscle really turn to fat when you stop working out for a long period of time?

A: This statement is actually false because muscle and fat are two completely different kinds of tissue and one cannot “turn into” the other.

Q: How long do I have to work out until I start seeing results?

A: You cannot get the perfect body two weeks before spring break. If you are going to commit, you have to commit to at least an eight-week training program before you expect to see results.

Q: Is it possible for spot reduction of specific areas of the body?

A: You cannot lose fat for a specific body part, like abdominal fat, by just doing one exercise, such as crunches, repeatedly. In order to lose stored fat within the body, aerobic exercise and controlled caloric intake must be followed.

You can strengthen the muscles underneath the underlying fat by doing a specific exercise, such as abdominal crunches, but you won’t be able to see the increased strength changes until you lose the surrounding layer of fat.

Q: Will a woman get bulky muscles if she lift weights as part of her workout?

A: In general, women do not have the amount of testosterone needed to build large muscles. Strength training is actually encouraged for women to help in the prevention of osteoporosis and in increasing muscle strength and balance.