[TAutry]

Hi Sheila,

While crunches and other abdominal exercises are valuable for toning and tightening the abodominal muscles, they really aren't that great for burning fat. You can burn fat more effectively with a program of overall exercise. A good combination of aerobics and resistance training(weights) is what I would recommend. The more muscles you put to work, them more energy the body requires and the more fat you are likely to burn.

In addition to the exercise, you may need to change your style of eating. Instead of eating less, you might need to eat more. I found that eating 6 small meals per day, I maintain my weight more effectively. By, essentially, keeping food in my system I keep the thermogenic response of the food being digested working for me. Plus, I don't get extremely hungry and am not tempted to over eat.

I subscribe to Men's Health and they offer a bunch of articles on fat burning in the magazine and through their website of the same name. A few months ago they released Women's Health magazine. You might try a search to see if they also have a website with it. I've learned a great deal from the men's magazine and website, I'm sure the women's offers similar tips.

Good Luck!