Stay Slim

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• I am very confused as to the differing recent articles on the value of the Atkins diet. It is so detrimental to the lay public to have these diametrically opposed points of view presented, and I would like to hear your opinion on this.

• You say in your books that women who strength train lose weight. I am quite thin, and have been losing weight for no known reason. In fact, I need to gain a little weight and can't afford to lose. (I am very active, do aerobic activities such as hiking, fitness center.) In describing the effects of strength training, the book doesn't seem to address low-weight women or already active women. Is the program for me?? How will it affect my weight situation?

• I saw something on the news the other night promoting a product known as CLA that is suppose to "help" turn fat in muscle. Do you know anything about this product?

• How can I get the references for the studies that the information in the “Strong Women” books is based upon, e.g. the JAMA publication, etc? Dr. Nelson refers to studies throughout her books, and I would like to read the scientific papers.

• I have a friend who has been taking some fat burning pills, and he has lost a lot of weight by taking them. If such pills are available and are safe, I think that I would like to try them because I am having a difficult time losing weight. What is your take on fat burning pills?

• I've started going to spinning classes, and I love them. I am worried that if I increase the resistance on the bike and "feel the burn" that this will only make my thighs and butt bigger (which I definitely do not want!). Have you heard of this happening?

• I've started going to spinning classes, and I love them. I am worried that if I increase the resistance on the bike and "feel the burn" that this will only make my thighs and butt bigger (which I definitely do not want!). Have you heard of this happening?

• On page 241 of Strong Women Stay Slim it says you can do this program with your husband. What it doesn't say is how he can lose weight with your food plan. Should I put a 6'3" man on the 2000 calorie plan, or is that not enough for a man who wants to lose weight along with me?

• I am a 49 year old woman who has been doing the Strong Women Stay Young regimen for 15 months now. I love the way I feel both during and after the workouts. But I have gained 10 lbs. and inches around the waist and hips in spite of my regular exercising. My clothes are getting tight. What can I do to lose those inches that have crept up on me? Why isn't my exercising making a difference?

• I wanted to know if it's just as effective to do the Strong Women Stay Slim exercises from a standing position. Specifically, the bent over row and the seated fly which are normally done in a seated position. If you stand up for these, is it just as effective? Somehow, I find it more comfortable to do them standing.

• Once you have lost as much weight as you want to lose, and you did so on the 2000-calorie plan, how many portions should you add and in what categories? I realize that there might be some experimentation required but I don't want to go too far the other way and find myself putting weight back on that I lost. Personally, I would love to add grains as they're my favorite, but since I already get eight portions of them I don't know if it's the right food group to supplement.

• My husband and I have just read SWSS. My husband would like to lose 20 to 30 lbs. Can he use the food plan and portion guides in the book or do the sizes vary for men?

• I'm impressed with Strong Women Stay Slim but I wonder if I'll manage to keep the motivation going. For example last year I joined a gym and went on a programme of diet and exercise and lost nearly 30 lbs. Then my work became more demanding and my eating habits slipped and my workouts went down from an hour 5 times a week to 2-3 times a week and often missing entire weeks of exercise. As a result the weight has crept up by 14lb. I started the SWSS programme yesterday (I know it's early to worry about losing motivation but there's that deja vu feeling). Any tips?

• I now do a combination of Stay Slim/Stay Young every other day. On the other days, I use my NordicTrack. When I do the NordicTrack, my pulse goes to about 155 (I'm 46). But when I complete the strength training, my pulse is only about 70, which is my average pulse rate. Is this normal for strength training?

• I have about 50 lbs. to lose. My question is regarding cellulite on my thighs. Will your program help eliminate that?

• I have been a Weight Watcher for some time. Since I know their program so well, do you think it's OK if I continue to follow that along with your exercises?

• In the Strong Women Stay Slim program, when you say three graham crackers equals an Extra do you mean three perforated sections or three halves?

• I've been following the Strong Women Stay Slim program for several months, and was losing weight. But the scale hasn't budged for two weeks. Help!

• How do I shrink my belly? I do about 20-30 minutes walking on the treadmill, and 30 minutes on the stationery bike.

• I need to gain weight, I'm 20yrs old, 5'4' and only 90lbs. I want to gain at least 10-15lbs. Everyone in my family is thin but we eat healthy. How do I gain weight the fastest way? I also want to learn to maintain it after I gain. It's so hard to find any information on gaining weight, there should be more stuff available.

• Is it true that strength training can help me lose weight? Do you have any suggestions on how to get started?

• Will strength training make me look muscular and bulky?

• I've read Strong Women Stay Young. Is Strong Women Stay Slim really different, or is it pretty much more of the same?

• I lost some weight with Strong Women Stay Slim, but now I'm stuck at a plateau. Help!

• Can strength training firm my sagging bust line?

• Is morning exercising more beneficial for weight loss? I am not a morning person. Am I missing out on a fat-burning opportunity?

• I have been following the Strong Women Stay Slim exercises for three months with terrific results: increased energy, weight loss and lost inches. I'd like additional exercises for the abdomen.

• I have an under-active thyroid and have been taking Synthroid for a year now. I recently gained weight - in spite of the fact that I walked everyday (for two months) and did some resistance exercises at home. What must I do to lose weight?

• Is it true that muscle weighs more than fat? If so, will I gain weight when I start strength training if I don’t go on a diet?

• I tried to start the Strong Women Stay Slim program and much to my dismay, I aggravated my tennis elbow by lifting 1 lb weights. So I stopped. I saw my doctor 3 times and also had acupuncture over several months, which helped a little bit. What should I do - only get strong in my legs and all muscle groups associated with my arms are hopeless until this intractable tennis elbow goes away someday?

• How can I tighten my inner thighs? What exercises do you recommend?