We use our shoulder muscles to accomplish practically every pulling, pushing, and hoisting task we do (they really do carry the weight of the world!), so they're a great place to start building strength.

If you were fit before your pregnancy, a Pilates program will quickly help restore your figure and your energy.

Pilates helps condition the body without punishing it.

Of all the forms of exercise I've taught, Pilates is one of my favorites.

In addition to firming your abdominals, Pilates also helps strengthen and stretch the entire body from head to toe, helping you to stand taller.

To me, that's the most exciting aspect of Pilates. It doesn't matter who you are - athlete or couch potato, toned or flabby, man or woman, young or old - you can do it. Every body can benefit.

For most of my life, I've put on weight in my thighs, not my belly. But in my mid-40s, things began to change.

I'm well aware of the health dangers of an expanding waistline and belly fat: diabetes, heart disease, stroke, even cancer.

If you look in the mirror and think, 'Boy, my body needs a good dose of middle management,' keep in mind that tummy fat could be the result of many things.

As a baby grows in the womb, the surrounding abdominal muscles stretch outward. If you don't tighten up those muscles after delivery, your abs will remain loose and weak.

Internal and external obliques form your sides and waist. Your external obliques sit closest to the surface toward the front of your waist, with the internal obliques sitting deeper and closer to your back. Toning them shrinks your waistline and love handles.

Your lower back contains numerous muscles. One group, called the erector spinae, attaches to your spinal column at different points along your back, allowing you to bend it forward and backward and from side to side. Toning these muscles helps prevent back pain, and it also tightens and firms your entire lower back.

Moves that build powerful core muscles (abs, back, hips, and pelvis) help support your spine, so you stand straighter. They also improve your balance, which starts to deteriorate in your 40s as these stabilizing muscles weaken.

Banish aches and pains by strengthening and stretching the muscles that affect your back.

To do Pilates moves correctly, you'll need to concentrate on your abs - keeping them pulled in and up - at all times.

Because Pilates requires you to press your abs toward your spine, you don't want to allow your lower belly to round and press out as air comes into your lungs. You also don't want that abdominal lock to force you to breathe shallowly. To breathe correctly, you must expand your rib cage, primarily through your midback.

Fiber and other nondigestible carbs are bulky and tend to slow digestion, which, in turn, eases the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. When glucose enters the bloodstream more slowly, cells are better able to burn it for energy.

As fiber and other nondigestible carbs pass through your intestine, they bring other nutrients - often fat - along for the ride. This prevents your intestine from breaking down and absorbing some of the fat and cholesterol from the food you eat.

As you build muscle, remember that the scale may stay the same, but you won't.

Whenever you leave home and your daily routine, it's way too easy to abandon your regular workouts. That's why resistance bands make great travel companions.

Inner-thigh strength is important, and not just for appearance sake. If you enjoy - or have always wanted to try - ice skating or roller blading, strong inner thighs will come in handy.

I went to the University of Arizona on a full athletic scholarship for gymnastics, where I competed and got 9th in the nation at the NCAAs.

My unique contribution to the fitness industry is bringing fitness into the home through cable, VHS, DVD and now digital formats.

It is extremely hard to break bad habits and takes a long time to start new, healthy ones.

I enjoy all my relationships with my husband, my kids, my sisters and my girlfriends and maintaining a healthy relationships across the board nurtures my soul.

Exercise is a great way to get rid of stress and anxiety. It clears the head and gets rid of all that stuff that is annoying you and really isn't all that important. It filters out any grouchie-ness - it's a great mental filter.

I love to eat and go out to dinner with friends and family and order all kinds of things. I love dessert.

I love handfuls of almonds, laced with wasabi flavor - because it is sinus clearing and satisfies that salty craving with a kick!

As a mom, I'm always balancing my life. I want to teach people the way I balance it, and really teach women how to stay fit and take care of themselves.

I really eat in moderation.

I even kind of eat well 80 percent of the time and have my treats 20 percent of the time. I don't just eat salads, but I truly believe in eating healthy foods, fresh fruits and vegetables every day. I'm a real person.

I like sit-ups and ab exercises. I always want to keep my tummy flat and tight, even as I age. It keeps your back healthy and keeps you young.

We have to stay healthy no matter how old we are.

In my home gym, I'll do targeted exercises like pilates, light weights and stretching.

I like to go to yoga classes and sweat a lot.

I'm a big believer that as you age, you need to stretch more.

I believe in good, healthy meals.

Working out with someone will help you to feel committed.

I believe in sensible, moderate exercise. I try to do something every day, at least 20 minutes per day. I don't think it's realistic to ask people to work out 90 minutes a day.

I've been fit my whole life. I'm not a fat-turned-fit story.

As we age, we lose our muscle tone. Thats how we gain weight.

I used to have a 28-inch waist.' I hear this complaint from women over 40 a lot, and I can sympathize.

Whenever I over-indulge - usually by eating too much dessert - I see the results in my thighs. The backs of my thighs begin to lose their smoothness as the hints of cellulite threaten to turn them into 'cottage cheese.'

There's nothing more frustrating than pulling on your favorite jeans - only to see there's a bit of extra bulge above the waist.

Take a tip from racewalkers and marathoners, and strengthen your stride with resistance exercises. By training your walking muscles, you'll have more power to pick up the pace.

I'm a working mom, so I know that getting the job done, feeding the kids, organizing family get-togethers, and putting the finishing touches on sixth-grade projects all take precedence over exercise.

One of the easiest ways to get a buff back is with exercise bands. They're inexpensive, and you can increase resistance by moving a hand to shorten their length.

Working the deltoid muscles along the front and top will give you everyday lifting power and help eliminate sloping shoulders, making your waist appear thinner.

Constant slumping increases the stress on the spine and joints, and can lead to headaches, neck and shoulder tension, and lower-back pain.

Yoga is a great form of exercise that stretches and strengthens your muscles simultaneously.