Americans spend billions of dollars and countless amounts of time and energy trying to get sleek, sexy abs. The problem is that a large majority of this money, time and energy is wasted on the wrong things -- fad diets that promise to bust belly fat, and endless crunches and sit-ups that prove to be ineffective.

Quince trees produce a golden, aromatic fruit known by the scientific name Cydonia oblonga. In Western Asia and tropical countries, quince is soft and juicy, though in North America quince has a tougher rind and astringent flesh. Cook quince before you eat it to make it more palatable, if you live in colder climates.

The spot reduction myth claims that fat can be lost over a certain area by working the muscles beneath it -- if you want to lose fat on your stomach, do situps. The truth, however, is that you lose fat over your entire body.

Losing stomach fat can improve your cardiovascular health, boost your energy level, help you maintain a healthy weight and improve your appearance. The best way to burn belly fat does not involve pills or extreme diets.

It's not a myth that weight loss gets harder as you get older. Women who have children later in life might have a harder time shedding the pregnancy weight. However, even people trying to lose just a few pounds will have a harder time at 40 years of age than they did at 20.

Achieving a flat belly in two weeks may not be possible if you have a lot of weight to lose. Use the time to jump start a healthier diet and fitness program.

The amount of weight you can lose on a month-long liquid diet depends on several factors. The most important is the number of calories your body burns and the number of calories you consume.

If you're looking to lose weight super fast, you should also be ready to work hard and make a few big sacrifices. While you don't need to go hungry or do a crash diet, you will need to make some concessions. Fast weight loss is usually not a good idea, but it can be done safely by following a few simple steps.

Eating nutritious meals and exercising regularly won’t protect you from developing a bloated belly. Gas builds up in your stomach and intestinal tract when it doesn’t pass through belching or flatulence and causes your belly to bloat.

Not only is it possible to lose three pounds in two weeks, health professionals endorse this rate of weight loss. The safest amount of weight to lose in a week is one to two pounds.

If you want to lose a significant amount of weight, you need a specialized plan of attack. Weight loss requires creating a calorie deficit, or burning more calories than you consume. To lose 30 lbs. in nine weeks, you need to lose between 3 and 4 lbs. per week.

Although it is possible to lose weight in three days, the results may be temporary if you are unable to maintain dietary and exercise habits. Usually it's water weight that is lost in a short period of time and not fat, according to MayoClinic.com.