Whether you blame genetics, aging, gravity, unhealthy eating habits, or lack of exercise, excess fat in your neck can impact your appearance. The good news: you can slim down your neck by making lifestyle changes that are maintainable long-term.

Trading stomach fat for a six-pack is more of a two-step process than just launching into a series of crunches, twists and other exercises that target the abs. Ab exercises can strengthen and tone the core, but there’s no way of spot-reducing belly fat.

Menopause is a normal part of aging for women and begins at the time of your last period. As your hormone levels decrease, you may find it harder to maintain a healthy weight, increasing your risk of heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer.

Healthy weight loss involves a net calorie deficit, in which you burn more calories than you consume on a daily basis. A safe rate of weight loss is 1 to 2 lbs. per week; so allow two to four months to lose 15 lbs. from a 150-lb. frame.

You can’t lose weight from particular parts of your body through exercise or diet. When you exercise, your muscles draw energy from fat stores throughout your body. When you do thigh exercises, you burn fat from your thighs, but you also burn fat from your stomach, butt, arms and everyplace else you store fat.

Sit-ups fall into the category of body weight exercises. These types of exercises are often referred to as calisthenics, and they make it possible for you to get a workout without the use of fitness gear. If you have excess fat on your stomach, sit-ups have a place in the game plan, but not how you might envision.

A muscular, lean back looks good in a tank top and helps you maintain healthy posture. Many people have excess fat covering these muscles and end up with a bulge around the bra and rolls that spill over the top of the waistband.

Belly and butt fat is a frustrating problem. Losing this fat, however, is possible when you combine cardio with strength training. Cardio exercise burns calories. When the body burns more calories than it uses daily, it results in fat loss all over, including your midsection and backside.

Backs are beautiful, but most would agree that back fat detracts from their natural allure. You grow back fat when your calorie intake exceeds your calorie expenditure.

When considering weight loss, it is always best to plan ahead. It takes a significant amount of time to lose weight, especially if you do it in a way that does not harm your body. Safe weight loss never exceeds 2 lbs.

Going through life with a fat belly can not only make you feel self conscious, but it can also raise your risk for medical complications. Stroke, heart disease, prostate and breast cancer, and type 2 diabetes are all conditions that can arise from this adiposity.

Losing weight can be a challenge, especially if you have a specific occasion in mind and have to get in shape to fit into your favorite festive clothing. If you put aside the notion that weight loss equates to a smaller size, you can reach your goal of losing weight quickly in 14 days.