Q: I think my boyfriend goes overboard with weight training. How much is too much?

You should be able to do your weight workout in 45 to 75 minutes per day, alternating days (ideally one day on, one day off). Any longer and you risk your muscle becoming catatonic!

Q: I’ve tried all sorts of diets with no luck. Just give it to me straight: What’s the best way to lose body fat?

Combine a cardio and resistance program with a diet free of junk food. It’s as simple as that. Start off on a walking, jogging, swimming or cycling plan. Your fitness level will determine the time and distance, but try to keep the body moving for a period of at least 20 to 45 minutes every day. Two days a week, do some resistance training. The more muscle you have, the more fat you’ll burn. Eliminate all junk food. Avoid the whites (white rice, white pasta, white bread) and, instead, reach for the dark carbs (brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole grain breads). Have lots of protein with every meal, and drink a minimum of 12 (yes, 12!) glasses of water or herbal caffeine-free tea a day.

Q: I’m an ectomorph, and I can’t seem to gain mass. Is it impossible?

As you probably realize by now, ectomorphs do not gain muscle mass as quickly or as easily as other body types. But that doesn’t mean you can’t! Load up on protein and reach for heavy weights (make sure you do fewer reps). Weight training is the fastest way to get your body to build more muscle, and it works together with your diet—lifting weights overloads the muscles and stimulates growth, while the food (protein) allows the body to repair and build new muscle tissue. An amazing book to help “hard gainers” is Scrawny to Brawny: The Complete Guide to Building Muscle the Natural Way by Michael Mejia and John Berardi (scrawnytobrawny.com).

Q: Is crossing your legs bad for you? Can it lead to bad circulation and varicose veins?

I, myself, have actually been trying not to cross my legs based on some of the things I’ve read. I spoke to Michael Takes, a Toronto chiropractor, to get the scoop. “Crossing your legs is widely believed to be a contributing factor in poor circulation. But many factors always have to be considered, of course,” he said. “Varicose veins are often one of the side effects of poor circulation, and crossing your legs definitely doesn’t help.”