Everybody has a problem area (or two, or three). A common complaint for women is the butt. I know I remember those high school days when everything that was supposed to be lifted was lifted and everything that was supposed to be firm was firm. Sigh. Nowadays, having a backside that kicks butt takes a little more effort.

If you're trying to get your rear into shape, AOL Health has a series of butt-firming exercises that is sure to do the trick. Whether you're proud of your backside or you're in the process of shaping it up, be sure to flatter your figure with the right pair of jeans. Kristen gave us the tip about Redbook's great article with jeans that flatter every body type.

• Flat butt. Wish you had a little more oomph in your rear? Redbook suggests finding jeans with some lycra or spandex and wide-set back pockets. Your best exercises are lunges, squats, and other moves that will build up your glutes.
• Bubble butt. Look for jeans with a high or contoured waist so they won't gap at your waistline. As for exercise, it all depends on your goals. The bubble butt look can be pretty smokin' -- but if you want a little less junk in the trunk, check out this video from Prevention.

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Depending on where you live, summer may be right around the corner, or it might already be here. And you know what that means ... bathing suit season! If the thought of being out in public in a bikini makes you cringe, don't worry -- you have time to join America Takes It Off and get your body where you want it to be, and if, by some slight chance, your body doesn't end up looking quite the way you planned before your next trip to the beach, you have wardrobe options (check out the gallery if you don't believe me).

First of all, let's take a minute to talk about your body. I'm hoping that you love every inch of it, but if there are some things you'd like to change, I'm right there with you. Perhaps you're not too confident about your mid-section, or there's a little more junk in your trunk than you'd like. Or, maybe you're really thin and wish you had more curves. What we all need to do is realize what parts of our bodies we like best and figure out how to play up those assets when we put on our bathing suits.

The other day, the folks on my team at the office had a celebratory potluck lunch, complete with savoury curries, rich desserts, cheesy delights and much more. After we were done stuffing our faces, one of our co-workers took on a sombre tone. 'Look guys,' he said, 'I have something to tell you. I think we all need to buy gym memberships and use them. Our waistlines are all looking a bigger. It's not just you--it's me too. We're sitting around at desks all day so we need to do something to burn it off. Especially you single people'

We were silent for a moment, but it was only a few seconds before we collectively burst into laughter. We all knew he was being serious but we couldn't be angry or upset because we knew he wasn't trying to be rude -- he was just being honest, and he had our best interests at heart. Plus? He's European so we're used to his brand of blunt candor.

Still, it made me think. Is it better to be blunt or sweet? Would you rather hear the awful truth? Or would you rather someone made an effort to preserve your self esteem by either avoiding the subject or telling you flattering lies?

Are sit-ups a total waste of time? If you enjoy doing them then the answer is 'no,' although if you're doing them just to build core strength you might be wasting your time. Why? Sit-ups and crunches have been around since the very beginnings of exercise, and it's not that they don't build strength and tone but in truth there may be better more effective ways to get the same results. Sit-ups and crunches are essentially isolation exercises, and doing comprehensive moves that involve your whole body where the abs and core can develop in coordination with the rest of the muscles can provide a strong core along with strong arms and legs and everything else.

I'm not a personal trainer, but I bet there's arguments on both sides of this issue: sit-ups or no sit-ups? That is the question.

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Why should you lose weight? Okay, dumb question. But maybe not for everybody, because sometimes it's easy to get bogged down in the everyday and lose your real motivation. So make a conscious effort to find it again, whether it's to have more energy for playing with your kids/nieces/grandchildren/etc, reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, or simply to breathe better and feel more energetic.

This article will give you a quick boost in your weight loss plans, reminding you of good ideas for everything from "feel fuller" foods to fun ways to burn calories, and even how to get a flatter stomach. There's so many tips and information out there, sometimes you just need to see it again to stay on track.

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