Dear Sarah, I am three months pregnant and an avid exerciser. I usually do 30 minutes on my elliptical machine, a handful of free weights and some abdominal exercises. Is it safe and advisable to continue with abdominal exercises? Christine ...

There's been a lot of talk about "the core" these days, thanks in part to the increasing popularity of yoga. But what is the core, why do we need to strengthen it and what are the best ways to work it? We asked fitness expert Kathleen Trotter to ...

Dear Sarah, Can you explain what makes up our abs? Also, I work mine every day, but I know you said that muscles need a period of at least 24-48 hours after heavy weight training to repair and recover. Is this true for the abdominals as well? Jade ...

Dear Sarah, How do I know if I am doing crunches correctly and are they really effective? Lori Dear Lori, An abdominal crunch is a very effective workout for your abs, as it works both your rectus and transversus abdominis. The transversus ...

'Tis the season for shovelling snow, but how can you avoid those common back-related ailments? We asked fitness expert Kathleen Trotter to share a tip from her newsletter to explain how you can activate your core and take the pressure off your back. ...

Earlier this week, I gave a mini 101 on what muscles make up our abs and when to give them a rest. Today, I'm offering you my six favourite ab-toning exercises. When designing your abdominal workout keep in mind the golden rule of resistance ...

Earlier this week I wrote about the male six-pack and how difficult (and possibly unrealistic) it is to achieve for most men. Well, for women it's even harder, and not as coveted, and not even all that healthy. And to make the whole thing even less ...

Dear Sarah, I have just started running (about 3- 4 weeks now), but I find that I am getting stitches in my right side. Although I am determined to keep at it, the stitches get so bad I have to stop. How can I get rid of them? Genevieve Dear ...