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Do you have a problem area that's in need of a quick fix? If so, you've come to the right place for advice. As the resident body doctor, I'm here to help you get in shape.

Now before dispensing a prescription, it's important to realize we are not talking about spot reducing excess fat here. Despite the claims by various hucksters, spot reduction is a physiologic impossibility. When you lose weight, fat is mobilized from all areas of your body. While some areas are more resistant than others, there is no way to localize fat loss.

You can, however, 'spot tone' problem areas. Simply stated, spot toning is the art of performing exercises that target specific muscles, thereby firming up the region and sculpting definition into your physique. And since muscle is metabolically active tissue, you'll also rev up your cell's fat burning capacity, turning your body into a fat burning machine.

Target Zone: Shoulders:
The shoulders delineate the shape of your entire physique, from the outer contours of your deltoids on down. Problem is, the shoulders are also one of the most difficult areas of the body to develop. To conceal poorly developed shoulders, women often will wear outfits with padded sleeves (unfortunately, guys generally don't have this option). But while shoulder pads can temporarily mask the problem at hand, they only go so far. You can't hide poor shoulder development when you wear a tank top or bathing suit.

A nicely developed set of shoulders not only gives your physique a shapely appearance, but it also can help to offset certain structural flaws in other areas of your body, as well. For instance, by increasing your shoulder-to-waist differential, you can develop a natural taper that creates the illusion of a slimmer midsection. Greater shoulder dimension also helps to even out your hips, producing more balanced and symmetrical proportions. For a woman, this means more of an 'hour glass' shape; for a guy, it translates into achieving the coveted V-shape.

To get those shoulders up to snuff, the quick fix exercise I recommend is the Dumbbell Lateral Raise. The lateral raise is so highly effective because it focuses on the medial deltoid-the portion of the shoulder that most influences shoulder width. Here's how to perform the movement:

Begin by grasping two dumbbells and allow them to hang by your hips. Assume a shoulder-width stance and keep your knees slightly bent. With a slight bend to your elbows, raise the dumbbells up and out to the sides until they reach shoulder level. At the top of the movement, the rear of the dumbbells should be slightly higher than the front (as though you're pouring milk into a cup). Contract your delts then slowly return the weights to the start position.

Target Zone: Lower Abs:
No area of the body is more troublesome than the lower abdominal region. While many people can get 'four pack' abs, a lack of development in the bottom row of abdominal muscle is what prevents most people from attaining that elusive 'six pack'. The problem here is that the lower portion of your abs is much smaller and thinner than the upper portion (the abdominal muscle tapers from top to bottom). Thus, there is less muscle to work with, thereby complicating body sculpting efforts.

When it comes to lower ab development, women are at a particular disadvantage. Due to the physiological effects of menstruation, a woman's body produces an adaptive response to monthly bloating by outwardly stretching the muscle in the pelvic region. Over time, the lower abdominals tend to become soft and pliable, ultimately causing a slight bulge in the pelvis. The effects of childbearing, which distend these muscles even more, can serve to further compound the problem.

Now it's important realize that the abdominals are one long sheath of muscle that runs from just underneath your chest (sternum) all the way down into your pelvis. Thus, the upper and lower abs are not separable from one another-you cannot train one part without affecting the entire muscle. Every exercise that you perform will, to some degree, target both areas of this complex.

You can, however, exert more stress to the lower abominal region by performing movements that involve bringing your pelvis up towards your chest. So to tone up the lower abs, the quick fix exercise I recommend is the Reverse Curl. Because of the pelvic tilt required to complete the maneuver, the reverse curl allows you to place significant emphasis on the lower abdominal region, optimizing muscular development. Here's how to perform the movement:

Begin by lying on the floor with hands at your sides. Curl your knees into your stomach and lift your butt so that it is slightly off the ground. Keeping your upper back pressed into the floor at all times, raise your butt as high as possible so that your pelvis tilts toward your chest. Contract your abs and then reverse direction, returning to the start position. To make the move more difficult, place a weighted medicine ball between your knees during performance.

Target Zone: Inner Thigh:
Although the frontal thighs generally respond well to targeted exercise, those pesky adductor muscles on the inner thighs always seem to lag behind. Poorly developed adductors make the inner thighs seem loose and flabby, sometimes taking on a jelly-like appearance. Since muscle provides a supporting structure, these problems are compounded for those who have excess fat deposits in the area. But even with low body fat levels, a lack of muscle tone in the adductors will leave your legs looking flaccid.

To firm up the inner thighs, the quick fix exercise I recommend is the Side Lunge. By placing the inner thigh in a position to directly oppose gravity, the side lunge forces the adductors to do a majority of the workload, allowing you to achieve maximum results in minimal time. Here's how to perform the movement:

Begin by assuming a stance slightly wider than shoulder-width. Grasp two dumbbells and hold one in front and one in back of your body. Keeping your left leg straight, slowly bend your right knee out to the side until your right thigh is approximately parallel to the floor. Your right foot should be at a 90-degree angle to your left foot and your right knee must remain on the same plane as your right toes. Then, slowly rise back up and, after performing the desired number of repetitions, repeat this process on your left.

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