On Lifting Weights

Lifting weights isn't going to turn you into a bulging muscle freak - unless you want it to. Remember, it's all in the approach. To get lean and strong with weights, work large muscle groups, such as the back, chest, and legs since they burn the most calories.

If you are tired of exercisng alone, join your partner on days when he's doing the following fat-obliterating exercises: squats, leg extensions, and leg curls for the lower body; chest presses, flies, lat pulldowns, and rows for the chest and back.

To tone up and kill calories, do one to three sets of 12 to 15 reps, using enough weight that your muscles are fatigued (but not completely spent) when you get to the last rep. To build mass, you should do three to five sets of 8 to 10 reps, using enough weight that by the end of the alst set, you can't do one more rep.