Q. Any thoughts - or results information - on those little abdominals' belts that are being advertised on TV? A trainer told me that sometimes they will use them to re-educate muscles that somehow have forgotten how to contract, or the message connection is not functioning between the brain and muscle.

A. There haven't been any recent studies on the belts that you are asking about, because they are a relatively new gimmick (note my emphasis on the word "gimmick").

They operate by sending shocks to the muscles to cause them to contract. And, yes, physical therapists have used similar methods to re-educate muscles, but under the strictest attention to and control over what is taking place and with directions from a physician.

Mandy Gibbons, a fitness professional and personal trainer, says it all. "One thing I am very concerned about is the fact that most of us want to believe that some miraculous piece of equipment, or pills, will give us that toned tummy that the sexy girls and guys have in the ads for these types of products.

Believe me, before I started in the fitness industry years ago I also thought if I spent hundreds of dollars it would work for me too. I was so upset when I found out that I actually had to work at it and there was no such miracle cure or quick fix solution."

Rather than suggesting that you take the chance of becoming a guinea pig for one of these belts, I recommend that you read my article on "How to Get Flat Abs" and also "Get on the Ball." Along with performing the exercises I suggest, there are two other requirements. Hundreds of crunches will not reduce a layer of fat around your middle if your diet is overly rich in fats and you are carrying a great deal of extra weight.

So, first of all, reduce the fat content in your diet. Secondly, perform cardiovascular exercise within your target heart range for 20 minutes at least three times a week (reminder: to find your target heart range take 220 minus your age for your maximum heart rate, and then multiply by .75).

While we are on the topic of Belts, I did some further research on two other types of belts that I see worn at the gyms and also in places where workers perform heavy, physical work, such as lifting.

The National Safety Council studied the use of Back Belts both in a work environment and for use during fitness lifting. They found that "back belt use may increase the blood pressure and heart rate of the wearer due to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure from wearing the belt. This increase in intra-abdominal pressure may also contribute to an increase in low back stress."

When addressing the issue of using a belt during exercise, "The use of belts is sometimes promoted as a `reminder' to use proper lifting technique. Proper body mechanics and lifting technique can only be achieved if the individual has a certain level of flexibility and strength... The risk of injury may increase when not wearing a belt following a period of use. The individual may become dependent on external support."

Another common type of belt I have observed at the gym is a wide Corset Belt that encloses the body in a firm girdle from the ribcage down to the lower abdominals. The hype is that because of the sweat and tightness, you will lose inches in that area. You might measure a little less right after wearing this gadget (because of water loss), but it won't be a permanent loss. We need to get into the habit of keeping our abdominals sucked in and tight without any kind of crutch, like a belt.

So, you've guessed it by now. My advice is to save your money - don't throw it away on gimmicks that could actually prove to be dangerous. Start working all of those muscles and your heart. And cut out the fat. Before you know it, you will have flat and strong abs, and feel great while getting there!