Q: You mentioned that the treadmill may result in large caves. What other exercises can affect the size of body parts? I heard that the steps can induce large thighs. Is this true?

A: Calves are really the only muscles that can increase in size significantly from cardio exercise. Your hips and butt can become somewhat more muscular from the step machine if you use higher resistance levels and also from exercises like squats and lunges, but that muscle build-up will usually be combined with fat loss from those same areas, so the end result will be smaller, but more toned hips and butt. As usual, I recommend that you do not do too much cardio (such as the step machine) but instead focus on weight training and a fat-burning diet as I describe on this site to ensure effective fat loss. If you are not gaining weight, then you have nothing to worry about as far as excessive muscle build up in areas other than calves.