Q: I have been working out for many years. I have a lot of muscle on me, but as a woman I am very self-cautious about wearing sleveless shirts and skirts. Is there a way I can safely lose some muscle without gaining flab?

A: Are you sure that it's muscle and not fat that's causing your upper arms to appear big? Women typically store a lot of fat in the back of upper arms (tricep area) which leads to the 'big arms' appearence. It is rare that a woman actually has a lot of muscle built up there, even after years of working out. If you can flex your triceps and if it feels hard, then it really is muscle. If it's soft and does not take shape when you flex the tricep, then it's probably fat.

Legs are somewhat similar, though women are usually able to gain muscle in the lower body somewhat easier than in the upper body. But again they also store a lot of fat there, which may lead to the appearence of 'big legs'.

I am usually very reluctant to recommend losing muscle because muscle is so valuable as a fat burner (not to mention a host of other physiological and health reasons) and because people so often mistake fat for muscle. Trying to lose muscle may also result in additional fat, which rarely looks good, even on a woman. But if you are absolutely sure that it is really muscle that's causing the appearence you don't like and you really want to lose some muscle, then you should basically stop all weight training (cardio is still OK unless you have a problem with large calves) and go on weight-loss diet, such as the ones I describe on this site but with fewer calories. Lose weight slowly, about one pound per week and your skin should shrink to adjust. Again, just make absolutely certaing that it's really muscle and not fat that's causing those appearences. Good luck!