I asked Hollywood trainer Rachel Cosgrove to help me break down the biggest weight loss myths -- read on to find out how to slim down and get buff properly!

ME: In your opinion, what is the #1 weight loss myth?

RC: That steady state aerobics is the most effective form of exercise for fat loss. Instead, they should be used to get you warmed up or at the end of a workout to cool down or burn some extra calories.

Most people spend hours peddling their wheels or walking to nowhere and fit in strength training when they can. They need to flip their priorities. Doing more than 4-5 hours a week of exercise is not realistic for most people, so those 4-5 hours should be spent lifting weights and doing a couple of interval sessions.

ME: Woah,weight lifting for ladies? Won't that lead to an army of she-hulks?

RC: Using the right program will give you definition and the right amount of muscle as you are losing fat, so you will actually be smaller with toned arms and a hard butt and thighs, not big and bulky.

ME: What is the #1 weight loss diet myth?

RC: The number one myth with diet is that you have to eat less to lose fat. Instead of eating less, let's take the approach of burning more.

I have a saying: Fuel your body to be Fabulous! With the right foods fueling your body you will burn calories. If you are doing the right type of exercise you will burn more and more calories.

ME: Explain why are diet foods are a misnomer:

RC: Many of the diet foods use high fructose corn syrup and/or hydrogenated fats among other processed artificial products.

If you look at the label of Fat Free Peanut Butter, it's full of High Fructose Corn Syrup, sugar and other processed, really bad for you stuff. You are much better off eating natural peanut butter, with the fat and all, where the ingredients are just peanuts and salt.

Fat is not bad for you by the way, but hydrogenated fats, high fructose corn syrup and all of the other processed stuff in diet foods are.

ME: What is a realistic, working woman weight-loss training schedule?

RC: Most of our clients come in 3-4 hours a week, but I have women who get great results in just 2 hours a week.

Get more with Rachel at www.thefemalebodybreakthrough.com -- Her book by the same name will be published by Rodale in October 2009. Pre-order on Amazon.com

Wes Ferguson is a lifestyle expert and entertainment writer living out the Young Hollywood dream in beautiful Westside Los Angeles.