Question and answer time again, folks. Keep those questions coming.

I’ll print as many as I can. I’ve even answered a few on the blog. Milo, I run about 23 miles a week, outside whenever possible.

However, due to cold temps and icy streets, I’ve been on my treadmill since early December with only a couple of days outside during that time. I have kept to the 23-miles-perweek regimen. Recently, I again hit the street but found it an exhausting experience, even though I run faster on the treadmill than outside. I do use the incline feature on the treadmill, but it’s impossible to duplicate wind resistance on a treadmill.

Can you account for why it would seem harder to run outside after being confined to a treadmill for the better part of two months? Pam

– When running outside your body is forced to do more work, which requires the heart to pump more oxygen to the muscles. On a treadmill, the support system is moving. If you lift up a foot and set it straight down, on the treadmill that foot would have gained distance using a minimal amount of energy. Do the same outside – pick up your foot and put it down – you’ve gained nothing. To me, that’s the primary difference. Outside, your body is doing all the work to move you. Inside the treadmill helps your body do the work.

Milo, I am 63, and in 2002 made a concerted effort to lose about 21 pounds through diet and consistent exercise. I have managed to keep that weight off by maintaining my exercise program and watching what goes in my mouth. However, no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to tone myself up. I have tried a series of arm exercises with weights to minimize batwings, and they are still there. Same with the loose skin at my upper thighs. Is there any possibility that muscle could fill up what was once occupied by fat? Any advice would be appreciated. Toni

– I have a couple of ideas for you. First, you said you made a concentrated effort to lose 21 pounds. What we don’t know is whether those 21 pounds were mostly fat weight. Sometimes we lose weight, and in there is a lot of lean body weight. If we’re looking to lose that sagging skin, we need to get a healthy amount of lean body weight. Check out your body fat percentage and see whether you can work to improve that. Now – and I say this only because there are folks who are simply mentally distraught because of aesthetics – surgery might be an option for some folks. Some procedures are called post-bariatric surgery. Others call it body contouring or body lifts. Keep the questions coming!