Get fit overnight! ... Yeah, right.

Your New Year’s resolution is to get fit. But can you really turn a flabby tummy into ripped abs in a short time, like some product ads claim? This New York Times article spotlights a study conducted by exercise experts who questioned the reality of those before and after photos of pudgy people who developed buff bods practically overnight.

“To make a change in how you look, you are talking about a significant period of training,” said William Kraemer, a kinesiology professor at the University of Connecticut. “In our studies it takes six months to a year.” And, he added, that is with regular strength-training workouts, using the appropriate weights and with a carefully designed individualized program. “That is what the reality is,” he said.

The experts don't think those before and after pics were doctored, but they say results aren't typical. The article also includes examples of folks who did change their bodies and how they did it -- through nutrition and sweat.