Ditch those Love Handles with Diet and Exercise

            You might refer to the weight gain that you carry around your hips and abdomen as your ‘love handles’ but you know there is not much to love about them. These can seem impossible to get rid of, but with the right diet and exercises you won’t have to love them – you can dump them!

Firstly, ensure you’re getting a diet that benefits your wellbeing, as well as your more weighted areas. Eat fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and lean meats, and cut processed foods and fast food out of your diet. Drink plenty of water, and don’t skip breakfast. Why don’t you experiment with different fresh food options for your first meal of the day? These quality choices will give you the nutrients, fibre, and energy you’ll need. Also, make sure other aspects of your wellness are taken care of. De-stress, relax and get enough sleep as much as possible. This can all be easier said than done, but your success will be worth it.

There are also specific exercises you can do to cure your love handles. Trunk twists are modified sit-up type exercises, and work because they focus directly on the problem area. Lie on your back, holding your hands together behind your head. Make sure your ankles are crossed and your legs are raised so that your feet are slightly higher than your knees, whilst crossing your ankles. Then, lift your head and shoulders up off of the floor slightly, contract your stomach muscles and twist your upper body to the right so your left elbow completely twist past the trunk of your body to the right (hence the name of the exercise). Relax, return to the starting position and repeat with the opposite side. To begin with, do 10-15 repetitions, but as you get good at it, pick up the pace and increase your repetitions.

Oblique crunches can also help target love handles after you’ve warmed up with trunk twists or light cardio, as they target the three layers of abdominal muscles. Lie on the floor with your legs bent at a 90 degree angle, and your feet vertical. Now, place your hands on the back of your head, and then you lift your shoulder blades off the ground until your right elbow touches your left knee. Really focus on this next step for maximum results: squeeze your abs for a minute. Then return to the beginning and repeat the steps.

These are just two of many exercises you can try, but they only work with diet, de-stressing and, most importantly of all, determination.