Love handles, the excess fat that lingers above the hips in men and around the waist in women, are infamous for sticking around for the long haul. Getting rid of the ?spare tire? through exercise means getting in the habit of exercising your abdominals on a daily basis.
Performing a series of intense crunches will strengthen the muscles in your abdomen. This, in conjunction with aerobic workouts to burn fat 5 times a week will get you on the road to total physical and mental health. Spot training the love handles away is not possible but a conscientious regimen of good diet and exercise will get your body in the best shape it can be.
1. Leg Flutters- It's important to strengthen the back while toning your abdominal muscles. Strengthening the back will create a balanced torso to reduce the flab in your love handle area.
* lie on your stomach while slightly lifting your head.
* Hold your arms straight alongside your body in front of you like Superman.
* Lift feet and knees off the floor while rapidly fluttering your legs back and forth.
* Perform this exercise for 20 seconds, break for 20 seconds and repeat for 2-5 reps.
2. Twist Crunches- Working your internal and external obliques and the rectus abdominis (the side muscles of your abdomen) will strengthen the muscles where the love handle fat collects.
* Lie flat on the back with knees bent.
* Support your head and neck with your hands without locking fingers together.
* Bring your right elbow to your left knee while twisting and extend the right leg.
* Perform 20 twist crunches on the left side and 20 on the right side. Repeat, with breaks, for 3 sets.
3. Standing Trunk Twists- this exercise has the added effect of being aerobic. This will increase your heart rate and burn fat around the love handles area.
* Stand upright with feet hip width apart and soft knees.
* While keeping your hips and legs stable, twist the torso to the left while crossing the right arm in front of the body with a punching movement. Repeat the same movement on the right side.
* Perform this exercise for 100 reps with no breaks. Repeat.
