Love Handles - by Editor

Whether you are slim or need to lose weight, chances are you have love handles you would do anything to get rid of! Here's help.

One of the most common issues men and women have with their bodies are love handles, the annoying bit of fat that hangs out from the sides of our abdomen, over the waistband of our jeans or skirts. Love handles are common not just in those who are a little overweight, but even in relatively slim people with bodies that are not completely toned. Here's how you can get rid of them:

Side bends

Stand up and spread your legs so they are a little more than shoulder width distance. Bend sideways to the left, reaching for your left calf with your left leg. After you have bent as far to the left as possible, bring your right hand over your head, stretching it to the left. This will give you a further stretch in your sides. It is not necessary to use weights. Remember that you want the fat in this are to disappear without bulking up the muscles. Repeat 15 times on each side. Do 4 sets.

Side crunches

All of us are (or should be!) familiar with stomach crunches. Lie down with feet shoulder-width apart, hands below the head. When you get up, twist to the left bringing your right elbow in front and drawing in the left knee so they meet. Start by repeating this exercise 15 times, and move up to 30-45 repetitions. Do 4 sets.

Twist

Sit on a stool holding a long rod. You could use a broomstick. Place the stick on your shoulders behind your neck, supporting it with your arms. Twist from side to side. This exercise also works out your obliques (side stomach muscles), tightening them over a period of time.

Cardio

Remember that all these exercises work best when supplemented by cardiovascular activity. Brisk walking 5-6 times a week, or jogging 3-4 times a week, for half an hour, should be enough to burn off some fat, get your heart going and pump up circulation.

Diet

Make it a point to avoid eating carbohydrates (chapatti, brown bread etc.) at night. You can pile on the carbs during the day, for breakfast and for lunch, but not for dinner. This is because when you have carbs in the morning, your body has enough time to work it off during the day. But when you have it for dinner and go off to sleep, your body will need to convert excess carbs into body fat, so it can store it.

Tricking Mother Nature

If you wear something too tight around the hips, the soft flesh above is bound to stick out from the sides. But if you wear something a little looser, the flesh will just slip into it giving you a flawless line on the sides, thus effectively eliminating the love handles! However, this is easier said than done because if your jeans or trousers are a little loose from the sides to hide love handles, they are likely to be a little loose all over, which may not be what you want. This would be easier with skirts.
Your best bet to looking sexy this summer would be to be regular with your cardio workout and side stretches.





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Comments on Article

Name: Asif
City:   Mumbai
Comments:   Hey! Good exercising tips, how to reduce your weight by using such simple exercise it is Great...
Name: neha
City:   b'lore
Comments:   hello,i have a question,u said not to eat chappati,brown bread,but what is best alternative for this to reduce carbs at night.tx
Name: smita
City:   ranchi
Comments:   Have salad, veges.. boiled veges with salad dressing or with a little mayo is excellent. u could also have fruit. my fave is strawberries. they are not too sweet, they have very little calories and are high in fibre and nutrients. or have rice at night.
Name: Jezyak
City:   shoshone
Comments:   This is a really great exrcies! im 16 and i play alot of sports but im not looseing my l/h! i have problems with my love handles, and this is just great. i no longer have this problem! thank your very much!
Name: manisha
City:   bangalore
Comments:   hey...great tips...but what do we eat at nightNULLNULL
Name: Swati
City:   chandigarh
Comments:   nice article can you please tell how to reduce chuby cheeks,my cheeks are becoming more n more wide day by day .i am gaining wait too
Name: Kim
City:   Usa
Comments:   Thank you for the advice i needed so bad.I was bending to sides for a while but when i stop i notice that the fat was appearing and coming fast! Oh no after doing the exercise i can see the difference.
Name: carliy
City:   usa
Comments:   thanks for the tips i am pretty sure they will come in handy i just want to get the body shape and size i want and i think this will really help!! thanks again
Name: Rea
City:   Johanesburg - South Africa
Comments:   I really need help with love handles, and found your site!Thank you - i will try these excercises! Any suggestions for a wuick fixNULL as I have to go to an award ceremony and want to look great in a more tigh fitting topNULL any ideas or tipsNULL
Name: Delore
City:   Usa
Comments:   i have really big cheeks. is there a way to get rid of the fat without surgeryNULL
Name: Brittany
City:   Chantagoga
Comments:   Thanks for the tips. I am a thin, 15 year old girl who is active in many sports but I have love handles that I just didnt know how to get rid of. Hopefully this works. How long does it take to workNULL
Name: vanessa
City:   london
Comments:   thanx so much it has really helped on my love handles a great deal and they have completely gone now. i can't thank you enough because i thought their wasn't anything that could get rid of them!!! thanx again
Name: Jojo
City:   seattle
Comments:   i have fat cheeks. is there a way to get rid of that without any operationsNULL
Name: Mitshell
City:   Kuwait
Comments:   i have started the side bends and twists since 3 - 4 days after reading this article and have been walking regularly on my treadmill for the last six months. i hope it s going to help me tone up my love handle. i wonder how long it ll take and also i d like to know if these exercises will help tone up the area slightly above the curve of the waist. i have slight flab there which kind of hangs and make me feel uncomfortable. the kind that u can se hanging from the end of the sari blouse at the back of old ladies. can this be reduced by side bends. Please reply.
Name: Danielle
City:   Oshawa
Comments:   Thank you so much for your exercising tips! I am definetley excited to start working on these love handles!!! Thanks so much, wish me luck! I'll keep everyone updated!
Name: Zita
City:   Abu Dhabi
Comments:   Please advise the alternate food to chappaties at night. Is rice consumption at night as bad as chappatiesNULL
Name: TENEILIA
City:   WEST PALM BEACH
Comments:   I WANT WEIGHT ON MY BUTT AND HIPS.
Name: karim
City:   doha
Comments:   that is yor wish I am waiting
Name: samera
City:   BIRMINGHAM
Comments:   hi there, anyone want to lose fat in there body and shape up then take 1tbp of pure honey add into warm water and take that 1st thing in the morning. You will notice within 15 days. I have tried it it works!! and i can feel that my bodyshape is coming back as it use to be. Good Luck!
Name: arvind
City:   Bangalore
Comments:   Hi anyone who wants to reduce the double cheek.....do this exercise.....Form an exaggerated "O" with your mouth by pushing your lips out as far as possible. Now smile is brightly as you can. Hold for 1 sec, then form the "O" shape again. Hold for 1 second. Repeat 10 times.
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