You know that stubborn fat you hate sitting around your hips? Love handles can quickly become a source of insecurity for many women.
You’ve tried countless diets and exercises, but nothing seems to work. Here are 5 habits to consider for your daily routine: cutting back on sugar, eating more fibre, staying active, making time for yourself and trying massage.
Love handles: the essentials
There is no single solution for love handles. A combination of habits that you can maintain over time matters more than any one change. Cut back on sugar, fizzy drinks and processed foods, and include fibre-rich fruit and vegetables in your meals. Move each day, even if it’s just a walk, and make time for yourself to manage stress. Massage can be a relaxing addition to your routine.
We look at each of these habits below.
Cut back on sugar
Did your grandmother always warn you that going back for seconds would send dessert straight to your hips? It’s an oversimplification, but the basic idea holds: regularly eating too much sugar throws your diet off balance.
Added sugar turns up almost everywhere: desserts, biscuits, drinks, sauces and ready-made meals. Checking labels is a useful first step, especially as it’s easy to eat far more of it than you think.
That’s why, if you want to tackle your love handles, cutting back on sugar is a good place to start. Watch out for processed biscuits, pastries, processed meats and ready-made meals. You can still enjoy a treat now and then.
Equally, you should do your best to cut down on fizzy drinks. We don’t always realise it, but a single can of soda contains the equivalent of several teaspoons of sugar. The same goes for alcoholic drinks.
Opt for drinking water or sugar-free homemade drinks, such as infused water or herbal tea. It’s often recommended to drink at least 1.5 litres a day, adjusted to your needs.
Eat more fibre
Is your diet low in fibre? You’ll find it in fruit and vegetables, among other foods. Including 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day is one way to bring more variety to your meals.
A high-fibre diet can be part of a balanced way of eating. Fibre is found in fruit, vegetables, pulses and wholegrains, which add variety and substance to your meals.
Fruit and vegetables also provide vitamins and minerals. Just be mindful not to cook your vegetables in excessive amounts of fat. Steaming is a simple way to prepare them while keeping their flavour.
In 2019, an analysis of the POUNDS Lost study examined the relationship between fibre intake and weight (1). For more on the subject, read about common mistakes when trying to lose weight.
To keep your meals varied, try green vegetables, courgettes, endive, cabbage and beetroot. Fruit and vegetables can have a place at every meal.
Get moving
It probably comes as no surprise that exercise can be part of a balanced routine. You don’t need to run a marathon — 30 minutes of walking a day is a way to get your body moving.
Hop on your bike whenever the sun comes out, take up dancing or sign up for swimming classes at your local pool.
When you exercise, you use energy, feel fitter and build good habits for the rest of the day.
To support your new active lifestyle, check out our top 5 exercises for working your waist. These moves focus on the muscles around your waist and sides.
Make time for yourself
When you’re stressed, your usual routine can be disrupted. You might sleep poorly, skip meals or find yourself wanting to snack more often.
Working on managing your stress can be part of a balanced lifestyle. Easier said than done, we know. Try to unwind when you can and make time for yourself; it may help you stick with the habits you’ve chosen.
Do things that make you feel good. Getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, eating healthily and exercising regularly are all habits worth making time for when you’re managing stress.
If stress persists despite a healthy lifestyle, there are a few simple ways to make time to relax.
Unwind with yoga or sophrology, practise breathing slowly, and speak to a professional if stress is affecting your quality of life.
Try massage
With a few simple techniques, massage can be a moment of self-care for your waist and abdomen. It offers a chance to relax and can leave your skin feeling warm.
If you also struggle with water retention, you can read our tips on the subject.
If you’re not a massage expert, doing it by hand can be tricky — you may not know exactly what to do. That’s where Cellublue’s Slimming Massage Device comes in, using vibrations to massage the area.
Easy and quick to use, it fits easily into your routine alongside a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
The cordless massager: 2 900 rotations per minute to stimulate your skin
- A deep mechanical massage: rotations and vibrations, up to 2 900 turns per minute, knead the skin on your thighs, stomach, arms and bottom
- 2 complementary heads: the ball head kneads deep down, then the wave head smooths and tones the surface
- 5 intensity levels on a touchscreen, a blue light, cordless and quiet
Looking for a complete self-care routine? The Cellublue Love Handles Programme brings together products designed for the waist area. It’s a simple routine formulated with natural ingredients.
Sources and references
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31174214
Frequently asked questions
What exercise can you do for love handles?
You don’t need to run a marathon: 30 minutes of walking a day is a way to start moving. Cycling, dancing and swimming are other options. For exercises that work the muscles around your waist, see the top 5 linked in the “Get moving” section.
Which foods should you choose if you’re concerned about love handles?
No single food targets love handles. Aim for a balanced diet that includes fruit and vegetables, such as greens, courgettes, endive, cabbage and beetroot. You could steam your vegetables, cut back on processed biscuits, pastries, processed meats, ready-made meals and fizzy drinks, and aim to drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day.
Can stress play a part in love handles?
Stress can disrupt your sleep and eating habits, and leave you wanting to snack more often. Making time for sleep, meals, physical activity and relaxation, whether through yoga or sophrology, may help you maintain a routine. If stress is affecting your quality of life, speak to a doctor.
Related articles
Useful categories: Lose Love Handles.
