While some people find love handles attractive and cute, not everyone shares that opinion. In fact, most women want to see these little rolls disappear from their body and are willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of them. So what are the best exercises to lose love handles?
A quick reminder: what exactly are love handles?
Love handles are the rolls of fat that spill over the waistband of your jeans. They refer to the areas of fat accumulation above your hips. They generally develop as a result of excess calorie intake or a sedentary lifestyle.
There are really only a few ways to get rid of them: a healthy diet, regular physical exercise, and slimming boosters such as slimming garments and body care products. These will help you burn calories and eliminate as much fat as possible around the hips and stomach. Here are the top 5 exercises to lose love handles!
Burpees
Commonly known as the frog jump, burpees work the abs, glutes, arms, thighs and chest muscles. They are also highly effective for burning the fat stored around the love handles. Simply get into a squat position and jump up repeatedly. Do 10 burpees, take a 1-minute rest, and repeat 3 times.
The Russian Twist
Focused on the core and oblique muscles, the Russian twist is ideal for targeting the areas where love handles form. Unlike other exercises, the Russian twist does not directly burn fat. Instead, it works to slim and tone the waist muscles.
To start, sit on the floor with your knees bent. Then grab an object such as a dumbbell or a water bottle to increase the intensity. Avoid anything too heavy, as it could strain your spine. Hold the object in both hands and rotate your shoulders from left to right, mimicking the movement of the oblique abs. It is important to perform the movements slowly in order to engage the abdominals and really feel them working. Aim for up to 20 repetitions.
The Oblique Mountain Climber
The oblique mountain climber is one of the exercises you can easily do at home to get rid of love handles. It primarily targets the oblique abdominals and gives your cardio a real workout.
The mountain climber is a strength training exercise that feels straightforward for those used to it, but can be quite challenging for beginners. That said, it is excellent for slimming the hips and sculpting a beautiful silhouette. Simply get into a plank position on the floor with your legs and arms fully extended. The movement involves bringing one knee towards the opposite shoulder. Push yourself to complete as many reps as possible in 45 seconds for best results. You can do 2 to 3 sets with a 1-minute rest between each.
Bicycle Crunches
With bicycle crunches, you directly target the entire abdominal muscle group. Those who practise this exercise regularly have seen results, showing off a toned, defined stomach.
The bicycle crunch is easy to get the hang of: simply lie on your back with your hands behind your neck. Raise your legs to a right angle and begin pedalling as if you were on a bike — but in the air. With just 60-second sets, you can get rid of love handles without ever setting foot in a gym. That said, you should gradually increase the number of sets each day if you are looking for faster results.
The Oblique Plank
Often known as the side plank, the oblique plank is another great exercise for losing love handles. You can use it to progressively strengthen your oblique abdominals and achieve a sculpted waist. For this one, the dynamic variation is the way to go. Performed in 45-second sets, it actively works the love handle area.
Start by lying on your side, propped up on your elbow. Then lift your hips for 45 seconds before slowly lowering them back down. Repeating this movement on each side will help reduce excess fat around the hips.