Love handles are those annoying bits of fat around your middle that seem hard to get rid of, no matter how many crunches you do. You’re not the only one who has been having trouble with this common problem. My name is Lauren Fortener, and I’ve been helping women change their bodies for 9 years as a personal trainer and group exercise teacher.
As the owner of a women’s gym, I’ve made a great group of people who have become friends. I’ve also helped a lot of women feel good about themselves again, especially after big changes like pregnancy. Find out my tried-and-true method for getting rid of those pesky love handles—it’s easier than you think.
Why Love Handles Are So Stubborn (And What That Means for Your Workout)
It’s important to know why love handles are so hard to get rid of before you start the movements. Our oblique muscles aren’t very strong, so this is where stubborn fat likes to build up. Because of how it’s built, it’s a natural place for fat to build up, but don’t worry—if you take the right steps, you can definitely make progress.
Exercise #1: The Russian Twist
The Russian twist is my favorite exercise for getting rid of love handles because it works on the circular movement of your core. Here’s how to perform it correctly: Put your heels on the floor and sit down on your mat. Place a barbell across your chest. For beginners, you should start without this much weight. Turn your body while turning to the knee on the other side. For an advanced variation, lift your feet up and keep your knees at a 90-degree angle.
Common mistakes to avoid: As you look forward, don’t round or hunch your shoulders. Keep your chest out and your shoulders back. Form should come first, then adding weight; quality over numbers! As a first suggestion: three sets of ten turns, five on each side.
Exercise #2: Side Plank
The side plank is a strong move that works your love handles and strengthens your core at the same time. Lay on your side and use your hand or elbow to support your body. Lift your hips up until they are straight with your body. Hold this pose and work on tightening your obliques. A tip for beginners: Keep your knees bent to get more support.
Exercise #3: Bicycle Crunch
A modern spin is added to this old exercise to help you target your love handles even more: Rest your forehead on your mat and touch your toes. While stretching your left leg, turn your left arm to your right knee. Keep switching sides in a spinning motion. Tip for beginners: Go slowly at first to keep your form right.
Exercise #4: Mountain Climbers
Mountain climbers do cardio and core exercises together to burn more fat. Start in the position of a high plank. Bring each knee to your chest one at a time. Start slowly and build up your speed over time. When you first start, step your feet instead of running them.
Exercise #5: Oblique Bends
This exercise you do while standing will help your side core muscles get stronger: Keep your feet firmly on the ground. Take a weight in your right hand. To get back to standing, bend sideways and use your oblique. Tip for beginners: Don’t use weights at first. Start all of your workouts with three sets of ten reps, then move on to three sets of twelve, and finally, try for three sets of fifteen.
Your 30-Day Success Strategy: Beyond Exercise
Even though these routines are effective, you need a more complete plan to reach your objectives:
Nutrition: “Nutrition is a very important part of getting rid of stubborn fat.” Our bodies can burn fat if we watch how many calories we eat and pay attention to our macronutrients. Getting protein is a great way to speed up our digestion. Cutting back on sugar also helps get rid of fat stores.
Lifestyle Factors: “Controlling our stress and getting enough excellent sleep also helps.” And DON’T forget to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and flush toxins out of our bodies!
Remember that these workouts will raise your heart rate and work the core area where love handles are located. The effects you want can be reached with consistent practice, a good diet, and healthy habits in general. Today is the first day of your trip. Start with these tried-and-true moves, and in 30 days, watch as your body changes. Also, if you liked this one, check out How Long Should Your Walking Workout Be to Lose Belly Fat?