Love handles are also known as muffin tops, the area around the waist where a roll of flab may accumulate, just above the hipbones. Working this area to reduce the appearance of fat takes work and determination, but it can be done by performing a variety of focused exercises, suggests former Navy SEAL Stew Smith on Military.com. For optimal and fast results, combine regular cardiovascular exercise with a nutritious, low-fat, low-calorie diet for a slimmer waistline.
Waist Twists
For an effective method of reducing extra flab that hangs around your waistline, focus on your abdominal obliques, the muscles that lie under flab in the love-handle area. During or after regular aerobic workouts or activities, such as jogging, running on a treadmill or even a game of hoops, stand with your feet shoulder-distance apart and your arms extended outward to your sides at shoulder level. You can also place a broom handle over your shoulders, hanging onto each end, suggests ExRx.net, or hold a stick or broom handle centered vertically in front of your body with your arms held chest-high.
To perform the exercise, twist from side to side, tucking your abdomen in toward your spine. Keep your hips and lower torso stable, only allowing your waist to twist. Your head shouldn't move. Twist from one side to the other about 50 times. You can do this exercise several times a day.
Oblique Side Crunches
Oblique side crunches work the sides of your waist to help get rid of love handles. To do this exercise, lie on the floor in the basic sit-up position with your knees bent and your hands at your sides, Smith suggests. Then place your left arm on the floor, bring your right hand behind your head and cross your left ankle over your right knee. Inhaling and then exhaling, suck in your abdominals and lift your head and shoulders off the floor, twisting and trying to bring your right elbow to your left knee. Your left arm should remain firmly planted on the floor.
Perform 5 to 10 twists on the right side and then switch, placing your right arm on the floor and crossing your right ankle over your left knee. Repeat.
Sitting Can-Can
Another very effective exercise to help get rid of love handles is to sit on the floor with your arms tucked slightly behind your hips for balance, your knees bent and your toes pointed down toward the floor, suggests FitSugar. Next, suck in your lower abs and drop your legs, feet together, down to the right side of the floor. You're not actually going to touch your knees to the floor, but lower them at least several inches to feel the pull along your side muscles. On the exhale, lift your bent legs back to the starting position and then straighten them as high as you can lift them. Next, tuck in your knees and lower both legs to the left side. Try this for at least two to three repetitions to start, increasing as you feel your abs growing stronger.
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