Love handles, that extra fat that tends to spill out over the side of your jeans, is more than just unsightly, it is dangerous. Excess fat around your middle is an indication of visceral fat, fat that is hidden deep inside and surrounds your organs. Visceral fat can lead to high blood-pressure, diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol levels, notes Harvard Medical School. Eating a healthy diet that is low in saturated fats, and exercising daily will shrink your love handles and put you in a healthier physical state.
Obliques with a Twist
Losing the fat around your waist will take a combination of cardiovascular exercise for fat-burning and strength exercises for toning. Exercises that focus on the oblique muscles, the muscles that form the waist, will help give you definition. Obliques with a twists engages the entire core and focuses on the obliques. Begin in a push-up position, hands shoulder width apart, feet and knees together and your core engaged. Exhale and twist so both knees face the left. Inhale and straighten both legs back to your starting position. Repeat the twist on the opposite side. Do 10 to 20 repetitions, making sure there is no stress on your lower back.
Twisting Jackknife
The twisting jackknife lifts and twists the obliques for an effective waist workout. This exercise begins supine with your legs straight and your arms next to your side. If you feel any stress in your lower back bend the knees slightly. Extend your right arm straight up above your shoulder. Exhale and lift your right arm up as you lift your left leg up to touch in the middle, inhale and release. Repeat 10 to 15 times and then switch to the opposite side.
Side Plank
Yoga poses lengthen and strengthen the muscles for effective muscle toning. The side plank is a yoga pose that engages the obliques and is simple yet challenging to do. Begin on your right side with your left leg directly on top of your right leg and knees slightly bent. Lift your upper-body to support your torso weight with your head and neck aligned. Exhale and lift your hips off of the floor, keeping your head and neck aligned. Hold for four to five seconds and release back to your starting position. To avoid injury keep your head and neck aligned, keeping them from sinking into your shoulders.
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