The sad truth is there's nothing lovely about love handles. Those extra pockets of fat that hang over your jeans are troublesome -- but not impossible -- to tone. You'll need to engage in activities to reduce your overall fat percentage on your body and strengthen the muscles underlying the love handles.
Step 1
Burn calories by engaging in five 30-minute cardiovascular exercise sessions per week. While it's impossible to target where you will lose fat, heart-pumping exercise helps to reduce your overall body fat percentage, which can ultimately equal weight loss at your midsection. Choose from exercises you enjoy; jogging, fast walking, swimming, cycling, using an elliptical machine, biking or taking an aerobics class are all fat-blasting workouts.
Step 2
Target the oblique muscles underneath your love handles with a Pilates'-inspired move. Sit with your legs extended in front of you, gripping a weighted ball or dumbbell with both hands, holding the weight at shoulder height in front of you. Bend your knees and lift your legs toward your chest. Stop when your thighs and torso are in a "V" position. Twist your torso to your left side, return to the center, then switch to your right side. Lower your legs and arms to your starting position. Repeat three times.
Step 3
Work the obliques and lower abdominal muscles via the leg drop exercise. Lie on your back with your feet flat on the floor. Slowly lift your feet three inches off the ground, then drop the knees toward your right side. Return to your starting position, then drop the knees to the left side. Extend your arms out from your shoulders for better balance. Repeat the entire exercise five times.
Step 4
Grab a large stability ball to perform the roll and curl exercise to target your love handles. Start in a push-up position with your lower legs resting on the exercise ball and your hands on the floor. Tighten your abdominal muscles and buttocks to draw the knees in toward the left side of your chest. Bring them in as far as you are able, then straighten the legs. Repeat on the opposite side, reaching toward the right side of your chest.
Things You'll Need
- Stability ball
- 5 lb. dumbbell or weighted ball
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