Love handles are the stubborn fat that sticks to the sides of your torso above the waistline and wraps around the back. Depending on your genetics, love handles can be a very tough area to burn fat off of—even more challenging than the fat on the front of your stomach!
Because of their location, most people assume that a typical abs exercise routine will destroy them. But that, unfortunately, is not true. You need exercises that specifically target love handles in order to get rid of them.
In order to get rid of Love handles , try these 7 exercises that are specifically designed to target the area on the sides of your abdomen.
1. Lumberjack exercise
Starting position: Stand with your legs hip-width apart. Put your body weight on your left leg and using both hands lift a dumbbell over your left shoulder.
Steps :
- Turn both hands to make the cutting motion, downward and to the right. Let your feet and knees rotate with the movement. Imagine that you are cutting down a large tree.
- Raise your hands up to where you started the exercise.
How many times: Repeat this movement 20 times on your left side. And then repeat the same movement on your right side.
2. Russian twists
Starting position: Sit on your butt with your knees bent and feet placed on the floor. In this position, your torso should be leaning back at a 45-degree angle to the floor. While in that position, hold a dumbbell with both hands.
Steps :
- Raise your feet off the ground. Cross your ankles and balance your butt.
- Now turn your torso to the right and bring the dumbbell you are holding towards the floor next to your body.
- Then do the same on the other side. Twist on the left side so that the weight touches the ground on the left side of your body.
How many times: Repeat back and forth about 40 times so you do 20 on each side.
3. Side Plank Hip Raises
Starting position: Get into a modified side plank position. In this position, you will have your elbow on the floor and your legs and hips resting on the floor on one side.
Steps :
- Raise your body.
- Stay in this position for 2 seconds and then lower your body.
How many times: Perform 15 times on the left side and 15 times on the right side.
4. Bicycle crunches
Starting position: Lie on your back, with your knees bent. Put your hands behind your head and interlace your fingers.
Steps :
- Raise your right leg so that your thighs are almost perpendicular to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor.
- At the same time, rotate your upper body and move your left elbow toward your raised knee so that it is in the center of your body.
- Now straighten your right leg, but keep it off the ground. While you are straightening your leg, bend your left leg and rotate your upper body so that the elbow of your right arm touches the knee of your left leg.
How many times: Perform 30 repetitions.
5. Burpees with jump
Starting position: Bend your knees and place your palms on the floor.
Steps:
- In one quick motion, kick your legs into the air so that you enter a plank or overhead push-up position.
- Hold this position for a few seconds and then pull your feet up toward your chest. Quickly jump to your feet, while simultaneously moving your hands toward the ceiling and clapping your hands.
- Lower your body back into the initial plank or plank position.
How many times: Perform 3 sets of 15 repetitions each.
6. Kneeling vacuum exercise
Starting position: Sit with your butt resting on your heels. Pull your shoulders back and place your palms next to your feet.
Steps :
- Imagine that you have to place your spine at your navel, and pull your belly in as far as you can.
- Hold this position for 5 to 10 seconds if you are just starting out. Once you get into the rhythm you can maintain it for about 20 seconds.
How many times: Repeat the stomach pull 5 times.
7. Swimmer exercise
Starting position: Lie face down with your arms parallel to each other and stretched out in front of you. Legs should be shoulder width apart.
Steps :
1. Raise your right arm and left leg in the air. Hold this position for about 2 or 3 seconds.
2. Lower them back to the ground.
3. Next, raise your left arm and right leg in the air, holding this position for 2 or 3 seconds before lowering them back to the ground.
How many times: Perform 10 repetitions of 5 counts for each side.
