How to lose those love handles
LOVE handles are not as cute as they sound, and those people who have them will tell you that they are not only uncomfortable and unattractive, but they are also very difficult to get rid of.
But Gisel Harrow, personal trainer at Express Fitness, Liguanea, is convinced that her routines, when accompanied by the appropriate diet, can reduce these fleshy muffin tops and gradually get rid of them.
“Cardiovascular activities for a minimum of 30 minutes for three to five days each week can help to improve the appearance of love handles,” she said. “Incorporating balanced meals will help in achieving better results.”
Below she tells how to achieve this:
Wood choppers
Start by holding weights in both hands up by your left shoulder. Next, twist to make a chopping motion down towards your right hip. Allow your feet and knees to pivot with the twist. Next, raise the weight back up to your left shoulder and repeat 20 times. Repeat this on the right side. Do three sets on each side.
Russian twists
Sit on your butt with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Your torso should be leaning back at a 45-degree angle to the floor. Next, hold weights or both hands together, then lift your feet from the ground, crossing them at the ankles and balancing on your butt. From this position, twist your torso to the right and touch the ground next to your body. Now, twist back over to the left, touching the weights or hands to the left side of your body. Repeat back and forth, all while balancing with your legs and torso raised off the ground. Do three sets of 20 on each side.
Side plank dips
Get into the side plank position with your elbow on the ground and your legs and hips resting on the ground. Engaging your abs, keep your body in a straight line, then raise the lower half of your body up off the ground into a straight plank position. Lower your body again and repeat. Do 15 on your right side, and then 15 on your left side. Complete three sets.
As it relates to a complementing diet, Harrow had these recommendations:
A balanced diet
Go for a diet that is nutritious, avoiding fatty processed food like pastries, fries, popcorn and fatty meats. Include more fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy products. Not only will these whole foods keep you full for longer, but they will give you energy for exercise.
Avoid alcohol
Alcohol leads to a spike in the blood sugar levels. An unregulated blood sugar level can be very hard on the system and can lead to the storage of belly fat.
Eliminate sugar from your diet
If you can’t reduce all forms of sugar from your diet, be sure to avoid fructose and other processed sugars which the body is unable to metabolise. These tend to transfer to fats that are stored and that will grow around your organs.
— PENDA HONEYGHAN
