Love handles, muffin tops, spare tires – they are all charming names for that pesky excess fat around your midsection. So, what do they represent? They are the extra fat that builds up around your abdominal region, giving the illusion of a wider waistline.
Indeed, its appearance is far from desirable, and that’s why we all look for ways to get rid of it. Haven’t got success yet? Give a read to this article highlighting the 14 best exercises for love handles – melt your muffin top workout as if it wasn’t there at all. Combining specific exercises, a well-balanced diet, and maintaining consistency can help you tackle this issue.
If you are wondering why you need to get rid of love handles in the first place, let’s start answering with that.
Why Targeting Love Handles is Essential?
Reducing love handles, the excess fat deposit around your midsection goes beyond the realm of physical appearance and attractiveness. It’s not just about fitting into slim-fit jeans or feeling confident in a swimsuit; it’s a matter of health. Accumulation of surplus fat around the abdomen has been associated with a range of health issues, such as heart ailments and diabetes.
So, it turns out melting your muffins is not just about aesthetics; reducing love handles is crucial for your overall health.
14 Best Exercises to Melt Your Love Handles
Your path to a slimmer waistline involves specific exercises designed to target specifically your love handles. Below are the 14 best exercises to help you do just that.
1: Bicycle Crunches
This exercise is a classic core workout, focusing on your oblique. To do this, lie flat on your back, hands behind your head. Lift your right elbow towards your left knee, then switch and repeat. Make sure to engage your abs throughout the motion, and your shoulder blades should lift off the ground.
2: Russian Twists
Russian Twists focus on engaging your entire core. Begin by taking a seated position with your knees bent. Gently lean back while maintaining a straight back, and proceed to twist your chest from side to side. For added difficulty, you can hold a weight in your hands.
3: Side Planks
A great workout for your muffin top, Side Planks also engage your shoulders and legs. Position yourself on your side, supporting your body with your forearm and aligning your feet on top of each other. Lift your hips until your body forms a straight line, hold this position briefly, and then lower yourself back down.
4: Mountain Climbers
A dynamic full-body workout, Mountain Climbers engages your core and boosts your heart rate for effective fat-burning. Begin in a high plank position and alternate by drawing one knee to your chest, then switching to the other knee. The motion should mimic running on the spot in a plank position.
5: Woodchoppers
Woodchoppers serve as an excellent functional exercise. Assume a standing position with your feet hip-width apart, holding a weight in both hands. Proceed to rotate your chest towards one side while lifting the weight diagonally across your body. Then, with a chopping motion, bring the weight down to your opposite hip. Ensure that you activate your core muscles and rotate your upper body.
6: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
HIIT workouts are fantastic for fat burning. These include short bursts of high-intensity exercises followed by a brief rest period. They can consist of any exercise (like squats or push-ups) and are known to burn fat even after the workout is over.
7: Lunges
Lunges are a great lower-body exercise that also engages your core, making them a great addition to a love handle workout. Start by placing your feet at a comfortable distance apart. Proceed to take a step forward with one foot and gradually lower your body until both knees are bent at a 90-degree angle.
Be certain that your front knee is in line with your ankle while your other knee hovers slightly above the ground. Rise back up to resume the initial stance, and subsequently, replicate the identical sequence on the opposite side.
8: Burpees
A highly effective, full-body exercise, burpees are renowned for burning a significant number of calories and boosting your metabolism. To execute a burpee, start in a standing position, then crouch down and plant your hands on the ground. Propel your feet backward to assume a plank position, followed by a swift return to the initial crouch. Explode upwards in a jump, reaching your hands to the sky, and repeat.
9: Standing Side Crunch
A gentler exercise involves standing straight, one hand behind your head, and lifting your knee to meet your elbow. This works your obliques and can be done anywhere, anytime.
10: Scissor Kicks
A lower abs burner, lie on your back, hands under your hips, and alternately lift your legs in a scissor-like movement. This will also target the hip flexors.
11: Deadlifts
A fantastic exercise for your whole body, especially your lower back. Hold two dumbbells, stand with your feet apart, and bend at your hips and knees, ensuring your back remains straight. Next, exert pressure through your heels to rise back up to a standing position.
12: Windshield Wipers
This advanced exercise is excellent for your obliques. When in a supine position, stretch your arms outward to stabilize yourself, and subsequently, raise your legs in a straight upward direction. Then, keeping your legs together, lower them to one side, then the other, like a windshield wiper.
13: Glute Bridges
The Glute Bridge effectively works your glutes and loves the handle area. To begin the exercise, lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, keeping them about hip-width apart. Engage your core muscles and push through your heels to lift your hips off the ground, creating a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Gradually lower your hips back to the initial position.
14: Box Jumps
A powerful exercise, box jumps work your whole body, increasing your heart rate and, thereby, your fat-burning potential. Position yourself facing a sturdy box or platform. Jump upwards using both feet and land gently with a soft landing on your knees. Step back down and repeat.
Conclusion
The path to reducing love handles is marked by consistent exercise and balanced lifestyle choices. Though the above-mentioned are the 14 best exercises to get rid of love handles, the effectiveness of these exercises relies on your commitment to perform them regularly. The change is gradual, requiring patience and continued effort.
