If we are going to lose love handles or fat from any area on the body it will require not only the right exercises, but also an improved diet. Exercise only helps to firm and tone up the muscles which are beneath the skin; however, a reduction in calorie intake will ensure that the extra pounds you have gained around your waist will be lost.
If you want to eliminate those love handles for good then you need to carry out between 2 and 5 abdominal exercises at least twice a week to firm and tone up the muscles in this area of your body. Along with training the muscles the exercises will improve the stomach's appearance and with even a small reduction in your calorie intake, the fat will soon begin to disappear from your waist.
As I've said in other articles, love handles exercises are any exercises that contribute to the reduction of the fat that has accumulated over the oblique muscles and are not specific exercises that focus on or engage the obliques. In other words, walking or jogging could also be called love handles exercises because they also would contribute to fat reduction in that area of our bodies. However, in this article we take a look at a few of the exercises that do focus and engage the obliques and are worth considering doing in order to rid yourself of those unwanted love handles and will contribute to a smaller waist.
1. Basic Crunch - This exercise will tone and firm up the muscle that runs from the base of the breastbone to the top of the pelvis known as the rectus abdominis. Lie down on the floor and place your feet a hips width apart and your knees bent. Next take your hands and place these behind your head to cradle it, you can lace your fingers between each other and make sure that your elbows are rounded slightly inwards. Now tilt your chin just a small amount towards your chest and at the same time pull in the abdominal muscles. Once you are in a comfortable position very slowly begin to curl your head, neck and shoulders up and away from the floor and as you do this exhale. Then when you reach a position that you are comfortable with, remain in it for several seconds before gently lowering the upper part of your body back down and as you do so remember to inhale.
2. Twist Crunch Exercise - This not only works on the rectus abdominis but also the two sets of muscles that are wrapped around your waist known as the internal and external obliques. You need to place yourself in the same position as you did for the basic crunch exercise and then as you curl your neck, shoulders and head up you need to turn them towards the left. Exhale as you move up from the floor and hold this position for several seconds before lowering back down to the floor, remember to inhale as you do. Then repeat this exercise again, but this time twist your head, neck and shoulders to the right. It is important when doing the above love handles exercise you make sure that it is your head, neck and shoulders that you twist not your elbows. Remember it is the muscles that surround your stomach and waist that are the ones you want to tone up so really concentrate to make sure that you twist from the middle.
Years ago I read quite a few books on bodybuilding and I'd like to pass this little exercise along to you that I learned from Franco Columbo, a well known bodybuilder in his day. I'm sure you've seen how bodybuilders strike a pose and you've probably seen a few guys who were not truly bodybuilders do the same. You know, how they show their biceps and at the same time pull their stomach muscles in to instantly appear like one of the "after" photos in a contest. Well the actual movement of drawing in those stomach muscles is an exercise that we can do anytime we think about it and it doesn't matter where we are. Of course I'm not recommending that you suck them in as far as you can, but only to a point that is comfortable to you. Over time this little exercise will strengthen those muscles and it will become increasingly more comfortable to maintain.
Next, pay attention to your self talk. Everything you say to yourself is being recorded in your subconscious mind and is creating and recreating your self image. Even when you don't do so well find something positive to tell yourself. If you only did half of what you intended to do, tell yourself well that's better than nothing. And when you do nothing, tell yourself "That's not like me. I'll do better next time".
One of my favorite books is by James Allen called "As a Man Thinketh". Your thinking will determine your success so make sure you stay positive. Here's a quote from the book. "The body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the orders of the mind whether they be deliberate or automatic".
About the Author:
Are there really specific exercises you can do to rid love handles from your life? Or is spot reducing a myth? To find out how you can reveal the muscles hiding beneath that slab of fat, visit John Winaby's website by clicking here now: http://www.lovehandlesexercise.com15
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