The name love handles, also known as muffin top or “spare tire” are the cute overhanging fat in the midsection. It’s the side belly fat that spills over the top of your pants. Despite the cute name “love handles”, there isn’t much to love about having them.
In fact, too much of this side stomach fat can be harmful to your health according to Harvard Health.
Losing them won’t just make you feel and look better but decrease your risk of many diseases.
But love handles can be challenging to lose and tone up…Hence it’s also called stubborn fat.
Many people try to get rid of love handles with endless side crunches that target the oblique fat.
But doing endless side crunches is not the most effective way to lose love handles.
To get rid of the stubborn fat for good, you’re going to need to make dietary, exercise and lifestyle changes.
In addition to that, you also need to do exercises to foster fat loss and target the side stomach muscles.
Since not all abs exercises target the right area or burn fat like crazy, we hand-picked those that do.
To lose your love handles, add the following 5 exercises to your abdominal belly fat workout.
1. Russian Twist
Russian twist exercise will set your love handles on fire and help melt off the side stomach fat.
To perform the Russian Twists, sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet elevated. Hold your arms out in front of your chest and lean back so your torso is at a 45-degree angle to the floor.
Turn your torso to the left, pause and squeeze your ab muscles. Return to center and repeat on the right side. Return to center. That’s one rep. Continue for 12-15 reps on each side.
2. Superman
The superman is a core exercise that targets the lower back muscles. It’s a great exercise to work off the side stomach fat.
To perform the superman, lie face down on your stomach with arms and legs extended.
Lift both your arms and legs off the floor. Squeeze your glutes, hold for 5 seconds, then return to the starting position.
That’s one rep. Repeat for 10-12 reps.
3. Bicycle Crunch
The bicycle crunch is listed as one of the best abs exercises for working the obliques and toning them.
To perform a bicycle crunch, lie face-up with your hips and knees bent 90 degrees. Your lower legs should be parallel to the floor.
Place your fingers on the sides of your forehead. Lift your shoulders off the floor and hold them there.
Twist your upper body to the right as you pull your right knee in as fast as you can until it touches your left elbow. Simultaneously straighten your left leg. Return to the starting position and repeat on the right side. Continue for 12-15 repetitions per side.
4. Side Plank
Planking is one of the simplest and yet most effective core exercises to work the love handles.
Adding this move to your love handle workout routine helps shrink your waist. On top of it, it can also improve your core strength and tone your abs.
To perform the side plank, lie on your left side with your knees straight. Raise your hips until your body forms a straight line from your ankles to your shoulders.
Tighten your abs and hold this position for 30-45 seconds. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side for the same length.
5. Scissor Crunch
This exercise hits the lower abs and obliques. It’s great for a slimmer waist.
To perform this the scissor crunch, lie down face up with your arms at your sides, palms pressing into the floor. You can place your hands underneath your hips for better lower back support.
Lift both your legs off the floor towards the ceiling.
Contract your abs as you slowly lower your right leg until it’s a few inches above the floor. Then scissor your legs, lifting your right leg up while lowering your left leg.
Continue alternating between your legs for 10-15 reps per side.
Final Thoughts
Love handles can be a tricky area to lose and many people struggle to lose the pouch.
To get rid of love handles for good, you need to make changes both in the kitchen and your workout.
In your workout, it’s about hitting the obliques and adjacent muscles and toning them. By incorporating anaerobic abs exercises for that area, you can achieve fat burn and shape up. To lose your stubborn love handles without a struggle, add these 5 exercises to your abs workouts.
