Most of the times, while working out, we concentrate on the belly fat while simply ignoring the fat accumulated on the waist-line.
Call it love handles or muffin top, the excess fat on your waist-line doesn’t look as cute as it sounds. Love handles or that fat collected on the side of your waist isn’t going to disappear simply by doing crunches. But worry not, with a carefully curated diet of proteins, fibers, essential nutrients and these 5 simple exercises you will be able to say bye- bye to those stubborn love handles of yours.
5 Sure Shot Moves To Kill your Love Handles
Side Crunches
Just like normal crunches are very effective to beat belly fat, side crunches help to get rid of the fat accumulated on the waist – line.
How to do side crunches:
Use a yoga mat or even plain flat surface will suffice to do this exercise. Lie down on your back. Support the bridge of your neck and the head with your palms and bend your knees upwards.
Now gently lift your upper body up, tilt towards your left and try to touch your left elbow to your right knee, while bring the right knee towards your left elbow. Don’t strain your body excessively, try to bend as much as you can but if you are still not able to touch the knee, leave it at that.
Hold this position for 20 seconds then relax your body for a few seconds and repeat on the other side. You can begin with a set of 10 side crunches and increase the intensity every other day.
Side Plank
One of the most effective exercises to beat your muffin top is side plank. Doing the side plank engages multiples muscles at the same time; hence it not only helps to get rid of love handles but keeps you in good shape overall as well.
How to do side planks:
Lie down on your left side and lift your body up with the support of your left elbow. Hold this position for 30-40 seconds depending on your stamina. Then relax your body repeat on the other side.
Another variation of this exercise is as follows – Lie down on your left side and lift your body up with the support of your left palm, while keeping your right hand straight pointing towards the ceiling. Hold it for 30-40 seconds, then release and repeat on the other side.
You can begin with a set of 10 side planks and gradually increase the number as your body gets accustomed to it.
Modified Russian Twists
This is yet another well known and super effective exercise to get rid of muffin top.
How to do Modified Russian twists:
Sit on a mat or a flat surface and bend your knees inwards, so that the thighs are pressing against your stomach and your feet are in the air. Stretch out your hands and bring your palms together (in a Namaste position) and twist your upper body towards your left, while keeping your legs in the air. Try to touch your palms to the floor/mat. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat on the other side.
You can begin with a set of 15 Modified Russian Twists and increase the number gradually.
Plank and Stretch
Plank and Stretch is a variation of the plank and side-plank exercise. This exercise works on the back muscles whilst helping to get rid of love handles.
How to do plank and stretch:
Lie down on your stomach and lift your body up with the support of your elbows and feet. Then lift your left leg up, so that it is pointing towards the ceiling. Hold this position for 15 seconds and then repeat with the other leg.
Begin with a set of 15 and gradually increase the number.
Flutter kicks
This exercise is generally done to reduce abdomen fact, but a little known fact is that flutter kicks also help to effectively reduce love handles.
How to do flutter kicks:
Lie down on your back. Keep your hands on the floor, close to the hips, palm facing downwards. Now lift your legs up high but slightly bend your knees, you can take the support of your palms to do so. Now rapidly move your legs up and down in a flapping motion, without allowing your feet to touch the ground.
Begin with 3 sets of 10 repetitions and then gradually increase the number.
