| A major complaint of people who want to look | | | | Keep your torso upright with no bending. |
| more fit is belly fat. Specifically, a large | | | | |
| number of people have trouble with "love | | | | Side Crunch |
| handles." Far from lovely or lovable, these | | | | |
| are deposits of fat that take up residence on | | | | The next two abdominal exercises require you |
| the sides of one's lower torso, around the | | | | to get off your feet and lie down, preferably |
| external oblique muscles. Traditional | | | | on the floor or other flat surface. Use a mat |
| crunches and sit-ups will not do much for | | | | or towel as a cushion if you have a |
| this sort of chub, as they mainly work the | | | | particularly hard floor to work with. Lie |
| abdominal muscles and not the obliques. The | | | | down on one side. For simplicity, let us say |
| good news, however, is that there are a few | | | | you are on your right side to start. Bring |
| abdominal exercises which specifically target | | | | your right arm across your waist so that your |
| the obliques, helping trim love handles. As | | | | right hand comes to rest on your left side. |
| with any new physical activity, consult a | | | | Touch your ear with the fingertips of your |
| professional before beginning and be sure to | | | | left hand, so that your left elbows winds up |
| properly warm up to avoid injury. | | | | pointing straight upward. Lift your shoulders |
| | | | up off the floor while simultaneously raising |
| Side Bend | | | | your left leg to height of about twelve |
| | | | inches (30 cm). Contract your obliques as you |
| A simple exercise, side bends are also | | | | do this. Hold for a few seconds, then gently |
| probably the most effective method for losing | | | | lie back down. Do this for an entire set, |
| love handles. Start by standing upright. | | | | then switch to the right side. |
| Position your feet shoulder width apart and | | | | |
| bend your knees slightly. Lower your whole | | | | Seated Knee Drop |
| torso to one side, then back to the other. | | | | |
| Lean only side to side, not backwards or | | | | First, position yourself on the floor so that |
| forwards. | | | | you are resting on your hipbones (not sitting |
| | | | on your butt). You can put your hands on the |
| Torso Twist | | | | floor behind you to keep yourself stable in |
| | | | this position. Bend your knees so that your |
| This abdominal exercise is also effective at | | | | feet are flat on the floor. Put your ankles |
| reducing love handles, and is good to do | | | | together. Now lower your knees to the right. |
| right after the side bends in your routine, | | | | Your feet will roll on to their sides, but |
| as it is also done in a standing position. | | | | should remain on the floor. Continue this |
| Again, with feet shoulder width apart, slowly | | | | lowering move until your knees are about six |
| twist the body to one side, then to the | | | | inches above the floor. Hold for one second, |
| other. The key here is to twist from your | | | | then go back up and down to the left side. |
| torso, not from the hips. As much of the | | | | Move slowly and under control, using your |
| twisting work as possible should be done by | | | | abdominal muscles rather than momentum to |
| your oblique muscles, not your hip flexors. | | | | raise and lower your legs. |