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