5 Effective Ways to Lose Love Handles For Good
If you have love handles, there’s a good chance you do not love them at all. Those fat deposits on the sides of your stomach might make you feel uncomfortable and less sexy. Although your wife or hubby tells you otherwise, you still want to know how to get rid of them. You have probably heard of fad diets and workout routines which say you must do hundreds of crunches a day. But you do not have to starve and tire yourself to death just to lose weight. A good workout program and a healthy diet are the things you need. Just remember that hard work is key and there are no shortcuts. Read on and learn how to get a flatter stomach.
Does Spot Reduction Work?
Spot reduction is the belief that you can lose weight or fat on a certain body part if you perform exercises that target that specific area. This is what you can usually see in infomercials, videos online, and e-books that say you can have washboard abs by doing hundreds of crunches and other abdominal exercises. But spot reduction is a myth. Save your time and energy by doing exercises that target your whole body. It may not seem like it but squats, deadlifts, and other compound exercises can help you lose that belly fat.
1. Do compound exercises.
Compound exercises are exercises that require several muscles to execute. This promotes overall strength and muscle growth. And as mentioned earlier, you need to reduce weight throughout your body to get rid of the flabs in your tummy. Focus on compound exercises such as squats, deadlifts, and presses. If you have more muscle mass, you will burn more calories. Do weight training 3 times a week.
2. Perform cardiovascular exercises.
Weight training coupled with cardiovascular exercises will help you shave off those extra pounds. Doing cardio will help you burn the fat on your sides. You have many choices at the gym: stationary bike, treadmill, and elliptical machines. If you want some variety, you can jog around the park, walk your dog, and do some jump rope.
3. Tone your abdominal muscles.
Those crunches still have their place in your workout routine. Take note, abdominal exercises are aimed at toning your muscles, not at directly losing those fat deposits. To target all areas of your abdomen, perform different exercises such as twists, side crunches, and bicycle crunches. Do these at your own pace. Just aim to perform more reps or sets every workout.
4. Reduce caloric intake.
A good exercise program is just one part of the equation. You can work out all day every day without seeing the results you want if you do not eat the right way. Stop eating junk and processed food. These offer almost no nutrition at all. Replace them with healthier options such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. It also pays if you keep count of your daily caloric intake. In order to lose your love handles, keep in mind that you should burn more calories than you consume.
5. Keep yourself hydrated.
Water is vital to your body. Do not replace water with sodas and other unhealthy beverages. Remember that drinking those sweetened drinks is an easy way to add extra calories to your daily diet. Make it a habit to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Also, drinking water right before eating a meal will make you feel fuller and cause you to eat fewer calories.
