Don’t want those love handles? 5 exercises to tone your oblique muscles, get rid of belly fat

Best exercises to get rid of love handles: Russian Twist exercise (Image: Canva)

Getting rid of pesky love handles is quite a daunting task. Love handles, those stubborn pockets of fat that accumulate around your waistline right above the hips, can be a common concern for many. While spot reduction isn't really an option, incorporating specific exercises into your fitness routine can help tone and strengthen your oblique muscles, ultimately reducing the appearance of love handles.

Before we dive into the exercises, let's first understand what causes love handles.

1. Poor diet: Consuming excess calories, especially from sugars and processed foods, can lead to weight gain, including around your midsection.

2. Sedentary lifestyle: A lack of physical activity can slow down your metabolism and make it easier for fat to accumulate around your waist.

3. Genetics: Genetics can play a significant role in where your body stores fat. Some people are predisposed to store excess fat in their love handle area.

4. Stress: Chronic stress can lead to an increase in cortisol levels, which may promote fat storage in the abdominal area, including love handles.

5. Lack of sleep: Poor sleep patterns can disrupt your hormonal balance and appetite regulation, potentially contributing to weight gain.

Love handles are not dangerous in themselves, or anything to be ashamed of. It’s  perfectly fine to accept them. But they may signal obesity which may lead to other health risks in future. So, in case you wish to melt your love handles and get a sculpted waistline, here are the five most effective exercises to help you trim those love handles:

1. Russian Twists:

• Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat.
• Lean back slightly, keeping your back straight, and lift your feet off the ground.
• Hold a weight or a medicine ball in your hands.
• Twist your torso to the right, bringing the weight towards the floor next to your hip.
• Return to the center and then twist to the left. Repeat for 10-15 reps on each side.

Exercises to get rid of love handles: Bicycle Crunches (Image: Canva)

• Lie on your back with your hands behind your head.
• Lift your head and shoulders off the ground.
• Bend your left knee and bring it towards your chest while simultaneously twisting your torso to bring your right elbow towards your left knee.
• Straighten your left leg while bringing your right knee towards your chest, and twist to bring your left elbow towards your right knee.
• Continue this pedaling motion for 10-15 reps on each side.

• Start in a forearm plank position, with your elbows directly under your shoulders.
• Keep your body in a straight line from head to heels.
• Lower your right hip towards the floor without letting it touch.
• Return to the starting position and then lower your left hip.
• Complete 10-15 hip dips on each side.

Best exercise to get rid of love handles: Side Planks (Image: Canva)

• Lie on your left side with your legs straight and your left elbow directly under your shoulder.
• Lift your hips off the ground, creating a straight line from head to heels.
• Hold for 20-30 seconds, then switch to your right side.
• Gradually increase your hold time as your strength improves.

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a weight with both hands.
• Twist your torso to the right and raise the weight above your right shoulder.
• Pivot on your left foot and engage your core as you bring the weight diagonally across your body to the left, finishing at your left hip.
• Return to the starting position and repeat for 10-15 reps on each side.