‘Love Handles’- there’s nothing we love about them
Even with the best aerobic intentions most people tend to have stubborn spots that exercise works more slowly on. The most complained about section of the body is the torso, with ‘love handles’ being the stubborn area that leaves last.
No one actually loves their ‘love handles’; that extra weight around the midsection, but they are there for a reason. Besides age factors, stress plays a huge role in where you’ll deposit your excess fat. Besides wanting to lose fat around this area for aesthetic purposes, it’s vital to drop this weight for health purposes. Studies indicated that excess weight stored around the abdominal area increases the risk for some chronic health issues such as coronary heart disease and diabetes.
Here are some tips to help you get rid of those love handles:
- Increase cardiovascular activity - There’s no easy way out here - exercise is a must! Begin by including a small amount of exercise each day, and start with 10-20 minutes. You can walk, bike ride, or play a sport you enjoy, such as tennis with your friends. You can slowly increase your exercise allotment until you’ve reach at least 30 minutes of exercise. Once you start seeing the results from this small amount, you’ll want to continue and exercise even more
- Clean up your diet - Just toss all the processed foods and enjoy the taste of fresh whole foods. Once you’ve prepared meals with fresh foods you’ll realize they are much tastier than junk foods that you’ve been eating! Try reducing your carb consumption, and snacking after 8pm at night. Eating large meals right before bedtime can go right to your stomach – and you’ll be carrying it in no time. Rethinking your diet into a healthful one can make a big difference in toning your midsection.
- Make it a weighty issue - Tone your body all over by strength training regularly. If the thought of going to the gym makes you cringe, purchase some dumbbells and work out at home. Try popular workout and strength videos.
- Just Relax - Stress produces more cortisol, as we discussed earlier. Cortisol has a tendency to cause the body to store more fat in the abdominal area, which contributes to ‘love handles’. Take a few minutes to meditate or find a place of calmness where you can take some deep breaths and relax your body. Getting enough sleep enables your body to deal with stress better. Or, if you’re so inclined, try a little aromatherapy; lavender and rosemary are stress-reducing herbs that are pleasant to your senses.