Love Handles

One of the most common issues men and women have with their bodies are love handles, the annoying bit of fat that hangs out from the sides of our abdomen, over the waistband of our jeans or skirts. Love handles are common not just in those who are a little overweight, but even in relatively slim people with bodies that are not completely toned. Here�s how you can get rid of them:


Side bends

Stand up and spread your legs so they are a little more than shoulder width distance. Bend sideways to the left, reaching for your left calf with your left leg. After you have bent as far to the left as possible, bring your right hand over your head, stretching it to the left. This will give you a further stretch in your sides. It is not necessary to use weights. Remember that you want the fat in this are to disappear without bulking up the muscles. Repeat 15 times on each side. Do 4 sets.


Side crunches

All of us are (or should be!) familiar with stomach crunches. Lie down with feet shoulder-width apart, hands below the head. When you get up, twist to the left bringing your right elbow in front and drawing in the left knee so they meet. Start by repeating this exercise 15 times, and move up to 30-45 repetitions. Do 4 sets.


Twist

Sit on a stool holding a long rod. You could use a broomstick. Place the stick on your shoulders behind your neck, supporting it with your arms. Twist from side to side. This exercise also works out your obliques (side stomach muscles), tightening them over a period of time.


Cardio

Remember that all these exercises work best when supplemented by cardiovascular activity. Brisk walking 5-6 times a week, or jogging 3-4 times a week, for half an hour, should be enough to burn off some fat, get your heart going and pump up circulation.


Diet

Make it a point to avoid eating carbohydrates (chapatti, brown bread etc.) at night. You can pile on the carbs during the day, for breakfast and for lunch, but not for dinner. This is because when you have carbs in the morning, your body has enough time to work it off during the day. But when you have it for dinner and go off to sleep, your body will need to convert excess carbs into body fat, so it can store it.


Tricking Mother Nature

If you wear something too tight around the hips, the soft flesh above is bound to stick out from the sides. But if you wear something a little looser, the flesh will just slip into it giving you a flawless line on the sides, thus effectively eliminating the love handles! However, this is easier said than done because if your jeans or trousers are a little loose from the sides to hide love handles, they are likely to be a little loose all over, which may not be what you want. This would be easier with skirts.

Your best bet to looking sexy this summer would be to be regular with your cardio workout and side stretches.