Love Handle Workouts That Work

Some of my favorite love handle workouts are PLANKS – we also call them TV watchers at home since we do them at commercials all the time.  And the best part – no exercise equipment – no treadmill, no workout ball – just a great home workout.

Stomach. To start this stomach workout, lay face-down on your stomach.  With your feet together, push up onto your forearms/elbows.  It’s like a regular push-up but on your elbows.  Hold your entire body very rigid.

Can you hold it for the entire commercial?  We like to have contests with each other.  This is terrific core exercise and will strengthen your back and your oblique’s (love handles).

Love Handle Workout - Side Plank Extended

Side. With the side plank ab workout, there are several variations, but the basics are enough to get you started and will definitely help you in your quest to reduce love handles.

Laying on your right side, lift up onto your right forearm/elbow and place your left arm down the side of your body (as it would be if you were standing).  Then, lift your torso off the floor so that you are forming a straight line with your body – feet to head.  Only your forearm and side of your feet should be touching the floor.  Be very straight and hold.  Switch and do the other side.

Once your balance is good and core strength has improved, you can add some variations to your workout. Try holding your top arm upright, overhead or straight out while doing the same thing with your top leg.

Full Arm Extensions. Raise yourself off the floor to a fully extended push-up position.  Beginning with your right hand, raise it quickly above your head.  Return it to the floor.  Then raise the left hand above your head and return it to the floor.  Repeat.  Hold your body as steady as possible.  You may find spreading your legs a bit will help with your balance in the beginning.

Criss-Cross. Once you’ve got the basic planks working well  and you want to step it up a notch.

Hold yourself in a full push-up position and rapidly force your right knee forward and then toward your left elbow, and return to the floor.

Then, perform the same with your left knee.  Repeat this alternating move rapidly and get a good cardio workout too. Keep pumping them!

As with all exercises, especially love handle excercises, it is critical that you always maintain proper workout technique. You must hold your core (back, oblique’s, upper and  lower abs, back, neck and head) steady and strong.  If your torso is allowed to swing around in the air, you will not help yourself and you could actually injure yourself.

There are no love handle workouts or any other form of exercise on earth worth doing if your technique is bad.  Always focus on good technique with fewer reps or shorter time, vs. sacrificing quality workout technique for more reps/weight/time.

UPDATE: You can find out more about the Truth About Six Pack Abs, by reading my post in this blog - click here.

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