Home Wellness Workout 5 Exercises to Lose Those Love Handles

5 Exercises to Lose Those Love Handles

By Brittany Mullins

18

Published May 20, 2016, Updated Apr 19, 2019

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Want to lose your love handles fast? Here’s a workout with five exercises that target the core and obliques to help you lose those love handles. I recommend these moves in combination with a regular exercise program and clean eating to see major results. 

When I asked a few friends what type of workout they’d like for me to post next several of them mentioned wanting to see moves to help with love handles.

Ugh! Love handles are the worst. Even the name is annoying. Am I right?

While it’s impossible to take weight off of certain body parts with targeted exercises, you can strengthen those areas and if you lose overall body weight/fat, those areas will look more toned. With this in mind, I came up with a series of five exercises that will strengthen your oblique and core muscles. Combine these moves with a regular exercise routine of cardio and strength training AND a healthy diet (nutrition is 80% of your results!)  and you’ll be well on your way to losing those love handles.

Love Handle Workout 

Do the following five moves for the prescribed number of reps in a circuit style. Repeat at least twice. 

• Knee to Elbow Plank (10 each side)
• Lying Heel Touches (20 each side)
• Side Plank Thread the Needle (10 each side)
• Standing Oblique Side Bends (10 each side)
• Plank Up and Down (10 each side)

Knee to Elbow Plank

Start in a pushup position with hands under your shoulders. Tighten your abs and bring one knee to the outside of the same arm. Pause for a second before straightening your leg back out. Do 10 reps, trying to keep your leg elevated the entire time. Switch legs and do 10 reps on the other side.

Lying Heel Touches

Lay down on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Put your hands down by your sides. Raise your shoulder blades off the floor and reach down with your right hand as far as possible toward your right heel. Then reach with your left hand toward your left heel. That’s one rep. Do 20 reaches on each side.

Side Plank Thread the Needle

Starting in side plank position, reach your top arm to the sky and then sweep it down toward the mat, threading it under your lower obliques while reaching for the back of the mat. Let your upper body rotate a bit as you reach. Rotate your body back to a side plank position and repeat for 10 reps before switching sides.

Standing Oblique Side Bends

Stand up straight with feet hip-width apart and your hands by your sides. Keeping your shoulders back and your chest up, contract your abs by pulling your belly button in toward your spine. Bend at your waist to the right and reach down as far as you can without swaying your hips. Pause for a second at the bottom and slowly (using your ab muscles) pull yourself back upright to the starting position. Do 10 on the right and then 10 on the left. To make this move harder, hold a weight in the hand that you’re reaching with. Do all 10 reps and then switch the weight to the other hand before doing the other side.

Plank Up and Down

Start in a forearm plank position and press yourself up into a straight-arm (pushup) plank position using one arm at a time to press up. Be sure to stay in a solid plank position (with a tight core and engaged leg muscles) the entire time. Lower back down to your forearms one arm at a time and repeat, alternating which arm leads.

BONUS: I also have a one-minute HIIT cardio workout video for you!

It’s perfect when you need something quick that doesn’t require any equipment. If you’re low on time you can do one or two rounds just to get your heart pumping or make a full workout out of it and do as many rounds as possible.

I hope you enjoy these workouts! Please let me know if you try them. I love hearing your feedback. Happy Friday!!