Love Handle Workout: The Top 5 Trainers Use

by edenaff on December 11, 2010

iStock 000009532239XSmall 213x300 Love Handle Workout: The Top 5 Trainers UseLove handles are not very affectionate words in the physical fitness arena. Love handles are those unsightly and flabby holds that are commonly found at the sides of the stomach.

Losing weight and toning of the abdominal muscles through a love handle workout are the best ways of getting rid of love handles. To get a head start, you must focus on burning the excess fat first then work on some firming and crunching exercises to tone the flabby areas.

Here are five of the best love handle workout exercises that are effective in toning the abdominal muscles:

Oblique Crunch

Lie down on the floor with both feet set close as possible to your bottom. Both hands should be across the chest and the neck should be relaxed. Slowly lift your shoulders from the floor and twist your body to a diagonal angle while keeping the lower back on the floor. Hold this position for one second and breathe out. Then relax your stomach muscles and let your shoulders lie back on the floor. Repeat as many sets as possible with an interval of minute rest.

Torso Twists

Stand straight with feet shoulder-width apart. Twist to your left and hold that position for a few seconds. Squeeze the ab muscles every time you twist your body. Do a similar twist to your right and hold the position for a few seconds. Go back to starting position.

Twist Crunches

Lie on your back with both knees bent. Slowly raise your head up and place your hands behind the head without clasping. Twist to your right while taking your left elbow to your right knee. Extend your left leg while doing this. Twist back to the left side while taking the right elbow to the left knee. Straighten out your right leg while doing this. Repeat 25 times.

Leg Flutters

This is for strengthening the back to create a balance on the torso and reduce the excess fat on the side. Lie down on your stomach with the arms straight out at the sides or bend with the elbows resting beside you. Raise your head a few inches off the floor. Raise both feet and knees and flutter your legs back and forth in a rapid motion. Do 20 seconds in between a 20-second break interval. Repeat this love handle workout.

Standing Trunk Twists

Stand with feet set a foot apart while relaxing the knees. Twist your torso to your left with the hips and knees completely stable. While twisting to your left, cross the right arm right across your body simulating a punching motion. Twist back to your right and cross the left arm in front of your body in a similar punching motion. Do 100 reps.

A love handle workout routine should be performed three to four times a week for around thirty minutes each day to make the fat-burning process faster and tone the love handles area. This routine is best supplemented with other abdominal workouts and aerobic type of exercises to achieve a better result.

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Oblique Workout: The 5 Most Effective Exercises

by edenaff on December 10, 2010

iStock 000013300063XSmall 300x199 Oblique Workout: The 5 Most Effective ExercisesAn oblique workout makes the stomach section firmer and the waist trimmer. Oblique exercises can help one to achieve a well-sculpted abs, build a strong core, protect the spine, achieve a strong back, and improve the posture.

The best part with oblique exercises is that they can easily be done within the comforts of your home as there is no need for any heavy or special exercise machines. An oblique workout focuses on the oblique muscles and involves crunching or squeezing motions that bring the pelvis and ribcage toward each other. These are the effective oblique exercises one can do at home:

Cross-over Stomach Crunch

While lying on your left side, bend your knees. For support, your hands should be clasped behind your head. While your left elbow is close to the floor, point your right elbow upward. Raise your torso and try touching your right hip with your left elbow.

Lower down in a slow motion and repeat. Do the same on the opposite side. For a higher degree of difficulty, avoid lowering your elbow to the floor when lowering down.

Killer Twist

You’ll need a medicine ball for this oblique workout. Stand with legs wider apart than your shoulder width. Let your body face one side while holding the weight above your head. Lower the weight while turning your body to face the other side. Bend the knees and crouch down to the floor. Movement here should be controlled. Go back slowly to the starting position. Repeat. Change sides.

Swiss Ball

Hook your feet into a wall or something flat and sturdy. Lie down with the center of your body on the Swiss ball. Lift your upper body upward and feel your oblique muscles crunch. Hold this position for one to two seconds. Then slowly lower yourself.

Bending with a Dumbbell

Stand straight and position your feet shoulder-width apart while holding a dumbbell on each hand. Bend slowly while lowering one hand to the floor. Get as far down as possible. Slowly, rise up. Do the same with the other side. For best results on this oblique workout, go as far down as possible when lowering your body.

Hip Flexors

You’ll need a kick bag to perform this oblique workout. But in the absence of a kick bag, you can do the exercise on a wall or pole. Hold the kick bag (or whatever is available). Raise one knee up and hit the bag. Slam the bag with as much force as possible.

Lower the leg back down. Repeat. Do the same with the other knee. For beginners, this exercise will be a little difficult, but with consistency, you can achieve good results. Do 4 sets for each leg.

Only a few simple materials are needed to achieve good results in an oblique workout following easy but consistent movements that focus on the oblique muscles. A firmer stomach and a trimmer waist is easy to achieve with effective yet inexpensive oblique workouts.

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