5 Exercises For Your Love Handles

Ever notice that mound of excess fat perched on top of your hips? Despite being a comfy cushion to rest yours or bae’s hands on from time to time, they make bodycon dresses and skinny jeans a nightmare to put on. Even after getting your regular dose of exercise in, love handles can remain the bane of your existence if you haven’t targeted your workout sessions to specifically tackle this area. Lakshika Pinto explains how you can now handle the situation successfully!

- Lakshika Pinto

WHAT EXACTLY ARE LOVE HANDLES?

Love handles refer to the deposits of fat that extend outward from the sides of your lower waist. They are a clear indication of excess fat buildup around the hips and gut region

WHAT CAUSES LOVE HANDLES?

Love handles are ultimately caused by the retention and accumulation of fat. Basically, fat cells start to gather when your body has an excessive caloric intake or if you’re consuming more calories than you’re burning. Over time, these fat cells become increasingly noticeable as they accumulate in inconvenient areas, such as around the waistline and hips. Fat can gather anywhere in your body, but there are certain factors that increase the likelihood for the formation of love handles:

• Hormones (e.g. excessive cortisol)

• Age (e.g. belly fat increases as you get older)

• Lack of exercise

• Diet rich in fats, sugars, and high-calorie foods

• Sleep deprivation • Untreated conditions that slow down your metabolism (e.g. hypothyroidism)

ARE LOVE HANDLES DANGEROUS?

Love handles don’t pose risks per se, but they may be an indicator of underlying risk factors for chronic illnesses such as:

• High Blood Pressure

• High Cholesterol

• Heart Disease

• Sleep Apnea And Other Breathing Issues

• Stroke

• Type 2 Diabetes

• Colon/ Breast Cancer

• Liver Disease

• Osteoarthritis

TARGET YOUR EXERCISES