Start with aerobic exercise that raises the heart rate and pumps oxygen throughout your body. Forty minutes of fast walking, hiking, dancing, aerobics or jogging at least four days a week will help you burn off fat all over your body.
Zero in on your love handles by doing specific exercises to work the abdominal muscles -- called obliques -- that wrap around the side of the body. Los Angeles certified personal trainer Tracey Mallett suggests booking a session with a personal trainer to learn proper exercise form and to avoid straining muscles. She says, "Working with a trainer can also give you a sense of purpose and inspire you to keep on moving long after you've had your last session."
Here's an exercise that you can do every day to trim your middle.
The Love Handle Tightener:
1. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Cup your left hand under your head. Plant your right hand across and onto the outer part of the left thigh.
3. Keeping both hips on the ground, exhale as you contract your abdomen and slide your right hand upward along the left thigh.
4. Hold this for four seconds.
5. Inhale as you move back down into your original position and relax a moment.
5. Perform this exercise on the other side of your body.
6. Start with seven love handle tighteners on each side every day. Try to work up to 25 on each side.
