How to get rid of those love handles?

[KnickNut3]

Hello. I'm 6'0", 165, in college, and in pretty good shape. I lift (to tone more than build) about three times a week for about 6 months a year (I have gaps during competitive sports seasons, vacations, lack of access to a gym, but that should end soon--I'm lifting regularly now). Anyway, I'm pretty content with my body and fit enough except for that bit of flab that bit of fat that sticks out just above the waistline. Despite their endearing name, I've got to bust these love handles. I've tried various oblique crunches and workouts, but have seen no real improvement in that area, and I know dieting removes excess body mass from everywhere, so it will be tough to lose in that target area (not to mention I have the willpower of a small rhesus monkey, and my current diet is about as strict as I can get). Many of the side bends, etc. that I find on bodybuilding websites are too difficult without the right equipment and too hard as a starting point. Do any health/fitness experts have suggestions on how I can trim that line?

I come from a family where no adult within 3 generations on any side of my family tree is less than 30 pounds overweight, so my genetics make this an uphill battle all the way! Thanks for the help.

 

[Armitage]

heh ... lots of luck ...
I cycled across the country a few years back. Rode an average of 70 miles/day with a fully loaded touring bike for 90 days. Best shape I've ever been in in my life, nothing but muscle ... but I never lost the handles :/

 

[Luke1]

It is a genetic thing, all that side bend stuff isn't going to do anything for those, you just have to lower your body fat percentage. More cardio, eat better. Dieting will just slow your metabolism, just eat smart and throw in 20 minutes on the elliptical machine on your workout days and they should start to dwindle.

 

[waylman]

lipo!

 

[prvteye2003]

lay off the beer

 

[Hammer]

running and side crunches help a lot.

 

[KnickNut3]

Originally posted by: ergeorge
heh ... lots of luck ...
I cycled across the country a few years back. Rode an average of 70 miles/day with a fully loaded touring bike for 90 days. Best shape I've ever been in in my life, nothing but muscle ... but I never lost the handles :/

Hahaha


Really, the elliptical machine? Didn't know that helped the sides. I'm more of a DDR guy when it comes to my cardio

Haha... not much of a beer drinker here. I like the sweeter stuff myself... yeah I know I might as well be a girl.

Side crunches, i.e. knees to the side and straight crunches? Right elbow to crossed left knee? All of the above?

 

[NewSc2]

You really have to diet to get rid of those love handles. Diet + Exercise, but Diet is just as important. Cut out most of your fats and unnecessary carbs. Go on protein shakes.

 

[GermyBoy]

Originally posted by: NewSc2
You really have to diet to get rid of those love handles. Diet + Exercise, but Diet is just as important. Cut out most of your fats and unnecessary carbs. Go on protein shakes.

On the contrary, you should go on atkins to get rid of those love handles. Or you can go on the 90% fat diet and lose it faster. Don't listen to the nerds on this forum (besides me and non-mods).

 

[Zhou]

"On the contrary, you should go on atkins to get rid of those love handles. Or you can go on the 90% fat diet and lose it faster. Don't listen to the nerds on this forum (besides me and non-mods).

"



Wow can you be any less informed? Atkins diet are best for people who does not live a very active lifestyle. If this guy went on the Atkins diet, it would decrease his sports performance dramatically.

For extremely active people... if you want to lose love handles without losing muscle. You have to combine dieting (properly done) with weights and areobics (running is the best imho).

 

[Graphicd00d]

Vacuum cleaner.

 

[Kyteland]

butter knife.

 

[TheeeChosenOne]

It is the MOST difficult thing to get rid of. You can get really buff and lean and yet still have those damn handles.

Best thing to do is get Liposuction. Plain and simple. Save years of training. Seriously! And it's not expensive as you may think.


If you choose to go the extremely hard route, eat less carbs (bread, pasta) and jog as much and as frequent as you can. As a supplement, do rotating side bends at 90 degrees--about 100 of them (don't EVER use weights as you'll build muscle instead! This is the movement/exercise Olympic ice skate racers do tirelessly. They have the most waspish sides of any athlete.)

Example Movement


.............All this will diminish the rolls but will never, ever leave you satisfied.

 

[KnickNut3]

Thanks for all the responses. In other words, it's not worth the trouble . I can live with myself. Haha. I'll take the various suggestions to heart, though.