How to Lose My Love Handles & My Muffin Top

Excess abdominal fat all the way around the middle of the body is commonly referred to as love handles or a muffin-top. You may suffer from a muffin-top for a variety of reasons, such as over-consumption of sugary and processed foods; a lack of fruit, vegetables and water in your diet; a stressful lifestyle; or not enough exercise. It takes hard work, determination and a combination of dietary and lifestyle changes to lose love handles.

Instructions

1

Jog, power walk, cycle, swim or do aerobics for at least 40 minutes, three times a week. Choose the type of cardiovascular exercise that you enjoy the most to increase your heart rate and burn fat.

2

Condition the muscles at the sides and back of the body. Gallop side to side during your walk or jog. Stand on the spot and slowly raise your leg to the side; do 10 repetitions with each leg. If you like to swim, work your muscles in the water by holding onto the side of the pool and kicking your legs out behind you. Swim a few lengths, stop and exercise for a few minutes, and repeat as many times as possible.

3

Join a kickboxing class; the side-kick combinations, across-body punches and other twisting movements are perfect for toning the middle and eliminating excess fat.

4

Detox. Cut out all processed foods, caffeine, alcohol and sugar. Cut down on acidic foods and animal products. Stop smoking. This stops your body storing fatty, toxic deposits around the middle and hips. Eat a diet rich in vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Eat slow-releasing (low GI) carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, oats and basmati rice with low-sugar foods such as nuts, fish and green vegetables, to help stabilize blood sugar levels. Drink 2 liters of water a day to flush out toxins. Reduce excess water retention with regular Epsom salt baths; add 1 heaped tsp. to warm running water.

5

Stay calm and avoid stress as much as possible. Drink soothing chamomile tea. Add a few drops of lavender oil to your bath water. Cortisol, the so-called stress hormone, encourages the release of blood sugar into the bloodstream, which is then stored as fat.

6

Stand and sit up straight to improve your posture. Tense your core (stomach, hips and lower back) muscles several times a day to help define them and get rid of the muffin-top effect. Your circulation also improves, which increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the cells and help eliminate toxins. Take up yoga or pilates to help strengthen your core and work on your posture.

7

Apply an exfoliator to your muffin-top in the shower; rub it in firmly with both hands. Rinse well. After your shower, dry your body and brush your muffin-top with a body brush in gentle, circular movements. This stimulates cells, improves circulation and helps get rid of toxins.