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Eliminate Loveless Love Handles
By Tom Bonanti
It’s a given that most guys consider a
six pack to be sexy. Yet a strong, toned midsection is also
important because it helps to anchor your lower back. Exercises
like crunches and leg raises are essential to developing killer
abs and a healthy lower back, but that’s not all you need. The
obliques (although they are so deep that you’ll never see them
even on the leanest physique) are also an important part of your
core as they girdle the abdomen on both sides of the body. As
such these babies require a program of their own.
Standing twists are the most basic.
Stand grasping a bar behind your head on the upper traps, with
feet shoulder-width apart. Keeping the lower body stationary,
proceed to twist to the right, pause, then twist to the left. For variation, try bent-over twists.
Stand grasping a bar behind your head on the upper traps, with
feet shoulder-width apart. Bend over carefully until your torso
is parallel to the floor, then proceed to twist to the right,
pause, then twist to the left. Seated twists help to isolate the
obliques a little better than the above. Sit on a bench or
better yet, an exercise ball. Grasp a bar behind your head on
the upper traps with legs together. Keeping the lower body
stationary, proceed to twist to the right, pause, then twist to
the left. You can also do these holding a medicine ball in front
of you. From the same position, twist your torso as you pass the
ball rapidly from one side to the other side. Twisting lunges allow you to put your
ass (more technically, your glutes) to work as well as your
obliques. Stand grasping a bar on the upper back, with feet wide
apart. Proceed to bend the left knee and twist down that side.
Pause, then rise to starting position and perform the next
repetition to the right. Twisting waves get your upper body
more involved. Stand grasping a bar out in front of you with
feet wide apart. Proceed to bend the right knee and
simultaneously lower the left hand across your body while
raising the right hand. Pause, then rise to starting position
and perform the next rep to the left. While the terms “love handles” and “muffin top” may sound cute, the realities are not. If you watch your nutrition and perform these oblique routines regularly, you will build a healthy core and tight lean midsection. For more tips on core fitness contact TrainerTomB@aol.com.  TOM BONANTI IS A CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER AND OWNER OF PUMP’N INC GYM AT 1271 NE 9TH AVENUE FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304, www.pumpnincgym.com. |
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“Love
handles” are the term “affectionately” used to describe those
problem areas where fat accumulates around the waist and oblique
areas. To avoid the unwanted baggage you must, of course, watch
your nutrition –that’s 80% of the battle! In addition, you must
keep these muscles strong and toned with such movements as
twists, bends, and lunges. The following exercises employ a
broom handle or a smaller weight-free barbell. Perform
repetitions slowly. Put two or three of these exercises into
your ab routine and complete 25 to 50 reps on each side and
you’ll soon see and feel the difference.