5 Tips for Burning Stubborn Side Fat

Tired of battling those annoying love handles? Here are some tips for getting rid of that stubborn side fat…

It can be terribly frustrating to religiously follow an exercise plan and still find your love handles going nowhere. Unfortunately, side fat is some of the first to appear and last to go.

These unsightly lobs of fat can make your favorite outfits look awkward and ill-fitting, and can make anyone become frustrated and exasperated with the whole fitness and weight loss journey.

In order to effectively get rid of your love handles for good, a combination of good nutrition and rigorous exercise is needed. You can’t simply work out everyday and expect results if you continuously feed your body garbage. Neither can you just eat healthy and maintain a sedentary lifestyle and expect results. Diet and exercise go hand in hand – especially when eradicating stubborn side fat.

Here are 5 tips to help get rid of love handles and achieve a trim waistline:

1.) Be Mindful of Your Calorie Intake

One way to get rid of side fat is to eat fewer calories.  The best thing you can do to kickstart the process is to keep track of the calories that you eat.  Also be aware of when you binge eat. This will help you determine your triggers, so that you can prevent yourself from overeating in the future because you’ll be conscious of the things that make you turn to food due to emotional reasons. Knowledge is power.

2.) Do Not Drink Your Calories

Did you know that a glass of soda every day for a month is equivalent to five pounds of sugar? If you are trying to lose weight and make those love handles disappear, that single glass is obviously holding you back.

For hydration, stick to the basics – a glass of ice water. If you need flavor, add a squeeze of lemon, lime, or grapefruit.

3.) Think Smaller Portions

What you eat is as important as how much and how often you eat. Eating smaller portions of the right meals frequently can do wonders for your metabolism. Instead of waiting until you are starving, make sure that you are eating more often, but smaller portions of healthy and nutritious food that contains healthy amounts of fat, fiber and protein to curb cravings and help you feel full longer.

4.) Aside From Targeted Exercise, You’ll Need Cardio! Cardio! Cardio!

Burning calories is at the core of losing belly fat. The less fat you have, the less the fat will settle around your belly. Hate wasting time driving to the gym every day? Try running or walking around your neighborhood instead. These simple workout routines can vastly reduce your side fat without taking too much time away from your day-to-day activities.

5.) Make Good Use of that Exercise Ball

There are lots of ab exercises out there, but many of them are very challenging for beginners. The same side fat burning routines can be done on an exercise ball without as much stress and difficulty. First, lie back on the ball and make sure your lower back is supported properly. Then lift your torso off the ball by contracting your abs, repeat with 3 sets of 10 reps, and build up from there.

Getting rid of side fat is an important goal – especially for those who want to look good in a swimsuit this summer! However, it’s easier said than done – especially as we age and our metabolism starts to slow down.  Start with one or two habits listed above, and begin making small changes to your routine. Eventually, you will be able to say bye-bye to those love handles!