Love Handle Exercise to Say Bye, Bye Love Handles

Your butt is getting buff. Your thighs are getting toned. Your arms are getting firm. Yet you just can't seem to get a handle on those unsightly love handles or the flabby rolls of flesh commonly known as the "bra roll." Well, just when it seems there is no relief in sight, here come fitness pearls of wisdom from workout queen Joyce Vedral. With more than 14 fitness books and 20 exercise videos under her belt, the 59-year-old expert has a technique to tone any and every trouble spot, including the love handles and bra rolls. As a woman and a fitness expert, Vedral knows the frustration of trying to shape up those inconspicuous areas that most workouts don't tackle.

“I get hundreds of emails concerning these two ‘fat devil areas’ that seem to haunt women,” Vedral tells eDiets. “I've got good news. Not only can you delete the fat in these areas and make them tight, toned and defined, but you can do that in minutes a day -- and the exercises attack both areas at the same time.”

Maybe you think these are problems that don’t affect you. Here’s a quick way to find out. Do you have a lump on the side of your body between your waist and your ribcage? For some people, it almost looks like a circle of fat or a “fat belt” around your waist. As for the bra roll, do you have a lump of flesh that starts at the side of your bra-line and extends all the way around your back? If you answered yes to either of these scenarios, then Vedral has the workout for you.

Love Handle Workout

When combined with regular aerobic activity and a healthy meal plan like eDiets, the exercise regimen from Vedrals Definitions video is sure to inspire the change from flab to fab. Vedral recommends doing this love handle workout every other day. Although you will begin to see the fruits of your labor after three weeks, it will probably take about 12 weeks before you see marked progress.

How To Lose Love Handles

Joyce provides this advice on how to lose your love handles. Do 15 reps of the alternate knee-in, followed by 15 reps of the alternate twisting crunch. Without resting, perform 10 reps of the double-arm dumbbell row using 3-pound weights. Rest 15 seconds and repeat all three exercises again. Rest 15 seconds and repeat entire set a third and final time.

Alternate Knee-In
Lie on the floor with your legs extended straight out in front of you, but about three inches off the floor. Place the palms of your hands flat on the floor and under your back. Support yourself on your elbows.

Flexing your abdominal muscles as you go, bending at the knee, bring your left knee as close to your left shoulder as possible. At this point, begin to straighten your left leg, while at the same time beginning to bend your right knee, bringing it to your right shoulder. Continue this bicycle-like movement until you have completed your set. (You will do 15 reps for each side, for a total of 30 reps per set). Move on to the next exercise.

Alternate Twisting Crunch
Lie on your back on the floor or a bench, and place your hands behind your head. Raise your head a few inches, bend your knees, and place the soles of you feet flat on the floor. Raise your left knee off the floor and simultaneously twist and try to touch it with your right elbow, all the time flexing your abdominal muscles. Return to start and repeat the movement for the other side of your body. Continue this alternate movement for the other side of your body until you have completed your set (15 repetitions for each side, for a total of 30 reps per set).

Double-Arm Reverse Row
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, with a 3-pound dumbbell held in each hand, palms away from your body. Bend over until your torso is parallel to the floor. Extend your arms straight down and let them touch the upper-thigh-knee area.

Flexing your back muscles as you go, raise the dumbbells up and to the side of your body (about six inches out at the highest point -- waist height). Willfully flex your back muscles and return to start position. Feel the stretch in your back muscles and repeat the movement until you have completed your set. Do 10 reps. Rest 15 seconds and repeat entire set again.

EDITOR'S NOTE: When it comes to exercise, there are many viewpoints and beliefs. eDiets has its very own fitness program. However, from time to time, we highlight programs and exercises developed by Joyce Vedral and other well-known fitness pros. It is possible you will see contradictions from one story to another.