Dr. Levi,”How do I lose my love handles?” This question is asked in my practice every week by multiple patients. Well, I want to share with you the advice which I give my patients:
1. Love your bodies just the way they are, even your love handles. Make a commitment to get fit to “love those love handles away” without dieting, but with a lifestyle of balance and moderation about wise food choices.
2. Decrease the amount of fat in your diet. Eat a well balanced diet with more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Decrease dairy in your diet. Minimize sodium in your diet to avoid water retention.
3. Drink more water (8-10 glasses-8oz) and add more fiber to your diet.
4. Incorporate a diverse aerobic exercise routine in your daily workout regimen which should be 30-45 minutes 4-5 times per week.
5. Understand that there are no “spot fat reduction” miracles. Losing weight globally over your body will decrease your love handles also. You can do it.
6. Specific exercises that I recommend: lateral side crunches, trunk twists, standing lateral side crunch and knee lift, light weight dumbbell side bends, oblique and standard mountain climbers, side roman chair sit-ups, side leg lifts. ( See pages 176-196 of The Art of Fitness: A Journey to Self Enhancement.) It is critical to diversify your oblique and abs routine each week to effect your love handles effectively.
7. Strengthen your lower back when doing abdominal work to balance your posture. This is very important.
8. Feel good about your quest without any guilt or self-judgment. Know that a commuted and consistent aerobic exercise program, weight bearing exercises, healthy food choices and lifestyle changes (such as, positive image visualization and meditation) will allow you to lose weight in general and to “lose those love handles”.
Remember: You are losing the “lovable handles” and weight to decrease your risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease (#1 killer of women in America), hypertension, diabetes and some forms of cancer. These healthy tips from will assist you on your quest to lovingly dissolve your love handles to live a healthy, happy, productive life. Congrats!!
Peace and health, Dr. Levi…Your Fitness Doctor
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