Hate those Love Handles?
Hate those Love Handles?
Love handles are also colloquially called a spare tire due to the enlarged tire-like shape around the midsection, other names used are midriff bulge and muffin top. None of them are particularly flattering are they?
There is a common misconception that spot exercise (that is, exercising a specific muscle or location of the body) most effectively burns fat at the desired location, but this is not the case. Spot exercise is beneficial for building specific muscles, but it has little effect on fat in that area of the body, or on the body's distribution of body fat. The same thing applies to sit-ups and belly fat. Sit-ups, crunches and other abdominal exercises are useful in building the abdominal muscles, but they have little effect on the excess fat located there.
Fat reduction is achieved by raising your metabolism enough to burn that extra fat and to do that you need an effective cardio-vascular exercise program (jogging, cycling, rowing, aerobics etc). Often people can be in fairly good shape but have tummy fat that they just can't seem to be able to shift.
Thankfully if you're one of these people there is hope on the horizon. The first thing to do is to avoid things like ab belts that promise to strengthen your core muscles by sending electrical impulses that make your ab muscles tighten. This is a fad product playing up to peoples hopes that no hard work is needed. I mean, wouldn't it be great if you could just sit there on your sofa, drinking beer and eating burgers whilst your ab belt pulsated the pounds off you?........... Reality check, wake up! You're dreaming again!
One piece of equipment however that really can help you shed the pounds is called a Swiss ball. It's also sometimes called a fit ball or an exercise ball. It was first introduced by back therapists but has since become one of the most popular fitness products in the world. Why? Because it works.
The beauty of the exercise ball is that you don't need an expensive gym membership to use one. Most sports retailers sell them for less than forty bucks and all you need is around six foot spare space to get the best out of it. The exercise ball will enable you to strengthen those core underlying muscles around the abdomen and provide a barrier against fat. The fact of the matter is for the best results you must incorporate a healthy diet with a simple exercise program if you want to lose weight and create the ideal you.
One easy and convenient use of the exercise ball comes from just sitting on it. That's right. You can sit down and build muscle (as long as you're not drinking beer or eating burgers at the same time!). When doing this you use numerous muscles through your core to stabilise yourself from falling off of it. By merely sitting on your exercise ball for thirty minutes a day you will notice a change in your core within a few weeks. Sit and watch tv, read a book, anything you want.
Stretching and relaxation techniques such as Yoga and Pilates are another superb core workout. You can buy DVD's on the subjects or even take a local class. These methods are often seen as being for "hippies" and new age spiritualists. However many people fail to understand just how good these are for getting into shape.
From a fat loss perspective Pilates and Yoga both have one major advantage. They help your body to increase its production of endorphins which counter the effects of stress hormones such as Cortisol. Cortisol increases the creation of belly fat.
Many people think that to have a flat stomach you need to work hours in the gym. The truth is you do need to work at it, but a healthy diet, coupled with 20-30 minutes of cardio-vascular exercise twice a week and a simple exercise program such as sitting on an exercise ball or actively getting involved in something like Yoga or Pilates can get you the results you want. Now that's not hard, anyone can do that, can't they? Think about it, a healthy diet - that doesn't mean prison rations, there's lots of healthy food options out there. 30 minutes on a bike or 45 minutes brisk walking twice a week - a no-brainer. Exercising with the swiss ball 4 times a week, or a Yoga or Pilates class twice a week - easy.
Don't look at weight loss as a chore. Go out there and have some fun with it. Not only will it keep you healthy but it may just turn into a fantastic hobby for yourself.
Good luck, and here's to a new you!
Love handles are also colloquially called a spare tire due to the enlarged tire-like shape around the midsection, other names used are midriff bulge and muffin top. None of them are particularly flattering are they?
There is a common misconception that spot exercise (that is, exercising a specific muscle or location of the body) most effectively burns fat at the desired location, but this is not the case. Spot exercise is beneficial for building specific muscles, but it has little effect on fat in that area of the body, or on the body's distribution of body fat. The same thing applies to sit-ups and belly fat. Sit-ups, crunches and other abdominal exercises are useful in building the abdominal muscles, but they have little effect on the excess fat located there.
Fat reduction is achieved by raising your metabolism enough to burn that extra fat and to do that you need an effective cardio-vascular exercise program (jogging, cycling, rowing, aerobics etc). Often people can be in fairly good shape but have tummy fat that they just can't seem to be able to shift.
Thankfully if you're one of these people there is hope on the horizon. The first thing to do is to avoid things like ab belts that promise to strengthen your core muscles by sending electrical impulses that make your ab muscles tighten. This is a fad product playing up to peoples hopes that no hard work is needed. I mean, wouldn't it be great if you could just sit there on your sofa, drinking beer and eating burgers whilst your ab belt pulsated the pounds off you?........... Reality check, wake up! You're dreaming again!
One piece of equipment however that really can help you shed the pounds is called a Swiss ball. It's also sometimes called a fit ball or an exercise ball. It was first introduced by back therapists but has since become one of the most popular fitness products in the world. Why? Because it works.
The beauty of the exercise ball is that you don't need an expensive gym membership to use one. Most sports retailers sell them for less than forty bucks and all you need is around six foot spare space to get the best out of it. The exercise ball will enable you to strengthen those core underlying muscles around the abdomen and provide a barrier against fat. The fact of the matter is for the best results you must incorporate a healthy diet with a simple exercise program if you want to lose weight and create the ideal you.
One easy and convenient use of the exercise ball comes from just sitting on it. That's right. You can sit down and build muscle (as long as you're not drinking beer or eating burgers at the same time!). When doing this you use numerous muscles through your core to stabilise yourself from falling off of it. By merely sitting on your exercise ball for thirty minutes a day you will notice a change in your core within a few weeks. Sit and watch tv, read a book, anything you want.
Stretching and relaxation techniques such as Yoga and Pilates are another superb core workout. You can buy DVD's on the subjects or even take a local class. These methods are often seen as being for "hippies" and new age spiritualists. However many people fail to understand just how good these are for getting into shape.
From a fat loss perspective Pilates and Yoga both have one major advantage. They help your body to increase its production of endorphins which counter the effects of stress hormones such as Cortisol. Cortisol increases the creation of belly fat.
Many people think that to have a flat stomach you need to work hours in the gym. The truth is you do need to work at it, but a healthy diet, coupled with 20-30 minutes of cardio-vascular exercise twice a week and a simple exercise program such as sitting on an exercise ball or actively getting involved in something like Yoga or Pilates can get you the results you want. Now that's not hard, anyone can do that, can't they? Think about it, a healthy diet - that doesn't mean prison rations, there's lots of healthy food options out there. 30 minutes on a bike or 45 minutes brisk walking twice a week - a no-brainer. Exercising with the swiss ball 4 times a week, or a Yoga or Pilates class twice a week - easy.
Don't look at weight loss as a chore. Go out there and have some fun with it. Not only will it keep you healthy but it may just turn into a fantastic hobby for yourself.
Good luck, and here's to a new you!