6 Exercises for Burning Off Those Love Handles!

1. Twisting Sit-Up

• Lie on your back with your knees bent
• Lift up towards your knees, and twist to the right. – Your left hand should come forward between your knees and your right hand should swing back.
• Return to the starting position and repeat the exercise with a twist to the left.
• Do 10-20 reps for each side. 

Tip: Lift to a full sitting position, close to your knees, and return to a full lying position. 

Common Mistake: Failure to keep the knees bent together.

2. Rotating Push Up

• Start at a push-up position with only your palms and toes touching the floor. 
• Carefully lock your elbows and rotate your upper body to the right and lift your right arm up.
• Lower the arm back to the floor and repeat with the other side. 
• Do 10-20 reps for each side.

Tip: Keep your body straight and your feet firmly planted on the floor. 

Common Mistake: Lowering of the waist during the exercise.

3. Knee crunches

• Lie on your back with one knee bent and the other leg straight.
• Place one hand under your head and the other hand next to your body, palm faced down (for an added challenge, point your hand toward the ceiling instead). 
• Sit up and bring the elbow of the hand placed under the head toward the opposite knee, bend the knee each time you sit up, and straighten it each time you lay back down. 
• Do 10-20 repetitions on each side. 

Tip: Point the toes of the straightened leg. 

Common Mistakes: Lowering the leg to the floor and putting all the head’s weight on the palm of the hand.

4. Scissor Crunches

• Lie on your back, lift your legs to a 90-degree angle and straighten them.
• Lift your shoulder blades slightly off the floor and bring one knee to your chest, grab your calf for a count and straighten the other leg parallel to the floor.
• Repeat with the other leg.
• Do 10-20 reps for each side. 

Tip: Keep your neck loose and not too strained. 

Common Mistakes: Holding a strained and stiff neck and failure to bring the knees close enough to the chest.

5. Side crunches

• Lie on your side with your legs together and lean on your elbow.
• Bend your upper knee towards your upper body, and touch the elbow of your free arm (which you’re not leaning on) to the knee.
• Stretch your leg and torso out and reach your hand over your head.
• Do 10-20 reps for each side. 

Tip: Bend the knee of your lower leg slightly to keep your balance and keep your elbow aligned with your shoulder. 

Common Mistakes: Insufficient stretching of the arm and leg when pulling out of the crunch.

6. Reverse Crunch

• Lie on your back and place your arms on your sides with your palms facing down. (For an added challenge, turn them face up.) 
• Hold your legs up, straighten them up toward the ceiling, and gently lift your buttocks off the floor. 
• Return to the initial position carefully, while your abdominal muscles contract. 
• Do 10-20 reps. 

Tip: Keep your head in a comfortable position on the floor 

Common mistake: Quickly returning to the starting position.