The term “love handles” is a slang phrase used to describe the extra fat around the waist and sides of a person. While the phrase might sound cute or affectionate, it’s actually a negative way of referring to excess body fat in this area.
The phrase has been around since at least the 1980s, and is believed to be derived from the notion of someone carrying their excess fat as if it were a pair of handles that can be lovingly grasped or snuggled into.
Another explanation is that the fat in this area is associated with an hourglass figure, making it a desirable trait by some – thus the phrase “love handle”. Regardless of its origins, the phrase has been around for decades and is unfortunately still used today as a way to negatively describe excess body fat.
What are love handles actually called?
Love Handles is actually a colloquial term used to refer to a deposit of fat stored around the hip and stomach area. It is otherwise known as a circumferential waistline or an abdominal dip, and is generally most noticeable when an individual is wearing tight-fitting clothing.
The technical term used to describe love handles is “visceral-abdominal fat,” which is viewed as undesirable from an aesthetic perspective. Although, contrary to popular belief, not all body fat is unhealthy; in fact, having a little bit of fat around the hips and abdomen helps to protect the organs and insulate the body to help maintain a healthy body temperature.
Are love handles hips or waist?
Love handles are extra fat around the waist and hips, often situated just above the waistline. They are sometimes referred to as “muffin tops,” found on both men and women due to weight gain or an unhealthy diet, including too much sugar and fat.
Individuals who experience love handles, or excess fat around the waist, may note they are uncomfortable or unflattering. They can often be identified by a visible “roll” of fat around the waist. Love handles, though, should not be confused with the hips, as the hips are comprised of two curved bony structures that form the pelvis.
The hips start immediately below the waist and are composed of muscle and fat, but are distinct from the love handles area, which is located on the sides of the body just above the waist.
Are flanks the same as love handles?
No, flanks and love handles are not the same thing. Flanks refer to the side and back regions of the abdominal area, while love handles refer to the localized fat deposits on the sides of the body that sit just above the hips.
Instead of referring to the entire side and back regions, love handles are a separate, more specific area. The terms are commonly used interchangeably, but they do not refer to the same exact area. In terms of exercising, performing exercises that target the obliques and lower back are typically advised to reduce and tone the flanks, while exercises that target the hips and outer thighs are advised to reduce and tone the love handles.
Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is key to achieving your desired body shape.
What is the fat around the waist called?
The fat around the waist is often referred to as abdominal fat or ‘belly fat’. This fat is found around the midsection and is usually the most stubborn, deep-seated fat for many people. It is composed of two main types of fat: subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.
Subcutaneous fat is more visible, located just beneath the skin, and provides cushion and insulation. Visceral fat is found at a deeper layer around organs, and is the type of fat that many often struggle with the most.
Both of these types of fat increase risk factors for health complications such as diabetes and heart disease. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to abdominal fat in order to achieve and maintain overall health.
What is the hugging muscle?
The hugging muscle, scientifically referred to as the Pectoralis Major, is a large, thin sheet of muscle located in the chest. It is the main muscle of the chest that is responsible for most of its movements.
The muscle originates from the breastbone (sternum) in the front and extends down to the upper arm bone (humerus). It is responsible for adduction, flexion, internal rotation, and horizontal abduction of the humerus.
Its action is to pull the scapsula upwards and inwards when working together with the other muscles of the chest. This allows the arms to hug one’s body. The muscle is also used in activities such as pushing, lifting, throwing, and pressing.
Strengthening the pectoralis major can improve posture, decrease the risk of shoulder impingement, improve strength, and facilitate athletic performance.
What muscles make love handles look smaller?
Targeting the transverse abdominis, the rectus abdominis, and the obliques are the three main muscle groups that should be incorporated into any exercise routine designed to reduce the appearance of love handles.
The transverse abdominis is located on the sides of the waist and wraps around your internal organs, giving you core support and helping to stabilize your spine. Strengthening the transverse abdominis allows you to reduce the spread of your waist and slim down your midsection.
Exercises such as planks, side planks, dead bugs and leg lifts can help to tone and strengthen this muscle group.
The rectus abdominis runs down the front of your abdomen and is often referred to as the “six-pack muscle”. This muscle can be trained through exercises like crunches, reverse crunches, bicycle crunches and hanging leg raises.
Incorporating these moves into your exercise routine can help strengthen and tone the rectus abdominis.
The obliques are located on either side of your waist, running from your upper abdomen to the lower waist. Strengthening the obliques can help to draw in your waist and reduce the appearance of love handles.
Good exercises for targeting your obliques include side bends, Russian twists and renegade rows.
By incorporating these specific exercises into a regular exercise routine, you can strengthen and tone the muscles in your midsection which will reduce the appearance of love handles and give you a flatter, leaner midsection.
How do you tighten love handle muscles?
Tightening love handle muscles can be accomplished through a combination of targeted exercise and a consistent diet.
To target those areas, some great exercises you should include in your routine are weighted planks, Russian twists, and bird dogs. For weighted planks, start in a standard plank position while holding a weight plate in each had.
Keep your hips down and core tight as you hold the plank for as long as you can. For Russian twists, hold a medicine ball or weight plate in both hands, sitting on your butt with your feet off the ground.
Twist your torso left and right as far as you can. For bird dogs, start on all fours, with your back flat and abs engaged. While keeping your back flat and abs engaged, move one arm up and the opposite leg back at the same time.
Return to the starting position and repeat on the opposite side.
In addition to exercise, to ensure that love handle muscles stay tight and toned, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet. Incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins while cutting back on refined sugars, saturated fats, and processed foods.
Limiting calories and eating a nutritionally balanced diet is key to getting rid of those love handles.
Will love handles ever go away?
Unfortunately, love handles can be a particularly difficult area to shed fat from. That said, it is possible to get rid of love handles with dedication and hard work. The best way to do so is to combine a few different approaches.
Firstly, it’s important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Avoiding high-calorie, processed foods and incorporating lots of protein, complex carbohydrates, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish will help to promote a healthy weight.
If you’re looking to lose weight, being mindful of your calorie consumption and making sure to keep it in a good deficit can help to reduce the fat in this area.
Secondly, regular exercise can help to reduce fat from your love handles. High intensity interval training (HIIT) is particularly useful for this, as it involves alternating between periods of intense activity and shorter periods of rest, helping to maximize your calorie burn.
Full body workouts that use weight-bearing exercises can also help to reduce fat in this area.
Finally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important. Addressing any underlying sources of stress and ensuring you’re getting enough sleep can both help to reduce fat and help you to feel more energized throughout the day.
Additionally, regular stretching can help to make sure that your muscles stay toned.
Combining all of these strategies can help you to reduce the fat in your love handles. However, it is important to note that this can take time, depending on how much fat you are working with and how dedicated you are.
Patience and consistency are key.
Do you lose love handles first?
The answer to this question is, it depends. Everyone’s body is unique and different so the order in which certain areas of fat are lost will vary. Generally, you will lose fat all over your body. In other words, you won’t target fat loss to one particular area.
However, it is possible for the fat loss to be more predominant in one area over the other. That being said, there is no guarantee that love handles will be the first to go when you start to exercise and decline in caloric intake.
To slim down and lose fat from the love handles, it is important to combine healthy eating habits with moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise and strength training. Eating fewer processed foods, more fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and complex carbohydrates can also help.
Additionally, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and aid in fat loss.
How long does it take for love handles to go?
It takes a combination of diet and exercise to get rid of love handles. Generally, it takes about 4-12 weeks to see an improvement in your waistline. If you dedicate yourself to changing your diet, exercising regularly and making healthy lifestyle choices, you should see some progress in that time frame.
Ideally you should aim to do cardio exercises and full body workouts 3-5 times a week to keep burning fat and build muscle. Eating a balanced and healthy diet will also be beneficial in helping your waistline shrink.
This can include adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, increasing fiber and avoiding processed foods.
Some key tips to keep in mind while working toward getting rid of love handles would be to stay consistent with your diet and fitness routine and to be patient as it will take time to see results. Getting enough sleep will also be beneficial in helping you stay energized and motivated in your weight loss journey.
How do you realistically lose love handles?
Losing love handles can be tricky, but it is possible to do with the right mindset and the right approach. Here are some realistic steps to help you trim and tone your sides:
1. Eat a balanced diet. Eating a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy helps you shed extra pounds, as well as provides your body with important vitamins and minerals it needs.
Avoid processed, sugary, and fatty foods as much as possible.
2. Cut down on calories. To lose love handles, you will need to reduce your overall calorie intake. Start by replacing unhealthy snacks with healthier options such as fruits, nuts, and low-fat dairy, and cut down on portion sizes at meals.
Eating slowly can also help, as it gives your body time to register when you’re full.
3. Exercise regularly. Exercise is essential when it comes to trimming and toning your love handles. Cardiovascular exercise such as running, biking, and swimming helps burn off excess fat in your body, while strength training exercises target and strengthen the muscles in the area.
4. Add some ab exercises. If you want to tone your love handles, ab exercises such as crunches, bicycles, and mountain climbers will help firm up the area.
5. Focus on your posture. Poor posture can contribute to the look of love handles, so focus on correcting your posture when sitting, standing, walking, and doing any other type of activity.
By combining all these tips, you’ll be well on your way to reducing your love handles and achieving a sleek, trim physique.
At what body fat percentage do you have love handles?
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question as different body types respond differently to fat storage. Love handles, formally known as visceral fat, generally form around the abdominal area when the body fat percentage begins to increase.
A good guideline for when love handles will start to form is having a body fat percentage of around 18-22%, though this could range significantly higher or lower depending on body type, bone structure, and individual genetics.
What’s the fastest way to lose love handles?
The fastest way to lose love handles is to make changes to both your diet and exercise routines. To diet, start by reducing your calorie intake by 500 to 750 calories per day. Make sure to reduce your portion sizes and focus on eating whole, natural foods.
Avoid processed junk food, and make sure that you are getting the recommended amounts of macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates). Additionally, avoid eating late at night.
To exercise, focus on compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, pull-ups, and bench presses. Also, add cardio exercises to your routine, such as running, cycling, and swimming. Do these exercises 3-4 days a week and be sure to increase the intensity of your workouts as you progress.
And, if possible, try to do some type of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training).
Finally, make sure to get enough sleep. Sleep plays an essential role in building muscle, burning fat, and overall health. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep each night.
In conclusion, the fastest way to lose love handles is to focus on both your diet and exercise. Eliminate processed junk food and increase your calorie burn through compound exercises and cardio. Increase the intensity of your workouts as you progress and make sure to get enough good quality sleep each night.
What part of the body loses fat first?
The part of the body that typically loses fat first is the abdomen or belly area. This is because the abdominal area is the body’s most metabolically active area, meaning it is the easiest for the body to access stored fat.
This can be challenging for some because abdominal fat can be some of the most stubborn fat for the body to lose. However, with a balanced and healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep, fat loss from the abdominal area can be achieved.
Additionally, including specific exercises that target the abdominal area, such as crunches, planks, and side bends, may result in a more pronounced fat loss in the area.