Advice for toning

jollyjoe321
jollyjoe321 Posts: 529 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi there,

Basically, so far I've lost 25lbs, pretty pleased with myself, but I most noticably have a very small amount of excess just on top of my hips.

Apparently they're commonly known as love handles. Well, I certainly don't love them, any advice on which specific exercises (E.G. Side plank) to do to pull them in a bit at the same time as me dieting to lose the excess fat?

Cheers!

J

Replies

  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
    The best workout plan (which doesn't exist) will not give you results if your diet is sub-par. The number one thing for losing fat is diet.
  • jollyjoe321
    jollyjoe321 Posts: 529 Member
    My diet's fine, I'm just asking for the most effective obliques exercise.
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    Pilates / barre is getting rid of mine.
  • beckymlong
    beckymlong Posts: 111 Member
    Keep on yup of your diet, add in some cardio to burn off excess fat pet se and side/normal planks, crunches, burpees, my pilates and six pack DVDs have great core and tummy exercises including oblique work...I use Jillian Michaels and those regimes are amazing!
  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
    Squats and deads are among the best ab and oblique exercise. Another one to try, if you workout in a gym is called palof press.
    http://www.sportsrehabexpert.com/public/244.cfm
  • mdizzle99
    mdizzle99 Posts: 169 Member
    To get rid of them you need to lower your body fat percentage. Eventually the excess fat will be gone. For many people, that is one ofthe last places fat is lost.
  • jollyjoe321
    jollyjoe321 Posts: 529 Member
    All great suggestions guys, thanks! :D

    Are sets of scales that you stand on while barefoot which send impulses into your feet accurate at detecting your body fat percentage? =)
  • brillmer
    brillmer Posts: 1,268 Member
    No such thing as spot reduction.

    Exercise will not help you remove fat from a specific area. It will help you build muscle underneath the layer of fat.

    Eating healthy at a caloric deficit will ensure fat loss.
  • jollyjoe321
    jollyjoe321 Posts: 529 Member
    I was more thinking of not spot fat loss, but toning a particular spot, like I have with my abs
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    My diet's fine, I'm just asking for the most effective obliques exercise.

    There are "effective" oblique exercises to strengthen muscle but not spot reduce. To lose the love handles, you have to lose the overall body fat and that is done by eating at a calorie deficit. That's what people are saying in regards to your diet.
  • mdizzle99
    mdizzle99 Posts: 169 Member
    Unfortunately those body fat scales are notoriously inaccurate. I generally rely on the mirror, but there are other, more accurate, ways to measure body fat if interested.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    I was more thinking of not spot fat loss, but toning a particular spot, like I have with my abs

    Strengthening an area is one thing. But what you are asking is still about reducing fat in a certain area. whether you say reduction or toning a certain area - same thing in your case and so no. not happening. There are strength training programs like Stronglifts, NROL, Wendler and Starting Strength that will help you with strengthening your body, but there is no program that will legitimately spot reduce fat or tone an area like you are wanting.


    ETA: If you really are that insistent about a spot reduction solution, then there is always liposuction.
  • jakedner
    jakedner Posts: 186 Member
    All great suggestions guys, thanks! :D

    Are sets of scales that you stand on while barefoot which send impulses into your feet accurate at detecting your body fat percentage? =)

    Not that I have found...

    I have one of those scales and it shows my body fat was 39%. My handheld body fat tester had me at 44%. I met with a trainer at the Y where I workout and she did a skin fold test and my body fat was actually 29%.
  • jollyjoe321
    jollyjoe321 Posts: 529 Member
    Unfortunately those body fat scales are notoriously inaccurate. I generally rely on the mirror, but there are other, more accurate, ways to measure body fat if interested.

    Any cheeky tips on what to google to find them? =) Thanks!
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Unfortunately those body fat scales are notoriously inaccurate. I generally rely on the mirror, but there are other, more accurate, ways to measure body fat if interested.

    Any cheeky tips on what to google to find them? =) Thanks!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/830595-body-fat-estimation-methods
  • jollyjoe321
    jollyjoe321 Posts: 529 Member
    Thanks very much, you've been very helpful! :happy:
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Thanks very much, you've been very helpful! :happy:

    If you go to the link, it is posted in the Eat Train Progress group. I'd read all the stickies. It's all great info to know. Sara and Sidesteel could offer you help with figuring out your bodyfat %. There is a sticky with how.


    ETA: I realized that sounded kinda spammy. To note, Sara and Sidesteel help people in the ETP group for free.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    Can't help you since "toning" doesn't really exist.

    If you want to strengthen the obliques though basically any type of side crunch will directly contract them. As mentioned squats, deadlifts and rows are other great strengthening (indirectly) exercises for obliques.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • getting_fit86
    getting_fit86 Posts: 128 Member
    Try something called hip twists. They have really helped tighten up my love handles.

    Get into a plank position on your elbows. Twist your hips outwards to each side.

    I will do about 50 and I'm sore the next day! They really work your obliques.
  • action_figure
    action_figure Posts: 511 Member
    There's no such thing as toning. What people mean by "toning" is achieved by building muscles, and separately, lowering your body fat percentage enough so that the muscles can be seen. You can't choose where fat comes off of your body. Your genetics determine that. Basically, get yourself in a good strength training routine that works your whole body, get your diet under control, and do some cardio to help burn fat.
  • annakow
    annakow Posts: 385 Member
    Recumbent Exercise Bikes
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    bump for later
  • SaraBrown12
    SaraBrown12 Posts: 277 Member
    I had love handles, they are no more. I did 2 exercises every day to get shot of them.
    1st 1 was a low plank (on forearms instead of hands) and lifting your knees up to your chest with a twist. Cant remember proper name for them. 2 sets of 50 (if i could manage them) every day and russian twists 2 x 50 with a 10kg kettle bell.

    My problem area is around my knees and nothing is helping!!!! Grrrr
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    My diet's fine, I'm just asking for the most effective obliques exercise.
    You can enhance the muscle there, but you can't target the fat there. That's where I hold my last bit of flab, but just a smidge lower and more forward than commonly location of "love handle".

    I like side planks (with hip dips) and Russian Twists (with weights) and lifting "heavy." ( which for me is less heavy than others still.....)
    And eating at a slight caloric deficit, not a big one..with plenty of protein.
  • SBrad55
    SBrad55 Posts: 2 Member
    As everyone has said, the diet needs to be key and also cardio so you burns cals & lose the remaining fat but to tone the muscles that are under the remaining fat (congrats on the weight loss so far!) - I recommend some of the exercises from the P90x Core Synergistics video. I thought I had good abs until doing these exercises and when I started doing them my fiance really noticed - especially in the obliques and the sexy "v" shape.

    If you don't have access to the P90x DVDs a few good exercises from the Core Synergistics P90x video are:

    - Banana Rolls (16 reps/2 minutes) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDrYDDEMaTE
    You lay on your tummy and lift arms out above head straight and lift legs off the ground out straight, hold for 10 seconds, then turn on one side and hold for 10 seconds, turn on back and hold for 10 sec, turn on other side and hold for 10 sec, continue for 2 min. You can find examples of people doing it on youtube - you will probably look really awkward and be wobbly at first but it gets better :)

    - Squat runs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpz-eEILc-k
    You hold a light weight, get in a running position with 1 foot forward and pump arms keeping your core (abs, glutes, etc) firm like running and then switch and repeat with the other foot in front

    - Lunge & Reach - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soLrRLNeeJs
    This one is awesome and you will really feel it the next day

    Those are the ones that I feel most in the obliques/muffin top region :) As the remaining fat melts, the toning becomes visible.

    Good luck!

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