Best Practices for Love Handles

ClarityPeace
ClarityPeace Posts: 81 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Best Practices please to rid oneself of love handles/belly fat..
I am 47, 5'3" female
SW: 145
CW: 140.2 (this morning)
GW: 115

Doing cardio at the gym now for 2 weeks so far..

Replies

  • LC932017
    LC932017 Posts: 94 Member
    edited July 2015
    I've always heard you cannot spot reduce but please take it from a former cardio queen-start lifting weights. My body changed entirely- I went from "thick" to "skinny-fat" with cardio then from "skinny-fat" to tone and strong (not "bulky" as some women fear) from lifting ! I cannot stress the weights enough :blush:
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    You can't spot reduce.

    Eat at a deficit. Lifting would be good, but lifting won't get rid of your love handles and belly fat.
  • ClarityPeace
    ClarityPeace Posts: 81 Member
    Please suggest some starter equipment to try at Gold's gym for lifting, thank you
  • LC932017
    LC932017 Posts: 94 Member
    I really don't use machines. I only use free weights/heavy weights. I see people using machines though. I did a quick google search and found the following article that discusses which machines to start with: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/beginner_weight_training.htm TBH I literally started with two 8lb weights and worked my way up to two 25lbs :) I also use kettle bells (25lbs) and can do real pushups (20 or so) which was a big goal for me. Youtube is your best friend so is a personal trainer but I couldnt afford a PT so I stick to youtube ;)
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    You can't spot reduce.

    You can eat a calorie deficit to lose fat, but the fat is going to get lost all over, not one specific spot.
  • ClarityPeace
    ClarityPeace Posts: 81 Member
    Yes I am already eating at a calorie deficit..that's how I lost the first 5 lbs.. I guess I'll add in the weights..I've always been intimidated by free weights.. I guess I'm not sure what to do with them & afraid of hurting my wrists (I have tiny wrists)
  • Imadorkable
    Imadorkable Posts: 442 Member
    I noticed that when I cut way down on sugar I burned more fat around my middle and hips.
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    Imadorkable wrote: »
    I noticed that when I cut way down on sugar I burned more fat around my middle and hips.

    Most likely you were in a caloric deficit.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    You could start with body weight exercises, something like nerdfitness.com, then start progressive weight training.
    Just remember you are lifting what is heavy for you. Once I realised that I was a lot less intimidated.

    If you do some resistance training while you are losing the fat you will retain more of you lbm and probably be happier with your body composition when you reach your goal.
    Cheers, h.
  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    You have to lose overall weight. Lifting helps expand muscles; it does not cause fat to disappear. Once you lose weight, the stomach will go down. I promise.
  • KateSimpson17
    KateSimpson17 Posts: 282 Member
    atypicalsmith wrote: »
    You have to lose overall weight. Lifting helps expand muscles; it does not cause fat to disappear. Once you lose weight, the stomach will go down. I promise.

    Having more muscle increases your metabolism, which (technically) does make fat disappear. Although the idea of "converting fat into muscle" is false.

    as far as the original question: you will lose weight where you gain it. I've heard girls say "I don't want to lose weight because my boobs will get smaller!" The question to ask is "when you gain weight are your boobs the first thing to get bigger? No? Then they're not going to get smaller first either." If you gain the most weight in your love handle area then that will start to disappear as you lose weight.

    Everyone is saying "you can't spot reduce" but you CAN tone. If you focus on doing abdominal exercises (as well as your regular exercises) like crunches, leg lifts, abdominal machines at the gym, etc. It will tone those muscles and bring that area in.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Sorry, you really can't spot reduce and it will come from where it wants. As you lose, eventually, those will take off as well.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Nothing but waiting will get rid of the fat. You can lift and swim your heart out, but the fat comes off when it's darn good and ready.

    Just stick with it and be patient. :)
  • divvyh
    divvyh Posts: 32 Member
    I recommend side planks. My love handles haven't gone away yet (still early days), but they feel a lot more toned and that's keeping me going.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    Fork put downs.
    Table push aways.

    The best thing you can do is maintain a consistent calorie deficit and exercise patience.
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    Your fat will come off your love handles when it wants to :)

    Weights weights weights to preserve your current muscle underneath. You will not build new muscle in a caloric deficit, besides some possible newbie gains. "Toning" doesn't exist, you are simply removing the fat over your fat and exposing them.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    msf74 wrote: »
    Fork put downs.
    Table push aways.

    The best thing you can do is maintain a consistent calorie deficit and exercise patience.

    This.

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