How do I get rid of the "love" handles that I hate.

Plastic surgery comment was meant to be a general comment for everyone on this site that I see suggesting it to fix the problems. That and liposuction! Both were mentioned as an answer to the problem on this thread.

Not sure how I contradicted myself, you would have to explain further, maybe I just worded something the wrong way.

You were creating an easy straw man to knock down. No one said that plastic surgery is always the answer or that it should be the first thing to consider. I was very clear in my responses, and I think the meaning of the other person who suggested liposuction was pretty clear, too.

As for contradicting yourself, first you assured the OP that she could lose her love handles, which may not actually be the case, as I and the other person pointed out. Then you said that if she couldn't magically reshape her body -- a concession on your part -- that she should learn to love herself, and if she couldn't, that reflected some deeper problem.

That was contradiction with a full helping of gratuitous judgment.

One of the hardest parts of weight loss and fitness, especially if you are perfectionistic, is that it's a lot of hard work and you ultimately are working with genetically imposed limitations. Not everyone gets the "perfect" body just because they worked hard.

Of course, doing core exercises will help build firm muscle underneath, but it really is all about cardio! The most weight you lose, the closer youw ill be to losing the handles.

My problem, is that I think out a little too much on top, so the lower half looks even bigger! If you have this issue as well, I find doing more strength exercises on top - to bulk up a little, tends to balance out my body .

Good luck!

I'm sorry, I know you were trying to be helpful...but this post is 150% inaccurate...and is perpetuating some semi harmful myths.

First, if you want to cut healthy weight, cardio alone is not the answer. Strength training alone, or strength training with cardio, is far, far more effective at cutting fat off your body. Note...I said fat...not weight. Who cares about weight? Most of us have very, very beautiful bodies hiding under our layer of fat. And here's the wonderful thing. If in fact, you get yourself to a healthy bodyfat level with strength training, and feel your body is still to bulky (note, bulky does NOT mean muscular in this sentence, it means...BULKY)...simply increase your deficit slightly, back off the strength training and do steady state cardio alone. This will cut muscle beneath your healthy level of bodyfat, and you'll slim out even more.

I've yet to see a person who felt the need to do this though, once they're at a healthy bodyfat level.

The second part of your post that needs to be adressed, is that you've said to use strength training on your upper body to 'bulk up' and 'balance' your proportions. The fact is, if you are eating at a calorie deficit in order to burn fat...you can't bulk up anything. You can't build new muscle period. The most...as a woman, that this kind of game plan will do...is cause extra glycogen to be stored in the muscles of your upper body. Yes...this will cause a very slight increase (for women), in visible muscle size...but not enough to 'balance' anything. It will also cause weight gain (although you shouldn't care because it's just water).

So again...a full body strength training regimen (I recommend Starting Strength or Stronglifts 5x5...there are womens support groups for those on this forum), performed 3x a week on non-consecutive days, moderate cardio 2-3 days a week (if at all), at LEAST one full day of rest...preferably two...and you'll be shocked at how quickly your love handles fly off.

bump

Weight trainiNg..it will shape your body I promise. Don't be afraid to tone, beside weight training will allow to burn an additional calories 2 hrs after you have lifted

For as much as 24hrs after you've lifted, actually. The thing is...the calories burned aren't the benefit to strength training. Its the hormonal response promoted. When you lift heavy enough weights where you can only complete 5-8 good form reps...your body produces substantial amounts of growth hormone and adrenalin. These hormones are catalysts that protect lean mass, and significantly aid in the oxidation of adipose tissue.

What that means is they protect your muscles, and light a significant fire that burns bodyfat.