"How do I lose my love handles?" is a question I get asked a lot. How do you get rid of that stubborn fat that seems to stick around your midsection.

You love handles cover a very important part of your abdominals called your obliques. Unfortunately for the obliques, they are often ignored when doing ab exercises. Why? Most people focus on crunches and sit-ups that only work the "six pack" region of the abdominals.

I bet your saying "Great. I'll just do a bunch of oblique exercises and I can say good-bye to my love handles once and for all." If only that were true. You see there is a myth in the fitness world termed spot toning, and this popular, yet untrue term makes people believe you can burn fat from one specific part of your anatomy. This is entirely untue. Remember, in order to lose fat from your mid-section, you have to lose fat from your body as a whole. This is why whole body workouts are so important.

So how do I lose my belly fat?

You should start a simple cardio program to follow. This could be walking or jogging outside for 30-45 minutes a day 3-5 times a week. I know we're all busy, but that's how we all got the love handles in the first place. Take your dog out for an extra 15 minutes, or go for a walk on your lunch break.

You should also try writing out a nutrition journal and pin-pointing exactly what your are easting every day. Find out where your bad habits are and nip them in the bud. Bad nutrition is the number one reason that people suffer from love handles and do not have the flat stomachs that they want.

A great book to help your win your battle against the budlge is The Abs Diet: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life. I know some of you may be sick of me promoting this book, but it truly is a great resource and worth a read through. Get one used at your library or on Amazon. It will really open your eyes to how important nurition is in burning the stubborn fat around your mid-section.

Exercises for Your Love Handles

Here are a few exericses that really docus on the obliques:

Bicycles:

Lay on the floor and place your hands behind your head. Lift your head off the ground. Lift your legs and bend one while extending the other. Kick your legs like you are pedaling a bike, having your elbow touch the opposite knee as it comes into your body. Do this 25-50 times for each leg for a total of 50-100 times.

Oblique V-ups:

In order to have a set of 6 pack abs, you have to work your obliques, and boy are we ever going to work them.

Lie on your right side with legs at a 30 degree angle. Place your right hand in front of you for support, and place your left hand behind your head. Lift your legs and upper body off the ground and contract your obliques by bringing your elbow and knees together.

Make sure your legs and shoulder do not touch the ground. Your elbow and knee do not have to touch for you to feel this exercise. Repeat 25 times then switch sides.

Core Twists:

I always save this exercise for last. If there is anything that burns your abdominal muscles it is this exercise. You are going to be working all your core muscle groups in this one. So take a break if you need it.

Sitting with your knees bent. Clasp your hands together, then, lift your knees off the ground. Twist side to side as quickly as you can tapping the ground on each side. 2 taps are a 1 count.

I try getting up to 40-50 reps, but if this is new for you, doing 20 may kill your abs. Just do your best. I have also done this exercise with a medicine ball in hand, turning from side to side.