Carrying excess fat in your midsection poses numerous health risks. Therefore, you should use every trick out there to get rid of it.
Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising are two proven methods for eliminating excess fat. In fact, exercise does more than reducing excess fat. It tightens your belly and makes it look smaller.
Oblique workouts are particularly effective for shrinking love handles. In case you’re not familiar with the term love handles, it refers to the excess fat on the side of your belly. Also known as spare tire or muffin top.
Today’s workout is very effective because it targets many other muscles other than the obliques. As a result, you’ll burn lots of calories and increase lean muscle mass.
If you don’t know how to perform any of the exercises in the workout, watch the demonstrations below the video.
10-Minute Oblique Workout
Bear Crunches
It might take you a few reps to master this exercise if you’ve never done it before. It will strengthen your core, arms, and legs.
Perform the exercise at a moderate pace as moving too fast can mess up your form. Keep your abs tight throughout.
Plank Side Leg Raises
You probably know that the plank works your abs. Well, adding the side leg raises will allow you to activate your oblique muscles.
Keep your body aligned in a straight line and tighten the abs. Also, raise the leg sideways as far as possible. Lastly, tighten the oblique muscles as you lift the leg sideways.
Sit-Up to Twist
We’ve all done sit-ups before but have you tried twisting as you rise? Add the twisting movement helps engage the oblique muscles.
Avoid the common mistake of arching your back as you rise as doing that strains your spine. Keep your back curved and twist your torso as much as possible.
Side Plank Hip Raises
Side plank hip raises are one of the most effective plank variations. They can definitely shrink your love handles because they hit your oblique muscles hard.
Raise your hips as high as possible on each rep and then slowly lower them to the floor. Squeeze your oblique muscles as you raise the hips.
Make sure your elbow is directly below the shoulder to avoid straining your shoulder joint.
Plank Crunches
For this one, bring your knee as close to your elbow as possible to fully engage your oblique muscles.
Keep the palms directly below the shoulders and the body aligned in a straight line. Perform the exercise slowly.
Oblique V-Ups
Some beginners may find this exercise quite challenging but I recommend you keep trying until you get it right.
It’s an exceptional oblique exercise because it has a wide range of motion. Make sure you lift your feet and upper body off the floor at the same time.
Heel Touches
Heel touches are great because they activate your abs and oblique muscles. And they’re ideal for everyone – even out-of-shape beginners.
When doing this exercise keep your head off the floor throughout. And pause for a second after each rep before bending your torso to the other side.
Bicycle Crunch to Vertical Leg Raise
Like heel touches, this exercise will activate your ab and oblique muscles. However, it’s more challenge, hence more rewarding.
Be keen to lift your upper back off the floor as you raise your hand to touch the opposite leg.
Russian Twists
Russian twists are extremely effective for activating your lower abs and oblique muscles. Keep your back slightly curved and feet off the floor.
Avoid moving your head from side to side as you twist your torso because that may cause dizziness. Feel free to hold a dumbbell if you want to make this exercise more challenging.
You should feel your waistline become tighter after one workout. And if you add more fat-blasting workouts to your routine, you can take 2-3 inches off your waistline in just 28 days.
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