Eight Effective Exercises to Get Rid of Love Handles

If you're trying to get rid of excess fat in your abdominal area, try these exercises to help get rid of love handles.
Eight Effective Exercises to Get Rid of Love Handles

Last update: 20 February, 2019

Love handles are an accumulation of excess fat around the hips, abdomen, and thighs. This accumulation of fat tends to overflow from our clothes and doesn’t look very attractive. However, there is a solution. Today, we will share the best exercises for helping to get rid of love handles, so keep reading!

The problem with love handles is that they tend to be more common in women than in men, due to different hormonal processes. Therefore, women tend to accumulate more fat in these specific areas.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that love handles appear exclusively on women. Independent of gender, love handles are no more than accumulated fat that can easily be burned off with exercise. So, get motivated and try these effective exercises to get rid of love handles!

Exercises to help get rid of love handles

1. Jumping rope

Jumping rope has a lot of benefits for the body, including better coordination, increased respiratory capacity, and elimination of toxins. Nonetheless, its most important benefit, in this case, would be that it burns a lot of calories. As a result, jumping rope constitutes one of the most fundamental ways to get rid of love handles. Let’s start jumping rope!

2. Running

Running is the ideal exercise to get rid of love handles, but it also helps reduce cellulite and increases blood flow in the body. Additionally, you don’t need any kind of equipment, just a great pair of running shoes and you’re all set!

Woman running outside on street get rid of love handles

3. Burpees

Burpees are quite a complex exercise, created by the physiologist, Dr. Royal H. Burpee. This exercise was used for training American soldiers during World War II. Since then, burpees have been used in a variety of training and workout programs.

One of the best things about burpees is that they eliminate fat and tone your muscles at the same time. Therefore, this exercise is appropriate for helping to get rid of love handles and, at the same time, strengthening the areas where you eliminate fat.

Group of women in class doing burpees

4. Squats

Having rounded glutes and firm thighs is possible thanks to squats. There are various types of squats that you can use to exercise your body:

  • Extreme
  • Jumping
  • Goblet
  • Pistol
  • Weighted

For example, you can do a squat routine twice a week. The good thing about this exercise is that it gives results very quickly. Additionally, you can take advantage of this, as long as you are consistent with your workouts.

Woman doing squats in gym

5. Zumba fitness

Zumba is a fun and dynamic option for helping to get rid of love handles. Additionally, the dance steps stimulate your body to the point where you won’t even realize you’re burning fat. You can register for classes at the gym or dance studio and even buy Zumba Fitness DVDs and workout at home.

6. HIIT workouts

HIIT stands for High-Intensity Interval Training.

It involves high intensity exercises for short periods of time. The purpose is to work the body to the maximum during these short periods of exercise in order to burn the highest possible amount of calories.

HIIT workouts are easy and quick to put into practice. However, they can be quite demanding. Nonetheless, the results are incredible, which makes it really worth your time, effort, and sweat.

Women doing HIIT training exercises to get rid of love handles

7. Abdominals

Abdominal exercises are effective in helping to get rid of love handles. However, it’s important to point out that it’s much better and more effective if you do different types of abdominal exercises. In other words, change up the exercise and try to incorporate at least three into each abdominal session.

It’s recommended that you work all your abdominal muscles, from your obliques to your central abdominal muscles. The following are some options for abdominal exercises that you can do:

  • Plank
  • Leg elevations
  • Bicycle crunch
  • Abdominal scissor kicks
  • Seated Russian twist

8. LISS training

LISS stands for Low-Intensity Steady State.

This is a great option for people who aren’t used to working out or exercising. In addition, it’s for people looking for a simple way to work out. The name of this training program is thanks to the fact that it’s composed of low-intensity cardiovascular exercises.

Likewise, this training option is customizable and simple to incorporate according to your lifestyle. The following are some options for LISS training:

  • Riding a bicycle
  • Swimming
  • Walking
  • Jogging
Two women on treadmills liss training

A healthy diet is vital for losing love handles

Exercise is necessary if you want to get rid of love handles. However, it’s not the only factor. Eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated are other components that you must take into consideration if you want to achieve your objective.

Therefore, avoid consuming foods and beverages that are high in sugar. Instead, accompany these exercises with a healthy diet and plenty of water. Say goodbye to your love handles with this simple advice!


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Gillen, J. B., & Gibala, M. J. (2014). Is high-intensity interval training a time-efficient exercise strategy to improve health and fitness? Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism39(3), 409–412. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2013-0187
  • Trapp, E. G., Chisholm, D. J., Freund, J., & Boutcher, S. H. (2008). The effects of high-intensity intermittent exercise training on fat loss and fasting insulin levels of young women. International Journal of Obesity32(4), 684–691. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803781
  • Fernández Vázquez, R., Martínez Blanco, J., García Vega, M. del M., Barbancho, M. Á., Cruz, J. R. A., & Alvero-Cruz, J. R. (2015). EFFECTS OF FOOD AND DRINK INGESTION ON BODY COMPOSITION VARIABLES OF ABDOMINAL BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE. EFECTOS DE LA COMIDA Y LA BEBIDA SOBRE LAS VARIABLES DE COMPOSICIÓN CORPORAL EN LA BIOIMPEDANCIA ABDOMINAL.32(5), 2269–2273. https://doi.org/10.3305/nh.2015.32.5.9618
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This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.