Wahoo Thursday!
Positive = we are only one more day away from the weekend!
Negative = we are one day closer to finals week! BOO!
Another Positive (always got to end on a good note) = It’s time for another…
TEACH ME THURSDAY!
I don’t know about anyone else out there, but you ask me my most dreaded body part, I’d have to say those not so lovable love handles. Oh man, they just LOVE to stay long past their welcome! So I decided this week I’d find a few exercises to hopefully target those pesky obliques.
Obliques = love handles. It’s the muscles that run down the side of your body starting at your lower ribs, moving down. Trimming down your obliques is going to make your whole core look slimmer. To slim down the “handle” and to tone those obliques, typical oblique crunches are not going to do the trick.
You have to first cut down the fat that is hiding the muscle under there. Oblique crunches are certainly not intense enough, you may be building up a little muscle, but the blubber you are able to grab on top of that is the real enemy we need to be targeting!
So here’s a few moves that should help do the trick:
This one will not only tone your obliques, but your thighs and butt as well! SCORE!
- Stand with your feet wider than shoulder width, toes facing out slightly.
- Face your body towards one side and hold a weight or medicine ball above your head. This will be your starting position.
- Lower the weight to one side as you get into a low squat.
- Stand up tall twisting your body along with the weight to opposite side, holding weight above head.
- Return back to starting position. Repeat with opposite sides.
- Do a total of 20-25 each side.
Like with any squat, make sure you knee doesn’t move in front of your toes.
These ones are killer, but man do they work!
- Start in regular push-up position, placing hands on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width.
- Lower yourself down until you are an inch off the ground.
- As you are lowering yourself, bring your knee up to your elbow, but keep your foot off the ground as you do so.
- Push through your chest, shoulders and triceps to return to the start position, and return your leg to the start position. Alternate sides until you complete all repetitions.
- Keep your body in a straight line at all times and try not to twist your hips.
- TRY to complete 8-10 on each side.
You can also do this crossing your knee to the opposite elbow, adds a little more difficulty. On this one, you would not be going as low to the floor.
- Sit on the ball, holding a dumbbell just under your chin. Walk your feet forward until your hips are slightly lower than your chest. Keep your abs tight and chin up. Turn to one side to begin the exercise.
- Slowly twist your torso to the other side through a count of 10.
- Hold and squeeze for 2 seconds at the maximum tension point.
- Then twist to the other side through a count of 10 seconds.
- Repeat 3-5 times without resting.
- Hold a pair of lightweight dumbbells over your head, in line with your shoulders, with your elbows slightly bent.
- Keep your back straight, and slowly bend directly to your left side as far as possible without twisting your upper body.
- Pause, return to an upright position, then bend to your right side as far as possible.
- Complete 10-15 reps for each side.
Combine one or two of these moves into your next workout to make sure you are targeting your obliques. Doing these moves about 3 times a week and you should have those toned lovable obliques in no time!
What’s your least favorite body part?!
Do you have any oblique exercises you especially love?