HOW TO LOSE YOUR love handles

Got love handles? Want ’em gone? You’ll need a little elbow grease, so to speak, but it can be done!

hmmm, love handles. Let’s consider that expression for a sec. It’s basically a cutesy name for something that’s not cute at all. We know cute when we see it and, sadly, deposits of excess fat in the hip, bum and upper thigh area just don’t fit the bill. They ruin the line of a figure-hugging frock and make it tough to slip on a pair of favourite skinny jeans. Now, are love handles the biggest problem in the world? Of course not! So, as worries go, love handles are merely an annoyance. Nevertheless, if you want them gone, you can start here, with these food and exercise tips. For optimum fat loss, dedicate yourself to consuming:

• Lean proteins. Think lean chicken, beef, pork and fish. Grill it, toss it in a stir-fry, steam it or bake it.

• Lots of fresh, colourful produce including dark leafy greens, asparagus, zucchini, red and yellow capsicum, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, beetroot, broccoli, tomatoes and onions. Roasting vegies in a little extra virgin olive oil is a delish way to up your intake.

• Low-sugar fruits and no more than three serves per day. Raspberries, strawberries, grapefruit, kiwis and watermelon are among the lowest in sugar.

• Herbs, spices and natural flavourings to boost taste. You can never go wrong with garlic powder, red chilli flakes, peppercorns, paprika, cumin and good old lemon juice.

• A couple of serves of healthy fats in your daily diet. Nuts, avocado, eggs, olive oil, coconut oil, full-fat yoghurt, cheese and olives are all good choices.

• Grain foods (such as bread, rice and pasta).

Note that fibre-rich wholegrains are digested more slowly and protect against insulin spikes.

• Nix processed foods. That means fast food, pies, pre-cooked/pre-packaged meals, deli meats, hot dogs, cakes, bickies, lollies, pastries and ice-cream. Sorry!

• Fewer adult beverages. An average full-strength beer has 550kj, and wine about 500kj.