The oblique muscle is the one that is often associated with the “love handle” on the sides, and many people look for ways to lose these love handles through oblique workouts and exercises. The oblique muscles are located on the side of a person above the hips and waist. Some of the most common exercises for the oblique muscle are exercises that involve a twisting movement at the hips. One common exercise is called the “broom twist.” In order to do this exercise, a person has to get the stick of a broom and lay it across their shoulders, behind their back.
For those who are familiar with the squat, the broom stick should lay across where a barbell would if a person was squatting. To do this exercise after its in place, you place your hands more than shoulder width apart loosely on the broom stick. Keeping all but your hips straight, you twist to the left until you can’t go any further and hold this position for about three seconds, and then to the right to do one full repetition. While keeping your oblique and abdomen muscles tight, you continue to twist from one side to the other up to one hundred repetitions while keeping your back as straight as possible. This can also be done from a seated position.
The broom twist is a good idea for those who do not have free weights at their immediate disposal, because this exercise helps to tone your oblique muscles without weights and this can be done almost anywhere you have room. For those who have the access, there is a machine at many gyms that allows you to do this twisted motion while seated, and it is more beneficial because you can add weight resistance to the machine to work the muscles more. The same motion and resistance can be harnessed if the person has a resistance band.
While seated, you extend one leg and place the resistance band around your food, and proceed to twist to the side opposite your foot. Once you have done around fifty repetitions for one side (or you start to feel it!) you switch to the other foot and the other side. Using slow, controlled motion, the resistance band can be a useful tool in working your oblique muscles. If you are unable to use the broom twist or a resistance band, there are variations of a stomach crunch that can help to specifically target your abs.
While laying flat on your back, lift your legs up in the air, having your legs bent at around a 90 degree angle. With your hands behind your head and your elbows extended, twist and touch your right elbow to your left leg. You do not come too far off of the ground during this, but you should feel the burn in your side with a large amount of exercises. Continue this exercise, with your right elbow touching your left leg and vice versa in slow, controlled movements and do not rush. These three exercises can help to strengthen your oblique muscles and there are many more that will as well, such as more variations of the crunch that involve a twist to incorporate your sides.
These exercises and workouts will help to get a better shape to your entire abdomen, but they have to be supplementary to your workout. They will not evaporate your love handles, but if you do cardiovascular workout that helps to eliminate body fat, the workouts and exercises that target your oblique muscles will show through and give you the great shape you’re looking for.
