Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered - Love Handles & Man Boobs
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Can you please tell me what work out exercise is good for those annoying love handles? I have a somewhat flat stomach, but can't get rid of the extra stuff on both sides of my belly. Thanks, Shirley
A. Hey Shirley. You didn't provide me with a ton of information about yourself, but since you said you have a flat-ish tummy.....I'm guessing you don't have a ton of weight to lose. However, the part of our bodies most people get really frustrated with is usually the last place we lose it. Obviously body type has a huge amount to do with our specific shapes, but if you simply have fat gathered on both sides of your belly....you need to lose some more weight. An exercise to make fat disappear from a specific place, sadly does not exist. To get rid of fat.....you'll need to lose weight. It could be those last five pounds that make all the difference.
Spot reduction is not a reality outside of plastic surgery. You can't crunch those love handles away, and I think you should ignore the knife. This sounds like something you can do on your own. Consume fewer calories and burn a bunch with frequent workouts and an active lifestyle. Dig in and improve your overall fitness. A tapered waist requires awesome effort, but it's well worth it. You'll love it when you have it. Keep me posted on your success! Fitz
Q. Hello Miss Fitz. I am a 28 year old male. I have been running a couple of miles a day, two or three days a week all summer, but I just can't get rid of my stomach or man boobs. I've had the same figure my whole life. Is there anything that I could focus on to shape up? GeorgeA. Howdy George. I'm glad you wrote. So, you've had this figure your whole life, huh? You didn't provide a ton of detail, but I'm guessing you were the overweight child who became an overweight adult. Kids usually play a lot, so if you were chubby as a child your eating habits were probably to blame. Now you're an overweight adult who is participating in moderate exercise. That leaves me to believe you still have poor eating habits.
You're eating may not be as horrific now as it was then, but I suggest that you tighten up a bit more on your menu. Clean it up George! Aim to consume about 65% of your calories from fruit and veggies, add a bit of lean protein, a bit of lean dairy and a smaller bit of starchy carbs. The starchy carbs (rice, bread, potatoes) are high in calories, so keep them to a minimum. Cut the sugar. Shun caloric beverages too. By doing this, you'll never go hungry and you'll keep the calorie consumption low. Eat with the mission of weight loss.
Start training six days a week.Think I'm crazy? Too bad! There are 24 hours in a day and there is no reason you shouldn't be active for at least 45 of the 1440 minutes daily you have to utilize. Running two to three miles is fantastic. Run more if you like, or add other types of cardio. As for the "man boobs" and the belly....it won't hurt for you to train those muscle groups. For your chest, perform push-ups, the bench press, and flies at least three times a week. Find a challenging weight and go with it. As for abs....your options are endless. Start with crunches and then try some ab work you find in a men's magazine. Men's Health always offers a bunch of great training ideas.
Take your focus off of the boobs and the belly and start aiming for overall strength and leanness. Pretend you're an athlete and behave like one. I believe if you work towards becoming Mr. Fitness, you'll love all of your parts equally. Send photos when you get there!
Punches & Kicks,Fitz
To the teens who commented below, I've responded to many of you here. Thanks for writing.
Note: The content presented in this Q. & A section is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-03-2007 @ 10:18AM
Sam said...
Fitz is smoking hot.
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10-03-2007 @ 10:20AM
FitBuff - Total Mind and Body Fitness said...
I also recommend HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), especially to Shirley since she seems to be more physically active already.
But George can benefit as well, as long as he works his way up the HIIT ladder slowly.
For instructions on how to do HIIT and why it can help, check out this article:
How to Burn More Fat in Less Time: The Secret to HIIT
http://www.fitbuff.com/how-to-burn-more-fat-in-less-time-the-secret-to-hiit/
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10-08-2007 @ 11:59AM
Lawrence said...
I am pretty healthy and I exercise 6 days a week, but I can`t get a six pack. I have a nice body, but it is not toned. How can I get my muscles to really stand out?
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10-08-2007 @ 1:08PM
Jessica said...
heyy. i know im a little young, but im 13 years old. im not a weight obsessed person i just hate the weight that im gaining. i was always the thinnist person in my grade and i didnt have to do anything to get rid of what i was gaining on. im 5 foot 6. i love to play basketball but thats only one season and i dont really practice outside of basketball season. i push myself to run, but its just not really my thing. how can i get back in shape and lose the extra fat on my tummy? can u help me out? i would love to be fit again!
-jessica
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10-08-2007 @ 1:48PM
genni said...
when does "baby fat" go away, and how do you know when you actually have to go on a diet???
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10-08-2007 @ 1:50PM
Andy said...
Fitz does know what she is talking about. He will not get a stress fracture if he runs 3 miles 6 times a week. I'm a runner and I run 6 sometimes 7 days a week for a total of about 40 miles. He'll be fine.
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10-08-2007 @ 1:53PM
will said...
hi mrs, fitz im only in high school and my weight is really starting to bug me freshmen year i was up to 200 and only 5,6 but now im a junior and im down to 165 but still at about 5,7 i lost alot of weight freshmen year about 65 pounds i got down to 130 but now i feel like im gaing the weight back exspecailly on the sides and the belly i do the crunches and i dont think the belly is that big of a deal but my question is how to i get rid of this lower belly the top of my belly isnt bad but the lower needs work any suggestions? please answere im in desprete help i dont wanna go through high school again with another joke towards me
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10-08-2007 @ 2:55PM
kris said...
how do you get rid of fat in these places? http://i20.tinypic.com/33m0dvp.jpg
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10-08-2007 @ 3:18PM
kelli said...
ok, im young......13 im starting to model, and im 128, 5 foot 1, and i have like ...4 boobs, can u plzz tell me how to get rid of them,
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10-08-2007 @ 3:31PM
stephanie said...
hey fitz! im a sophmore in highschool, but i guess you can say im a little over weight. im 5,6'' and i weigh 170lbs. its mostly in my stomach and legs. i have tryed using diet pills and cutting my food in half. but i cant help not snacking. thats my problem. its also hard to put in time for excersize between school, vollyball, and homework, but i do situps every morning. i need some advise on how to lose the belly and my thighs. any tips?
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10-08-2007 @ 3:44PM
neil said...
get off your rear ends and start running. get off the computer and put some head phones on and run around the block 40 times 5 times a week. ul see a difference
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10-08-2007 @ 3:48PM
Taylor said...
Hello Ms. Fitz I am only 16 years old female. But I have a problem. When I was a freshmen I was only 5'2" in height and weighed about 180 now that I am a junior I am only 5'5" and weigh about 124 pounds. So here is the issue, I reduced in breast size, and now I have this extra like skin that is really annoying me, how can I get rid of it? I would greatly appreciate you helping me out with it.
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10-08-2007 @ 4:20PM
Zonker said...
I think too much attention is put on appearance to the detriment of the whole health of a person. These people are sweating it and anxious over a few pounds. It would be better for them just to kick back and enjoy life.
Besides, many of us love those love handles, and I know that many women dig moobs... It's all a matter of individual preferences.
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10-08-2007 @ 4:39PM
jenn said...
how do i get rid of those fat arms and fat stomache
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10-08-2007 @ 4:48PM
becca said...
hey my name is rebecca i have the biggest thighs and i wanna get rid ok them what should i do
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10-08-2007 @ 4:56PM
kay said...
ohh boy well that was great help! she didnt specifically say on how to loose them love handles. just do frequent workouts?!
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10-08-2007 @ 6:19PM
MS said...
can you tell me some great moves to get rid of my love handles and stomach. i have a flat stomach but i'd like i to be firm and its not. HELP?
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10-08-2007 @ 6:21PM
Brenda said...
Hi mrs. fitz. im an 18 year old girl who really needs to help find a fitness plan for myself so that when next summer approaches i can wear a 2 piece bathing suit and feel like i fit in. I would really love to hear from you to help me. Im 5'5 and im a decent 140 but i have extra weight around my abdomen area to lose. dont get me wrong im not huge just need to tone it up. Can you help me?
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10-08-2007 @ 6:34PM
anastasia said...
Dear Fitz,
I want to lose alot of the fat on my thighs and a little on my stomach sides.I have a flat stomach and my legs arent bad, its just those two i need help with....Do you have any exercises or advise to give me?
Thanks.
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10-08-2007 @ 6:37PM
MS said...
ello. well i have this problem with my love handles and thigh fat. yuckk. so do you know any great moves that would help me get rid of those fatty-containing areas :]
could you also tell me a great diet or a list of foods that are healthy adn nutritious and that aren't fattening. thanks.
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