Answers from Expert: Michelle Cederberg

Those pesky love handles are best reduced through a combination of cardiovascular exercise and abdominal strengthening. Love handles are usually more fat than they are muscle, so side crunches and oblique exercises will tone the muscle that is there but you still have to do something to burn the calories that help with fat reduction. Since I don't know what your current plan for fitness entails, all I can suggest is that you implement cardiovascular conditioning (walking, running, biking, aerobics, stair stepper, etc.,) at least three times a week, or plan for more than what is normal for you. If you're already doing regular cardio then you have to find ways to step up the intensity or add in an extra day. In addition to the cardio, you can tone the muscles with exercises such as side crunches. Lie on your side with your legs stacked and knees slightly bent. Extend your bottom arm out in front of you and place your top arm behind your head for support. With only a slight push from your bottom elbow, push yourself up into a side crunch so that your top elbow dips toward your top hip (think of "I'm a little tea pot"). You should be feeling a contraction in your waistline as you lift your body off the floor. For a little extra challenge add a lift with your top leg.