Get Rid of Love Handles:  10 Steps to Starting a Walking Program

If you want to get rid of love handles, but cringe at the thought of performing a rigorous exercise, perhaps a walking program might be the perfect fit for you!  In fact, if you’ve created a good walking program and you’re eating fat burning foods – you’re likely to get rid of love handles almost twice as fast as doing gut wrenching exercises alone!

Walking is a great way to get started in your quest to get rid of love handles, especially if you're just starting an exercise regimen. It's also convenient because you can walk anywhere at your own pace and make it as much fun as you desire.

Walking can also be an excellent cardiovascular workout as you begin to comfortably pick up your pace – helping to give a boost to your energy and vibrancy!

With benefits galore, walking can also help prevent osteoporosis and strengthen your body’s joints and muscles for more efficient energy burning that will help you get rid of love handles fast!

To get you started, here's a step-by step guide to beginning a fat-burning walking program:

1. Grab yourself a stopwatch so that you can time yourself – ideally, you want to plan on walking for a minimum of 30 minutes a day.   It may also be helpful to map out your walk before you begin.  Check out http://www.mapmyrun.com/ for a free mapping tool.
   
   
2. Purchase a good pair of shoes to protect the body and help your feet adapt to changing terrain. Walking shoes let your feet move naturally, in a rolling motion from heel to toe while absorbing impact for a more comfortable experience.
   
   
3. Many people enjoy listening to their favorite audio-books, self-help tapes or music while their walking.  If this works for you, just be sure that the volume is just loud enough so that you can still hear the oncoming traffic.
   
   
4. Before you begin, gently stretch the muscles around your ankles, legs, back and shoulders to help prevent injury and begin walking slowly for the first 5 minutes.
   
   
5. Start walking slowly and then work your way up to a faster pace once you know what you can tolerate.  You want to be able to walk fast enough to get your heart pumping, but only fast enough so that you can continue to still carry a conversation without being too short of breath.
   
   
6. As you walk, bend your arms slightly at the elbow and move your arms from front to back – alternating each arm with every stride.  This will help increase the cardio benefit as well as tone your upper body to get rid of love handles even faster!
   
   
7. Take deep breaths in from your nose and exhale from your mouth.
   
   
8. With each breath, feel your body moving and envision yourself coming even closer to your ideal body.  Perhaps exhale while whispering to yourself: “I am healthy, energetic and gorgeous!”  These affirmations will have enormous benefit to your long term results.
   
   
9. After exercising, cool down by slowing down gradually and walking slowly for 5-10 minutes.
   
   
10. Gradually increase distance or time as the walking becomes easier, and schedule recovery and rest periods 24-48 hours between workouts.

Of course, for the best and fastest results, it’s important that you enjoy those delicious fat burning foods (as found in the book “6 Weeks to a Sculpted Waist”) in combination with your cardio.

Exercising regularly will also boost your energy and increase your overall vitality – but, if you haven’t done much (or any) cardio in the past, it’s important to start off slowly.

Variation is also helpful – not only for a well-rounded health approach – but also to maintain the interest in motivation in exercise.  Consider jogging as a form of exercise, join an exercise class, or go roller-blading – for example. Choose an activity that you enjoy so that you're more likely to stick with it and continue to get rid of love handles.

Remember, most forms of exercise (if done properly) can be beneficial to the body and can help a person lose belly fat and get rid of love handles. This gets the blood flowing to rid the body of toxins and acids making it easier to get rid of love handles towards that lean, healthy and sexy waist you desire.