CoolSculpting for Love Handles

Both men and women are plagued by the stubborn fat that envelopes the areas of the oblique muscles, stomach, and lower back. Improperly dubbed “love handles”, these pockets of fat show us a zero bit of love; love handles tend to be an eyesore...

by Bharat Kothakota , MD MPH

Both men and women are plagued by the stubborn fat that envelopes the areas of the oblique muscles, stomach, and lower back. Improperly dubbed "love handles", these pockets of fat show us a zero bit of love; love handles tend to be an eyesore and make our trendy new clothes look awkward in the mirror. Because the areas feature fat that is a lot harder to get rid of during conventional workouts, many Americans give up and accept their fate. Well, along with diet and exercise, Coolsculpting is a viable option to help you combat the fat that has been keeping you from the body you deserve!

If you're one of the lucky Americans that doesn't have love handles, congratulations-this article is not for you. Still with me? Good. Well, not good, but let's talk about how we can rid love handles from our lives with CoolSculpting, so that we can love our bodies.

What exactly are "Love Handles"?

As previously stated, love handles are the excess fat rolls that accumulate in the areas around your stomach, oblique muscles, and lower back. Depending on how badly the fat adds up, this area can all be called a "muffin top" when wearing pants or shorts without a top on.

A Plague of Fat upon Both Our Houses

Unfortunately, both men and women are victims of these extra layers of fat. For men, the majority of their fat cells tend to be located in these areas, more so than women. For women, fat is deposited in areas like the thighs and hips, which then because of the immediate weight and fat loss in other parts of the body first, masquerade as love handles.

It is easy to get down on yourself because of fat, and the fact that it is a strenuous process on the body and the mind to achieve your goals. Remember, that a lot of the time there is nothing that a person can do about their body's genes. But if you push yourself, stick to the healthier choices in life and keep your goals in sight, you won't be disappointed. Here are some ways to get rid of your love handles with the help of dieting, exercise, and of course, CoolSculpting.

What is CoolSculpting and How Can it Help?

A safe alternative to the (often) frightening needle incisions of liposuction, CoolSculpting is a way of getting rid of that pesky fat that causes love handles and cannot be solved by exercise or diet alone. Working based on the fact that fat cells in the body are more sensitive to cool temperatures than the other cells around them, you can apply cool temperatures directly to the skin on parts of your body where you want to lose fat, and the fat cells underneath will freeze and eventually die-never to return. However, the temperature will never be so cold that it harms a patient's skin or any other part of the body.

While a vast majority of patients can and should sign up for consultations for CoolSculpting, the procedure tends to appertain to those who have already achieved or are nearing their diet and exercise goals, but have a little bit of extra fat in the love handles (and similar areas) plaguing their regimes. The abdominal regions and lower back are the most requested areas for CoolSculpting at Self Care LA, due to the exuberance and emphasis society places on the region.

Everyone's body and body goals are different, and different because of a lot of outside and inherent factors (ex. Genetics, lifestyle). This goes double for the difference between male and female bodies, as testosterone has been proven to be responsible for where men store their fat, as previously mentioned. With that being said, treatments tend to have the same layout as a patient's mentality; maybe one treatment will satisfy you, maybe more. It all depends on what you want from your treatment and how you envision your body.

Along with the proven results of CoolSculpting at Self Care LA, here are a few more things you should try to help enhance your body's experience:

Exercise and Training

Most Coolsculpting patients will complain about their exercise techniques and gym routines that generally focus on side bends, crunches, and running to get rid of their love handles. While activity is fantastic for the mind, body, and spirit, these exercises will not do the trick alone. When it comes to working out, be sure to focus on burning calories, burning fat, and building lean muscle.

Compound lifts, such has presses, squats, deadlifts, cleans, and other heavy lifts will help you build muscle mass while simultaneously burning fat and strengthening your core-the area where the love handle is calling its home. Leg lifts and other abdominal workouts will benefit you, but be sure to focus your attention on muscles groups as well as your core.

Burning calories and burning fat are different sides of the same coin; burning calories involves interval training (sprinting or biking), whereas burning fat needs a lengthy, slow-burn cardio session. Tip: when doing cardio, try to be active outside of the gym. Use the gym as your sanctum of weightlifting, and use the rest of the world as your cardio playground.

Diet and Lifestyle

Arguably the hardest part about losing those troublesome love handles appertain to self-control, mental motivation, and dedication: diet and lifestyle. Lifestyle encompasses everything from getting to bed on time to recovery techniques after a workout. Your diet adheres to what physically goes down your gullet and how it can shape your body.

Transforming your lifestyle can be difficult, but it isn't impossible. Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night, don't eat fatty foods right before bed, and get to bed at an appropriate hour. Recovering from workouts and having off days will help build muscle by giving them a rest. Replenishing nutrients and staying hydrated with protein shakes, fruit/veggie-based smoothies, and water also helps with recovery. Stay away from junk foods, foods with an abundant fat count, and drink less alcohol.

We've all had diet struggles and too many cheat days during a diet, but if you stick to your guns and power through the temptation, your CoolSculpting and exercise work will be worth it. Some of the best foods to help lose love handles include rich protein sources like chicken breasts, lean ground turkey/beef, eggs, whey protein power, fish, steak, and for you vegetarians, tofu, and hemp/pea protein. One of these items should be the focus of every meal, surrounded by healthy fats (avocado, almonds, hummus, nut butters), vegetables (one to two per meal), low-sugar fruits (avocado, tomatoes, berries, watermelon), and a carb source (sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa). When it comes to snacking, try to use fruits, veggies, nuts, or a protein bar to get you through the urge to have a handful of Oreo's.

Mind, Body, and Soul

At Self Care LA, CoolSculpting will help you remove the fat that is building up in your love handles, but it is you that needs to maintain a focus on what you want out of the treatment; do you want to settle for the bare-minimum or do you want to look the way you feel? By combining the necessary diet techniques, lifestyle changes, daily exercise regimes, and CoolSculpting every few weeks, you will fast track your body to super stardom.

CoolSculpting at Self Care LA

Our doctors and technicians at Self Care LA are experienced CoolSculpting experts and nutritionists, and have helped many patients achieve the body that they've always dream of. Book a consultation or appointment today to see if CoolSculpting is right for you and bear witness to what the procedure can do to your body once it eliminates your love handles once and for all.