Do Side Bends and Twists Melt Love Handles?

You do side bends. Then Russian twists. Your obliques burn, so it feels as though the fat around your waist must be burning too. That feeling is convincing—but it is not proof of local fat loss.

The burn belongs to the muscle

Side bends and twists challenge your oblique muscles. They can improve core strength and control. The fat above those muscles does not receive a special instruction to disappear.

Where you store and lose fat is influenced by your overall body-fat level and individual factors. You cannot choose the order with a particular exercise.

Keep the exercise. Change the expectation.

• Train your core for strength and stability.
• Use full-body movement and resistance training for fitness.
• Build a meal routine you can repeat on busy days.
• Track broader progress, such as strength, energy and waist trends.