What’s the Best Way To Get Rid of Saddlebags?

Posted by Diana Painter on Mar 22nd, 2010 | no comments home title

It’s one thing to be built like a horse, and it’s another thing to look like one. Saddlebags, or fatty deposits that build up on your behind, really do look like their namesake. The dangling, dimply flaps of flab and fat don’t look very appealing, especially if you wear tight jeans or bikinis. With excess fatty deposits, anything you wear will make you look fat.

Many people carry a few extra loads of fat at some areas of the body, but some may be insecure about the fat deposits that build up in the most obvious places. If fat has to go somewhere, one of the places it will definitely go to is your bottom. Having too much fat deposits is not good for your health, and excessive fatty areas don’t look good on clothes you wear. If you have problems with saddlebags and fat on your rear areas, here are some ways to get yourself back into shape.

What Causes Saddlebags?

Fatty deposits are normal, and a good amount of fat is needed to keep your body warm. Chances are you’re uncomfortable and insecure about how your body looks because you see other people have fit and trim bodies. If they can have that firm and sculpted bum, then so can you. While fatty deposits can be genetic, most excess deposits of body fat are caused by an unhealthy lifestyle:

Lack of exercise. Saddlebags form when you don’t exercise. Stationary activities like driving, or sitting down to do office work, will eventually take their toll on your rear end. If you don’t do a lot of exercise, you’ll end up with a big problem with saddlebags.
Too much fat and carbohydrates. Foods that are rich in fat and carbohydrates need time to digest properly. Your body needs only the right amount of fat and carbohydrates as fuel. The excess calories are then deposited into your body as fat. If you overindulge in sweets, fast food items, and other foods rich in calories, the excess calories will have nowhere else to go but to your bum. (Learn how to burn calories quickly)
Lack of muscle mass. Muscle fibers burn and help metabolize calories and fat deposits. Fat almost always makes its way to areas of your body with plenty of muscle, like your arms, abdominals, thighs, and the glutes. If you don’t have enough muscle mass to burn the excess calories, the fat deposits will just stay there and build up over time. (Read how to gain muscle)

Get Plenty of Exercise

Exercise is the best way to get rid of those saddlebags hanging from your buttocks. Squats, leg lifts, and even running and brisk walking can help tone your gluteus maximus muscles, expand muscle mass, and get rid of those saddlebags.

Some people are afraid that if they exercise the lower half of their body, they’ll end up having a muscular lower body. If you enroll in the right exercise class, you’ll be toning and shaping your body instead of getting large quads and hamstrings. Here are some exercises that can help you get rid of those saddlebags:

Cardiovascular exercise and aerobics. If you don’t want to end up with a muscular lower body, then you just need to do regular cardiovascular exercise and aerobics. Dance is also a very good way for you get rid of excess fat and calories that build up in your bottom. Many gyms also offer courses on medicine balls, which are now standard equipment in many fitness clubs.
Squats. Squats are an excellent way to build up muscle mass in your rear, and improve strength and conditioning. Half-squats or quarter-squats are usually enough to tone and shape your gluteus muscles. Do not perform a full squat if you have arthritis, or if you’re not trained to perform them. As long as you perform squats properly and regularly, then you’re safe and assured that those flabby saddlebags are gone for good.
Weight training. Most gym instructors recommend a combination of weight training and cardiovascular training. To get that firm rear you always wanted, it’s best to use light, free-weights. Resistance training, when combined with aerobic and cardiovascular exercise, will get rid of those saddlebags in a very short time.
Yoga and Pilates. Exercise and wellness regimens like yoga and Pilates can also help you tone, reduce, and even remove those annoying and bothering saddlebags. Many parts of yoga and Pilates involve stretching and flexibility, especially for the lower body. Self-taught courses or weekend classes for yoga or Pilates can help you get started on the road to fitness. (For more information on yoga, read The guide to yoga)

It’s important to remember that all the exercise in the world will not work if you don’t do it regularly. Once you have an exercise regimen, commit to it. If you stop exercising, what used to be a small problem with saddlebags will only result in those old fat deposits becoming bigger and far worse.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Foods rich in fat and calories eventually turn into fat deposits if your body does not use up the fuel quickly. If you have a really big problem with saddlebags, then you have to rethink and plan out a new diet that makes best use of digestion and metabolism. Here are some foods that you can add to your diet:

Lean meat. Meat is an excellent source of protein, but it’s also a source of complex fats that get stored in your body. Lean cuts like sirloin, round, chicken breasts, and fish are great sources of protein, but without the complex fatty compounds.
Fruits and vegetables. Legumes, green leafy vegetables, and fruits can speed up the fat metabolizing process. They can also help break down the complex chemicals in fats.
Tofu. Tofu and other soybean products are an excellent source of protein, especially if you’re a vegetarian or if you’re reluctant to take in meat products. Isoflavones found in tofu also have many positive health benefits. Tofu does not have fat, and when cooked right, it makes a great substitute for meat.
Fiber. Fibrous carbohydrates like unpolished rice, bran, and oats can absorb fat molecules. Instead of the fats going directly to your body, the fibers take the fat and remove them from your body through excretion.

Stay away from junk foods, chocolates, and other comfort foods when you’re trimming down excess fat. Remember that excess fat will have to go somewhere, and most of the time it ends up on your butt.

Steer Clear of “Fat-Reducing” Pills and Ointments

Many products on the market today claim to “burn” or “sweat” the fat out of your body through pills and ointments. Stay away from products that have no approved therapeutic claims. Some of these products may be illegal. Most of them don’t remove your saddlebags the right way. Exercise, coupled with a proper and balanced diet, is the only safe and reliable way to get rid of those saddlebags. (Learn how to make a diet plan)

Get a Liposuction

Sometimes things can get so complicated that you need to follow a more serious and drastic approach, like a liposuction. Liposuctions are expensive, and a cosmetic surgeon or plastic surgery expert will need to conduct some tests on whether or not you’re fit for the procedure. One important thing you should know is that while liposuction is a quick way to get rid of fat, you’ll still get the saddlebags back if you don’t maintain your fit form with exercise and a proper diet.

When worse comes to worst, saddlebags really do make you have anything but the fit and trim body you expect from yourself. With these simple hints and tricks to get rid of those bulges, you can saddle up on tight clothes without worrying about excess baggage on your rear. For more information regarding this article, read how to get rid of fat.

Source: http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/beauty/how-to-get-rid-of-saddlebags/