The simple solution to losing your “saddlebags” could be in the opposite direction you’ve been looking for. She discovers the secret to melt those thighs forever without having to live in the gym.

What are “saddlebags” you may be wondering and why is it so hard to get rid of them? Genetically we all have predetermined fat storage areas. Men usually have extra fat in the lower abdomen, and for women, it’s usually in the hips and thighs. The “saddlebags” are nothing more than a place where your body stores excess fatty tissue.

Since genetics play such a big role, you might feel like you’ll be stuck with that extra hip padding forever. What if I told you that the solution is at your disposal? Although you can’t change your genetic makeup, you can definitely get those saddlebags out by employing a few simple strategies.

First, let’s dispel the myth that you need to work your hips to make them tilt out. The fact is, while hip and outer thigh exercises are important, you’ll never notice a drop in pant size unless your primary goal is fat loss.

“Blemish reduction” is a myth that has been around for a long time. Unfortunately, you cannot burn fat from specific areas of your body. You can’t do 1,000 sit-ups a day to get a flat stomach or banish your “Oprah arms” by working your arms non-stop. This can actually tone and strengthen the muscles below the layer of fat, but you’ll never see a visual difference unless you can lower your total body fat percentage.

The thing about your genetics is that you can’t control where you burn fat first or last. All you can do is burn as much fat as possible. If I had a 3-5% reduction in total body fat when the only excess fat I had was in my thighs, I would definitely see a visible change. However, don’t be alarmed if you notice your arms, back, and abs becoming more defined before your hips begin to stretch.

Now if you google “Best methods to lose fat” you will find 1,100,000 results. That can be very confusing. Where do you start? You want to feel good about your body, feel confident in a bikini, feel proportionate, but the idea of ​​spending 7 hours a week in the gym sounds terrible. You like wine, cheese and morning lattes and you don’t want to give them up either. One fat loss method tells you to eat cookies all day, another to drink salt water with lemon, and another to eat more to weigh less. I’m exhausted just thinking about all those options.

Here are 5 simple tricks so you can say goodbye to your “saddlebags” forever without having to employ any crazy diet strategies and without having to train for a marathon.

1) Eliminate 250 calories from your diet every day. This could be as simple as not having a late-night snack, having a smoothie for breakfast instead of a muffin, or cutting out the morning mocaccino. Being deficient in 250 calories each day could mean losing half a pound per week.

2) Burn 250 calories a day. This can be easily accomplished by walking to and from work and taking the stairs every day. Or you could try doing a 20 minute cardio workout or 30 minute circuit training. Combining this with step 1, you could end up losing 1 pound a week.

3) Strength training 2 days a week. An increase in lean body tissue (muscle) will boost your metabolism. Not only will your muscles look more toned and defined, but you’ll also burn extra calories each day, even when you’re at rest.

4) Drink 2 liters of water a day. The more water you drink, the less you will retain. Many times we tend to retain water in the same areas where we have excess fat. By drinking 2 liters of water a day, you will retain less water in those problem areas and also keep your skin hydrated.

5) Watch your alcohol consumption. I cannot stress this point enough. Many people are taking all the proper steps necessary for total fat loss, but simply forget how many calories are in alcohol. One social function a week involving excess alcohol can ruin all your hard work at the gym. Be moderate and if you must drink, try to avoid beer and wine as they are extremely high in calories. 2 glasses of wine and your 30 minute run will be gone.

Remember that fat loss can be made simpler by choosing to make small healthy choices throughout the day. These small changes can add up and make you feel better about your body, feel more confident, and in the long run, help you achieve your goals.