[timarie]

That really works? That is where most of my problem is... Though I do have slight love handles as well.

Any sweet ideas for those? I'm talking about at the hip "wings". Where the upper ridge of the hip bone is -supposed- to be able to be felt... It's hard to detect mine because I've got a bit of extra flub there.

It seems that no matter what I do, I'm NOT losing weight, and I'm certainly not losing it at the only place that I really need to!

Actually yes, it really does. Trust me. I would not have posted about it if it didn't! And this is also why I shared my personal story. The important thing to remember is to pull the TVA muscles in CONSTANTLY, so whatever mind games you have to play with yourself to get that to happen will do. The string is one recommended way. Personally, I just pretend I still have extra chub on my midsection and pretend that everyone can see the profile of my stomach, and so I keep it pulled in at all times (I just started this up again today! So we'll see how long it takes to become a permanent habit again that I do not have to think about). Sometimes I pretend that I am getting ready for a 500 yard dash, and my whole midsection tightens up. It might take you some time to play around with to find out what works for you, to help keep you in that position all day long. So, yes it really works, but it is not exactly the easiest thing to "get down."

As for love handles... I think I know what hip "wings" you're talking about... I believe they are an extension of love handles (if you're talking about right above the hip bone, on the sides but kind of in the front). I only wish I had a sweet tip!! Understanding the anatomy of the human body, obviously love handles are just, well, fat. No exercise will help you to spot reduce, as your body (I'm sure you know this) will choose to burn the fat off where it chooses. The only confirmed way (of which I know) that will get the fat off of this area is making sure that you go into a caloric deficit, resulting in all-over body fat loss. Simple as that. Since I have no idea of what "everything" you have tried, I am just going to spit out a bunch of random ideas

• Now I personally have found that I pack less on my midsection if I DON'T eat past a certain time of the night, like 7pm. That may help with your love handle/ hip "wings" on the long-term, as it helped me trim down on my midsection long-term. Or at least on the bloating.
• There are also fat burning creams, of which I really cannot say I know much about but they may be able to burn fat off a specific location (I am still researching this). Just make sure to get one made with nano-technology so that it can go through your epidermis better.
• There is the squeem idea, or other products like this, which are supposed to work through thermogenesis, which is the process of oxidizing fat and, through oxidizing fat, it is burned. The idea is that, while you work out and have your heart rate elevated and you are already starting to burn calories, this device is supposed to heat up that location faster, drawing the blood to that location, which helps oxidize the area better, resulting in more fat loss of the specific area. There are numerous debates about whether or not this really works, as some say it just makes you shed water weight, but it is worth a try!
• There is also a product called Sweet-Sweat, which works off of the same principle as the squeem but only it is a cream product that you rub on a certain location. The main acting ingredient is jojoba oil, which is supposed to increase the circulation in the area and therefore oxidize the fat in that area while, again, maintaining an elevated heart rate. I tried this product a few months ago and the two times I applied it, I could really feel a burn in the area which I applied it! (I had to stop because I had a terrible allergic reaction to one of the ingredients ) If you plan to lose weight by gaining a caloric deficit with a lot of cardio to lose your handles, I would recommend this product.
• There are products like SafSlim or CLA which are supposed to help direct the glucose in your blood to be less likely deposited as fat and more likely used to aid in energy or feeding muscle. While CLA is an all-over fat reducer, SafSlim is meant to target the belly. CLA is a natural fatty acid found in most meats and dairy products, and SafSlim is safflower oil. I am currently on CLA (only for the past couple months), but have considered SafSlim because of the amount of people who I have heard to have success with it, and because it targets the midsection, and I want that more than all-over body fat reduction. I cannot comment on the CLA yet because I think the results are not expected to be seen until long-term.
• And here is a link to a list of herbs that "reduce belly fat" (but I advise looking at HOW they reduce belly fat, as that can make a difference for you!): http://www.buzzle.com/articles/herbs-to-reduce-belly-fat.html.
• Also, I don't know how stressed you are in your personal life, but stress is a huge contributor to belly fat.
• And finally, this is what I do to keep belly fat off (of what I have been able!): I eat right, little to no added sugars or processed carbohydrates, eat in moderation, eat enough fiber and protein, and eat six small meals spaced evenly throughout the day. The purpose of this is to keep your glucose levels as level as possible, so as to avoid swinging into extreme anabolic (too much glucose) and catabolic (too little glucose) states, which causes you to deposit more of your food into fat stores instead of for energy. When people keep their diet to, say, three large meals in a day, they will go through periods of sugar spikes to serious sugar drops throughout the day. This will lead to times of the day where your body will be "starving", and then other times of the day where your body will have more glucose than it needs, and will deposit it to fat stores. Not good!

A little disclaimer: I am NOT an expert on quirky ways to lose body fat. I just know basic tips on healthy ways to lose body fat.

So those are just some ideas, I don't know if you have tried any of them. I am sorry that I do not have anything more reliable... it's just that spot reduction is a tricky thing, if it exists at all. I am surprised and a little disappointed to know that the waist training is not helping push these love handles of yours to a better location!! Taking in the sides of my waist is the main reason for me buying a corset, since I really don't have much of a pooch and my stomach is rather flat (for the most part). I really just want to pull the sides inward. You are still waist training, right?