One of the common trends in the fitness world today is to get ripped abs; who wouldn’t want to? This is the dream for most people who hit the gym, and while this isn’t a bad idea, the question is if you are doing the right thing to build these muscles and get ripped. Most of the websites promoting ways to get ripped are just scams and are not ready to give you your desired result. They might even claim to be a weight loss doctor, which is a more interesting way to get you to turn in your money in return for nothing.
Building muscles and getting ripped might look like a long and unattainable feat but you can get it if you commit to it and do it the right way.
Here are six effective tips to guide you on the right path to building muscles and getting ripped fast:
1. Maintain a Schedule
A workout schedule will keep your body engaged and also help you to be consistent with your training. Set up a schedule with a different set of exercises in strength training. You can modify these exercises as time goes on and also increase your number of reps and sets, just to challenge your body and keep getting better. It is also vital that you follow through your schedule to get the best results.
2. Consume Protein-rich Diet
The body needs protein to repair tissues, and this includes the muscle tears that occur while you train. You need to fill up your diet with enough protein to help you build lean muscle and also shed excess fat in the process. By adding more protein to your diet, you get to increase your muscle retention, stabilize blood sugar and burn more calories.
Protein is the most valuable macronutrient of all, and most professional athletes and competitive bodybuilders make it a priority. Experts recommend that you consume proteins immediately after a workout session. XR Nutrition provides a Plant Based, Pumpkin Seed Protein that provides 27 grams per serving and also has a super food blend.
3. Use Smart Cardio Methods
Cardio exercise benefits the body in so many ways, by aiding weight loss, stronger heart and lungs and so many more. A great way to get more benefits from strength training is by following a cardio workout. Cardio helps you to burn fat, but it is not about throwing in a few cardio exercises into your routine but also doing it the smarter way. You can combine interval workouts with abdominal exercises. Your cardio session may not cost you up to 30 minutes but make sure it’s worth the time, and you are consistent with it.
4. Stretch
Stretching exercises are required after working out, to help relax the tension in your muscles and relieve the soreness in the muscles of your legs, including the hamstrings, quads, and calves. It mainly focuses on the fascia, which helps to hold the muscles in place but can also hold back muscle growth. With stretching exercises, you get to stretch the fascia, thereby giving your muscles more room to grow.
In addition to that, it helps improve flexibility, makes your workout session even more productive and prepares your body ahead for the next workout.
5. Eat Healthy Fats at Regular Intervals
While you workout to shed excess fat, you shouldn’t totally eliminate fat from your diet, but rather replace unhealthy fats with healthy ones. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated are the two healthy fats to go for, as they help stabilize the insulin level. Raw nuts, nut butter, whole eggs, chia seeds, fish oils, and olive oils are examples of fat-rich food to add to your diet. With a diet rich in healthy fats and protein, your metabolism works faster and burn more calories.
A more effective way to get the benefits of this is by eating at regular intervals. It will keep you energized and fuelled up. Break your meals into smaller portions and eat at intervals, about 5 to 6 times a day for more benefits.
6. Limit Your Reps
You don’t have to train for long hours to get the best results. You can train for 45 minutes and still attain your goal. Simply do 6 to 12 reps in each set of a 12 set muscle group workout.
Conclusion
A standard workout routine for strength training and a healthy diet is all that is required to build muscles and get ripped fast. Engaging in the most rigorous workout routine without matching up with the proper diet will hinder you from hitting your goals, as a result of your diet contradicts what you expect from the workout.
You may not see results as soon as you get on the journey, but it doesn’t mean that it is unattainable. Consistency, over time, will yield results and you are on your way to hitting that goal you have set out for yourself.
Written by Dr. Kojian for The Healthy Moms Magazine and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.
Featured image provided by David Hofmann