Archive for the ‘How to get ripped abs’ Category


 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

How to Prevent Obesity and Overweight?

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

The best way to prevent obesity and overweight is to know the factors responsible for weight gain. This will help to avoid the conditions that can contribute to obesity. For most people, obesity and overweight are caused by not having energy balance.

You get energy or calories from food and drinks. This energy is called energy IN. Your body needs a certain amount of energy for activities like breathing, digesting, and being physically active. This energy is called energy OUT. When energy IN is more than energy OUT, you gain weight. In the similar way when the energy OUT is more that energy IN, you lose weight. If you want to maintain the same weight, your energy IN and OUT should be equal.
Obesity definitely runs in families. Furthermore, identical twins usually maintain weight levels within two pounds of each other throughout life if they live under similar conditions or within five pounds of each other if their conditions of life differ markedly.

This might result partly from eating habits engendered during childhood, but it is generally believed that this close similarly between twins is genetically controlled.

The genes can direct the degree of feeding in several different ways including a genetic abnormality of the feeding center to set the level of nutrient storage high or low, abnormal hereditary psychic factors that either whet the appetite or cause the person to eat as a ‘release’ mechanism.

Childhood over-nutrition is also important factor responsible for obesity. The rate of formation of new fat cells is especially rapid in the first few years of life, and the greater the rate of fat storage the greater also becomes the number of fat cells. In obese children the number of fat cells is often as much as three times that that in normal children. However, after adolescence the number of fat cells remains almost identically the same throughout the remainder of life. Therefore, it has been suggested that overfeeding the children, especially in infancy and to a lesser extend during the older years of childhood, can lead to a lifetime of obesity. The person who has excess fat cells is though to have a higher setting of fat storage by the hypothalamic feedback auto regulatory mechanism for adipose tissues. In less obese persons, especially those who become obese in middle or old age, most of the obesity results from hyperbiophy (enlargement) of already existing fat cells. This type of obesity is far more susceptible to treatment than is the life long type. An interesting peculiarity of this type of obesity is that these persons have excess secretion of insulin, similar to the excess insulin secretion that occurs in animals with lesions in the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus.

Looking for Fat Loss Supplements to lose weight? Check out the most popular fat burning program - Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review. Also know How to Get Ripped 6 Pack Abs Fast with scientifically designed weight loss system.

Nick Mutt
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/how-to-prevent-obesity-and-overweight-702193.html

How to Eat Healthy - Rules and Guidelines

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

Eating healthy is important in order to keep you and your family live healthier and longer. This article will emphasize on certain rules and guidelines for healthy eating.

Include green leafy vegetables in your diet. They are a rich source of fiber. Various studies and researches have shown that vegetarian have lower rates of cancer and heart disease. Many major diseases begin with inflammation. Fruits and vegetables contain salicylic acid and inflammation-fighting compounds found in aspirin. In one study the blood of vegetarians contained 12 times more salicylic acid than the blood of meat eaters. This can very well explain the lower incidence of cancers, heart disease in vegetarians.

Many people want to know what is the best way to add fiber to their diets? Very simple. One must always add fibers slowly in 5 gram increments for five weeks. If the person is tolerating it well, he can continue until he reaches a level of 25 to 35 grams.

A common doubt among women is what cooking method is the least damaging? In a study using broccoli, microwaving zapped away 97% of the flavinoids and antioxidants. Conventional boiling killed 66%, high pressure boiling killed 47%. Nutrient loss was only 10% when the broccoli was steamed. So the present advice is ‘buy a steamer and start steaming the veggies’. This is the least damaging of all the cooking methods.

Another common doubts needing clarification is regarding the healthiest rice of the 1200 varieties of rice including Jasmine and Basmati. Brown rice has the nutrient profile because the Bran Jacket remains intact. The fiber, calcium, phosphorous, B1 and niacin have not been stripped away in processing as they have been with white rice.

Post menopausal women can benefit from having 5-6 meals (small ones) per day, which helps balance blood sugar. After menopause slight diet modifications are essential. A woman must include more fresh fruits, vegetables, wholegrain. Regular exercise will also be beneficial to digestion.

Grape juice, papaya and pomegranate juices are very high in antioxidant power. Medical experts recommend this as the best source for antioxidants.

Recent research says regular black tea is healthy. Black tea contains quarcetin, a compound that helps prevent blood clots, the triggers of heart attacks. When one plans a diet such points should be kept in mind. The diet must be balanced, nutritious, safe and must offer benefits as mentioned above. This becomes a complete diet.

To lower the risk of breast cancer, researchers suggest eating grapefruit regularly. Grapefruit contains the antioxidant compounds Naringin and Limonid. Naringin is found only in grapefruit. In lab studies, Naringin stopped the growth of breast cancer cells.

Eat healthy to live healthier and longer! It’s a natural and easy way to better living.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Looking for Fat Loss Supplements to lose weight? Check out the most popular fat burning program - Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review. Also know How to Get Ripped 6 Pack Abs Fast with scientifically designed weight loss system.

Nick Mutt
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/how-to-eat-healthy-rules-and-guidelines-715436.html

Strength Training Workouts: 3 Reasons Why They are Important…even for the Skinny

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Some people think strength training workouts are not important. They just want to concentrate on getting big muscles or getting ripped abs or losing belly fat. Thats all well and dandy but how are you supposed to get all that? And more importantly don’t you want to be stronger? Here are a few points to keep in mind.

1. When you train for strength you release more growth hormone and testosterone. You need this stuff to naturally get bigger and this is why steroids are so popular with the freak crowd because its basically a synthetic form of the stuff. Bad thing about that however is it stops your body’s own natural testosterone, not very good. Lifting heavier weights however will naturally increase the amount that courses through your body.

2. The maximum amount of muscle fibers are also being taxed. More muscle fibers mean more muscle tear down, more muscle tear down means more growth, more growth means you get bigger muscles AND stronger muscles.

3. If you can lift heavier amounts you’ll begin to build a nice foundation. After you’ve built that base you’ll eventually be able to perform more reps and more sets. That foundation will allow you to makeimpressive increases in size and strength.

Remember, when I say heavy, I don’t mean so heavy that you lose your form or injure yourself. You want to lift as much as you can while maintaining proper form.

Keep these points in mind the next time you think about adding strength training workouts to your program.

 

Benjamin Jamani
http://www.articlesbase.com/bodybuilding-articles/strength-training-workouts-3-reasons-why-they-are-importanteven-for-the-skinny-737683.html

How Can I Build Muscle Mass And Lose Weight At The Same Time?

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

As a fitness personal trainer and weight loss consultant, I am often asked this question,”Can I lose weight and build muscle size at the same time?”

Now let me ask you a question. If you are building muscle mass, then you are building body tissues and since muscles are dense body tissues, they are heavy. That being the case, when building muscles, you must be gaining and not losing weight right?

What these folks actually meant was that whether they can lose body fat and build muscle mass at the same time. Yes, it is possible to lose fat and build muscles at the same time. However, the process can be rather complicated and it takes alot of discpline and knowledge to do that. Furthermore, results may be even slower than the conventional 2 steps bulking up and cutting down phase method.

You see, losing fat and gaining muscles are at odds with each other. This is because to lose body fat weight, you have to eat less calories than the energy your body used up in your daily activities. On the other hand, to gain muscles you have to eat more calories than your body used as its energy source. So they are contradictoins.So how to achieve the desired result simultaneously?

Well, as I said, it can be done but is quite complicated. This is the reason why most professional bodybuilders train in 2 phases. The bulking up phase and the cutting down phase.

The bulking up phase is when the bodybuilders train to put on muscle mass and don’t even think of losing fat. In this process, they will actually be putting on alot of weight. They will put on muscle weight as as well as some weight from body fat because they have to eat alot to put on huge muscle mass.

When these bodybuilders put on enough muscles, they will then begin the cutting phase. It will also be alot easier to lose fat now because all the muscles they put on will help them to burn calories fast. Yes, muscles burn more calories because they need calories to sustain them.So these body builders become natural fat burner with their high metabolism at this stage.

The cutting phase is when the bodybuilders cut fat from all over their body to get that ripped definition. For ordinary people in this phase, they will get to see their body toned up nicely, their six pack abs will also begin to show. So if you want to have a well sculpted toned body, then take this 2 step approach to build muscles first and then cut the body fat when you achieve the muscle size you wanted.

Chris Chew
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/how-can-i-build-muscle-mass-and-lose-weight-at-the-same-time-76607.html

300 Workout Variations

Monday, May 10th, 2010

It seems like the most talked about aspect of the 300 movie was the actor’s bodies. Every Spartan solider looked ripped with their chisled abs and strong chest and shoulders. So how exactly do you get a group of actors to look like one of the greatest armies in history and legend?

Well Mark Twight, an exercise expert and avid mountain climber developed what he calls the 300 workout. He trained the cast for 8-12 weeks, with the 300 workout being the final test. I’ve been giving this workout to clients once in a while (and myself) and it’s a definite “feel the next day” routine.

The 300 Workout

25 pull-ups
50 deadlifts at 135 pounds
50 push-ups
50 box jumps with a 24-inch box
50 “floor wipers” (a core and shoulders exercise at 135 pounds)
50 “clean and press” at 36 pounds (a weight-lifting exercise)
25 more pull-ups

For a total of 300 reps

Routine progress is suppose to be measured by the time it takes to complete the routine. Try to rest for as little time possible in between exercises. It may take multiple sets to get through an exercise and that’s perfectly fine. The fastest in Twight’s group was a speedy 18 minutes! Consider yourself in great shape if you can finish in 30-45.

This routine is not for beginners. However it can be modified to suit different fitness levels.

Variations for the 300 Workout

-Pull Ups can be performed assisted by using a stability ball or stepping stool under the pull up bar. Or by using an assisted pull up machine, like the Gravitron.

-Deadlift, floor wiper and clean and press weight amounts can be reduced.

-For deadlifts I prefer Romanian deadlifts for less work on the low back and more focus on the legs and glutes. 50 stiff legged deadlifts is a lot for anyone that does not regularly practice them.

-Push ups can be modified.

-Box jumps can be substituted for step ups if you don’t have a 2 foot box. You can also use an aerobic step or the first step on the staircase for less height.

This workout is great for anybody that loves a challenge and loves to sweat. Even though I don’t want to look like a Spartan warrior I love this workout because it forces me to be tough on myself. I am being timed and all!

This is SPARTA!”

HA-OOH! HA-OOH! HA-OOH!

vishal
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/300-workout-variations-671752.html

How to Get Rid of Belly Fat Easily

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

The anatomy of the body is simple. The fat collections and stores are nearly always situated on top of a layer of muscle. This means, your abs can be strong and ripped, but never seen thanks to the extra fat on the body. So, how do you achieve those firm abs and lose your tummy fat? You have to burn off the extra fat with a fat burning workout and a diet that helps the body to lose fat and gain muscle.

What you need to realize is - the best way to get rid of belly fat is to EAT. Exercising is great for fat loss but involves a lot of ‘muscular effort’ such as working out with weights. Hence you should make sure that you eat plenty of protein, particularly from lean meats such as Chicken and Turkey, soya-protein, and red meat (in moderation). When you exercise in this way, the muscles suffer many small tears and need a good source of protein to help repair and strengthen them.

The best way to get rid of belly fat is to Control your meal - stick to the 1 plate rule if you want to get rid of stomach fat. No second serves. However, there are quite a few of us that have been taught to eat everything on our plate. Unfortunately, this habit is hard to break.

You must do your cardiovascular in the morning before breakfast. Studies have shown over and over again that the body burns much more body fat if cardiovascular training is done on an empty stomach. Do a short 30-minute run; you do not have to run for 45 minutes.

In getting rid of belly fat, a person should eat a balanced diet. The foods that you eat should be low in cholesterol. This is a general fact known to many who wants to lessen the body fat. However, the foods that you eat should be right and not simply low in cholesterol. Eating healthy foods that give you less calories than those that you actually burn will help you reduce the excess fat and in getting rid of belly fat.

Avoid trigger foods and dining with big eaters. Avoid having your favorite foods in the house or going out with friends you know eat a lot or make you feel guilty if you don’t polish off everything they cook for you. They only make you feel more stressed and more inclined to binge.

Burn off more calories than you take in. If you eat 6,000 calories a day, but only burn off 4,000 a day, you don’t need to be an Einstein to figure out that you’ll progressively get fatter! So, which diet should you follow? Well, that’s up to you, but just cutting out saturated fat, sugary things, booze, etc — you know the type of stuff — will help enormously. Cut out the bad stuff and only eat the good stuff and you’ll more than likely burn off your daily calorie intake at least.

peterhutch
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/how-to-get-rid-of-belly-fat-easily-670418.html

How to Lose Weight Without Starvation

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Many of the crazy youngsters go to the extreme levels like starvation to become trim and slim without knowing the harmful effects of it. Starvation can make you deficient of vital vitamins and nutrients required by the body. These deficiencies of essential nutrients can add to the debilities that may even leads to death.

When you restrict you calorie intake to a high level, you body become starve of energy needed for proper functioning of the body. Except for the first few hours of starvation (when carbohydrate is depleted) the major effects are progressive depletion of tissue fat and protein. Since fat is the prime source of energy its rate of depletion continues unabated, until most of the fat stores in the body are gone. Protein undergoes three different phases of depletion:

• Rapid depletion at first
• Then greatly slowed depletion
• Finally rapid depletion again shortly before death

The stores of some of the vitamins, especially the water soluble vitamins B and C, do not last long during starvation. After a week of starvation mild vitamin deficiencies usually begins to appear, and after several weeks severe vitamin deficiencies can occur.

If you are seriously looking for the way to lose weight without sacrificing your health, you need a diet program that can melt your stubborn fat without starving you any more. One of the highly recommended diet programs is ‘Fat Loss 4 Idiot’. It is the most popular diet programs accepted worldwide by thousand of people. This weight loss program comes with a diet generator, a diet book and additional free bonuses.

In this program, you will be given 11 days of diet plans based on the foods you like to eat most. After the 11 days, a 3 day grace period when you can eat just about anything you want. After the 3 day grace period, if you want to lose more weight, you start the 11 day meal plan over again. This cycle can be continued until you’ve reached your weight loss goal. Thus, this diet program is simple to follow and help you to achieve your goal without starving you any more.

‘Fat Loss 4 Idiot’ comes in digital PDF format, so you can download it instantly and read it on your computer or print it out to have a hard copy. No need to wait! Start working today to lose weight with the most efficient diet system that work for everyone.

Check out the most popular fat burning program - Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review. Looking for Fat Loss Supplements to lose weight? Know How to Get Ripped 6 Pack Abs Fast with scientifically designed weight loss system.

Nick Mutt
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/how-to-lose-weight-without-starvation-702208.html

Shaving Body Hair for Men

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

If you follow the wonderful world of bodybuilding, fitness, and physical culture long enough there will come a day when you realize that all the fit muscular dudes that grace the magazines, the competition stage, and who strut their stuff down on the beach with sculpted 6 Pack Abs and ripped muscles glistening in the sunlight…

You’ll notice that they all have one thing in common… They have NO body hair… How can this be? They don’t actually shave… do they?

Nah, not these guys… there is no way these massive mountains of muscle, the same ones you’ll see bench pressing compact cars as a warm up set, will ever stoop to the level of bending over the edge of the bathtub with a can of shaving cream and razor in hand scraping away the hairs on their legs like a little school girl…!?!?

But the harsh reality of bodybuilding is that they DO!!!

Yes, my friend even the biggest and the burliest of bodybuilders will pay their dues, with razor in hand, shedding unwanted body hair in order to reveal the muscular physique that was carved from blood, sweat, and tears in the gym.

I can remember the first time I “shaved my legs”. It was during summer break of 1995. I was 16 years old and planning on competing in my first bodybuilding competition in a few months time. I was home alone, my parents were both at work. So I basically had the house to myself, what better time to experiment with shaving my legs…

To make a long story short…

4 worn out razors and 3 hours later I was sporting silky smooth legs, along with several nicks, cuts, and scabs to boot. Then to show off those freshly shaven white pillar’s of power, I put on a pair of gym shorts… It’s actually scary to see how white you are underneath all that hair.

In a strange sort of why I felt like this was a critical milestone that just I overcame in my bodybuilding journey… yes I admit this sport of ours is a bit weird.

Anyway, later that afternoon when my parents came home from work we had the usual routine chit chat:

Dad:

“Hey Lee, we’re home… How was your day?”

Me:

“It was ok, I shaved my legs today.”

Dad:

“You did WHAT!!!”

Me:

“I shaved my legs… you know… to get ready for the bodybuilding contest.”

Dad:

“You’re not serious…?!?!”

Me:

“Yeah, I really did shave my legs… all the bodybuilders do it before a bodybuilding contest.”

Dad:

“How on earth did you do that?”

Me:

“With a razor… several razors actually.”

Dad:

“ahhhh, Lee… I gotta tell you something… normal guys don’t shave their legs… you just don’t do that… it’s… well, it’s not natural.”

Needless to say, I didn’t feel too confident in myself at this stage and I certainly wasn’t gaining the approval of my old man. I think he was questioning my masculinity at this stage and he was having some doubts about his boy’s future…

But he eventually overcame his fears and concerns about my “manliness”. And now, over a decade of bodybuilding competitions later, the thought of men shaving their legs is just another household chore… just like taking out the trash :-)

So for all my fellow brothers of iron who are ready to take your bodybuilding game to the next level and… “Shave Your Legs” this article is for you!

This is what I call the A.B.C’s of shaving body hair…

Trust me this is not something you will learn from your dad…

The bottom line is that hair removal is a pain for everyone. And depending on how hairy you are will determine how much of a nuisance removing that hair will be.

In my case I’m pretty lucky because I don’t have a very hairy back or chest, just the few odd hairs here and there, nothing major. And my legs are what I’d consider average for a guy in terms of the amount of hair that I have growing there.

Now there are lots of hair removal methods and gimmicks on the market today; from creams, electronic gizmos, and God knows what else. Personally, I’ve never really gotten into using any of them myself. I’ve heard a few horror stories over the years from people who have experimented with various things. And I can remember when I was living at home my mom tried a particular hair removal cream and she broke out in a ugly red rash that irritated her skin big time. So I’ve just stuck to the basic old school method of hair removal - shaving.

If you’ve never shaved before and you have a lot of hair then I’d suggest you get yourself a pair of hair cutting clippers, the same ones the barber will use to give you a buzz cut. Using just the clipper itself with no comb, carefully trim away the hair from your legs, arms, chest, etc. and then get someone to help you with your back and areas you can’t reach.

A word of advice here, make sure you give yourself plenty of time. Shaving A LOT of hair cannot be rushed. It could easily take a couple hours or more, especially when you don’t have a clue what you are doing.

To make it easier on yourself I’d suggest that you just shave your legs with the clippers at first, then call it a day. The next day come back and shave your upper body with the clippers.

After you’ve completed this clipper trimming, your body will be covered in tiny stubble. Rubbing your hand over your skin will feel like sand paper. Not the most sexy thing, especially if you are planning on getting intimate with that special someone.

Anyway, the next day I’d suggest you break out the razor blade, the same one you use to shave your face with. Again schedule yourself lots of time, get in the shower and soap up your legs. Using a brand new razor blade, shave away… Make sure to be extra careful when shaving around the groin area (for obvious reasons) and just take your time, don’t rush things because this is what causes careless nicks and cuts.

If you can shave the stubble off both legs before you run out of hot water in the shower consider this a major accomplishment, you are well on your way to bodybuilding success :-)

The next day, do the same thing for your upper body. Again give yourself lots of time, lather up with soap, be careful, and always use a brand new razor blade.

One thing you’ll most likely notice a day or so after shaving is that you’ll break out in a razor rash of little red bumps, especially on sensitive areas like the inner thighs. While this is very annoying, it will become less irritated as you get used to shaving and your skin “toughens up” to the whole process. Keep in mind you are a shaving virgin right now and you have to suffer through this beginner stage, before you can get to the point of confidently sporting a ripped, hair free, muscle bod on the beach or competition stage.

After you have gone through the whole process of ridding your body of all the hair you can maintain your hair free body by simply shaving off the stubble once every 7-10 days in the shower. Again the easiest way to do this is divide your body in half, shave your legs one day, and then shave your upper body the next.

Well there you have it my friend. A step-by-step plan to go from a hairy sasquatch, to a smooth, handsome, hairless physique… Now if losing this dam beer gut was just as easy we’d have it made… 

Lee Hayward
http://www.articlesbase.com/bodybuilding-articles/shaving-body-hair-for-men-693490.html

How Can Pilates Strengthen Your Abs

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

We often hear good things about Pilates through the media. It improves blood circulation and flexibility as well. It was invented by Joseph Pilates when he was imprisoned on the Isle of Man during World War 1. It was actually used to get flu patients back to health quickly. He then moved to America and incorporated pilates into training boxers. Pilates forces you to do exact exercises that are not too complicated. It actually uses your own body weight. It is designed to strengthen your abs, core , posture, and balance.

The core is very important since it is the center of gravity for your body. However, if you are looking to get “ripped” it won’t happen with pilates. Pilates is all about physical well-being and nothing else. One great form of pilates is Winsor Pilates. It will do what other abdominal exercises will not and target your abdominals. Doing these exercises will definitely give you a more tall and lean look. Some of the Winsor exercises can be found online and equipment is minimal. Sometimes just a mat on the floor to cushion your positions will suffice.

The great thing about Pilates is that there is no special equipment, and you can do it in your home. In fact, it could take only 10 minutes a day to see improved abdominal toning. Once you have strengthened your core you will see improvements in the rest of your body too. Your posture will improve and your back will feel better. This could be great for people suffering from recurrent back pain.

Pilates also forces you to concentrate on your breathing and workouts, which translates to other areas in your life as far as concentration and focus. It is a fact that in this chaotic world we could all use more focus. So if you feel that you could use some more focus in your life, and lose some of that belly fat, then try some Pilates. You could drop 10 pounds or even more with enough effort.

Pilates can also be beneficial for older individuals. By improving their abs, they can improve their core and balance, thus reducing the scare of falling. The abs are not separate muscles, but in fact, one long sheet of muscle! The abdominals can also be referred to as “the powerhouse”. Working your abs are important for overall good health and activity daily. It is amazing that there are 29 core muscles! You should be working them all! As long as you are careful and follow the basic rules for working out with pilates, you will see a definite improvement in your core.

Bill Nad
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-can-pilates-strengthen-your-abs-737217.html

What does it take to get ripped abs?

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

The abdominal muscles are thought to be one of the most attractive features of the body. Unfortunately, the mid section is one of the hardest areas of the body to burn fat and build muscle and get that desirable 6 pack (or even an 8 pack). So what does it take to get that head-turning belly?

Abs are very similar to your other muscle groups as far as building muscle and burning fat. Your body type will determine phase your start with. Overweight people tend to start with a fat burning phase while thinner people start with muscle building. Either way, there are two main factors that need your attention.

Diet

The first factor (possibly the most important thing) is a very strict diet. Most people don’t have great eating habits, or at least the eating habits that promote a slim mid section. Very often people will go on an obsessive sit-up/crunch kick hoping to shred the fat covering them. This is the complete opposite way to go about it. In fact there are two parts to the diet, fat burning and muscle building.

When it comes to burning fat, you need to remember that your caloric intake is lower than the amount of calories you are burning. In other words, you should have a calorie deficit. This way your body will need to use the fat as an energy resource.

But just as important, you need to make sure you stay away from foods that influence fat storage. Keep your fat and sugar intake low. While our bodies do use good fat (unsaturated), too much will catch up with you. Sugar, starch, bread, and pasta are digested so fast that the insulin our bodies create to digest it goes unused and eventually turns to fat. Always have protein or fiber with any of these and keep them to a minimum.

For muscle building you will need to increase your caloric intake. This does not mean you can eat anything. You need to stick to the good calories you have already been consuming. Just add more. Most importantly though, you will need more protein in your diet to feed your muscles.

Exercise

The next factor is exercise. It’s no surprise that exercise should be part of your overall ab plan. Exercise is usually the only thing people do to try to get the 6 pack. However, they usually go about it the wrong way. In order for your abs to be more visible they need to grow. What most people fail to realize is that the abdominal muscles are just like any other muscles in your body; they need to experience microtrauma, small tears in the muscle fibers, in order to grow. This requires an abnormal amount of stress on the muscles on a continual basis. Although cardiovascular exercise is necessary in the fat burning phase, it is not enough for the muscle building phase.

In order to ad more stress to the abdominal muscles you will need to do weighted exercises. For instance, if you are doing leg lifts, try using ankle weights or handing weight from your ankles. Or hold weights in your arms while doing crunches. It is important to add weights as you progress to constantly push your muscles to new limits, forcing them to grow.

So there you have it. Getting ripped abs may not be easy, but it can be simple. If you pay close attention to your diet and implement the correct muscle building exercises you will be well on your way to having that 6 pack (or 8 pack) you always wanted.

Jim Clements
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/what-does-it-take-to-get-ripped-abs-943046.html