When it comes to getting cut up and chiseled, there’s a few rules of thumb that any guy who’s earned a six pack can tell you. At the end of day, it’s less about secret cheats and exotic routines and more to do with the internal strength to stick to the self-evident truths of fitness. Here are 9 ways the ripped stay that way. SEE ALSO:The 30 Best Back Exercises of All Time>>
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Target Multiple Muscle Groups
Build your workouts around compound lifts, and supplement them with isolation exercises. Compound lifts involve more than just one muscle group. The more muscle groups involved means more work is getting done, and more calories are being torched.SEE ALSO:The 30 Best Shoulder Exercises of All Time>>
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Embrace Sets and Circuits
Learn to endure, and love supersets, trisets, giant sets, and circuits. Bouncing from one exercise to the next is perfect for getting both the benefits of resistance training and adding in a cardio element.SEE ALSO:Better Dropsets to Build More Muscle>>
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Work Out Aggressively
Anyone can do 3 sets of 10 reps, but what’s the level of intensity you go at it with? Always be conscious of your form, but the ripped guys know you’ve got to hit the weights hard and hyper-focused. Amp up the intensity of your workout by keeping track of and reducing the rest time between sets. The less time you give your body to recover, the harder it has to work, which leads to burning more calories.SEE ALSO:The Age of Intensity Workout>>
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Stay Consistent
Be as consistent as possible. It’s tough in the go-go-go world we live in, especially for nine-to-fivers. But even if you’re feeling a bit sluggish or tired, you’ve got to be honest with yourself on when you should skip or push through it. A solid trainer will know how to program something for you to account for your work hours and recovery needs.SEE ALSO:The 30 Best Abs Exercises of All Time>>
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Count Calories
Don’t get stuck on fad diets, fasting, or trying to get all your carbs in at a certain time of day. It’s the overall picture that matters. If you’re eating less than you were last week, you’re on track to lose weight.SEE ALSO: The Top 30 Muscle Building Foods>>
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Eat Smaller Meals Throughout the Day
Not because it “boosts your metabolism,” but because it helps fight off cravings, and prevents the up-and-down energy roller coaster that the standard 3 per day can cause.SEE ALSO:The 30 Best Back Exercises of All Time>>
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Watch Your Carbs
The best sources are potatoes, rice, and oats. You’d be hard pressed to find a ripped guy who eats a lot of fruit, bread, or baked goods. Fewer carbs in your system means less insulin release and that means less of a chance for fat storage.SEE ALSO:9 Easy to Follow Carb Rules>>
Alcohol sucks. It messes with your metabolism, recovery, and how you’ll work out the next day. If you’ve got to drink, do it on special occasions and pound lots of water in-between drinks. Stay away from mixers. Go with anything on the rocks, or with club. And hard booze is a bit better than beers, you’ll get a buzz-on quicker with less fluid, and slightly less calories.SEE ALSO:How to Drink Alcohol and Still Build Muscle>>
When it comes to getting cut up and chiseled, there’s a few rules of thumb that any guy who’s earned a six pack can tell you. At the end of day, it’s less about secret cheats and exotic routines and more to do with the internal strength to stick to the self-evident truths of fitness. Here are 9 ways the ripped stay that way.
Build your workouts around compound lifts, and supplement them with isolation exercises. Compound lifts involve more than just one muscle group. The more muscle groups involved means more work is getting done, and more calories are being torched.
Learn to endure, and love supersets, trisets, giant sets, and circuits. Bouncing from one exercise to the next is perfect for getting both the benefits of resistance training and adding in a cardio element.
Anyone can do 3 sets of 10 reps, but what’s the level of intensity you go at it with? Always be conscious of your form, but the ripped guys know you’ve got to hit the weights hard and hyper-focused. Amp up the intensity of your workout by keeping track of and reducing the rest time between sets. The less time you give your body to recover, the harder it has to work, which leads to burning more calories.
Be as consistent as possible. It’s tough in the go-go-go world we live in, especially for nine-to-fivers. But even if you’re feeling a bit sluggish or tired, you’ve got to be honest with yourself on when you should skip or push through it. A solid trainer will know how to program something for you to account for your work hours and recovery needs.
Don’t get stuck on fad diets, fasting, or trying to get all your carbs in at a certain time of day. It’s the overall picture that matters. If you’re eating less than you were last week, you’re on track to lose weight.
Not because it “boosts your metabolism,” but because it helps fight off cravings, and prevents the up-and-down energy roller coaster that the standard 3 per day can cause.
The best sources are potatoes, rice, and oats. You’d be hard pressed to find a ripped guy who eats a lot of fruit, bread, or baked goods. Fewer carbs in your system means less insulin release and that means less of a chance for fat storage.
Alcohol sucks. It messes with your metabolism, recovery, and how you’ll work out the next day. If you’ve got to drink, do it on special occasions and pound lots of water in-between drinks. Stay away from mixers. Go with anything on the rocks, or with club. And hard booze is a bit better than beers, you’ll get a buzz-on quicker with less fluid, and slightly less calories.
