Friday, December 19, 2008

Exercises For Ripped Abs

By Jose Loni

The formula for ripped abs has always been an elusive goal to many. The picture of ripped abs symbolizes strength, sex appeal, fitness and healthy living. The formula for ripped abs can be accomplished by monitoring our diet, interval/resistance training and the reduction of stress in our lives.

In order to achieve ripped abs, we need to decrease our overall body fat levels, which will make our abdominals more visible. Our abs are there but it's just covered by a layer of fat.

We can monitor our diet, by consuming a balance of quality foods such as: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fruits, vegetables, vitamins and minerals. We should cut out fast foods, sodas and other processed foods, as well as avoid refined simple carbohydrates like white sugar, and white flour. We should choose healthy alternatives for our diet and don't fall for fad diets. Eating 5-6 times a day will help stabilize our body's energy, which is needed to burn fat and help optimize our workouts.

Resistance training and interval training are exercises that have been very effective in getting ripped abs. Both types of training increases lean body mass, which enables our bodies to utilize the energy need from the fat that is accumulated in the abdomen. The increased metabolism has also been effective in burning fat, well after the training session.

Exercises that involve interval training that have direct effects on getting ripped abs are exercises like: wind sprints, speed rope jumping, swimming sprints, hill sprints and speed rope jumping. Equipment like treadmills, stair climbers and rowing machines can also be used to do interval training.

Resistance training also adds to the ripped abs in that it helps support the abs as well as increases the ripped abs aesthetic appearance. To effectively train with resistance for ripped abs, multi-joint exercises should be utilized to help burn our overall fat. By focusing on repetitions of 8 per exercise, we can really boost our metabolism.

Examples of multi-joint movement exercises are: lunges, chin-ups, squats, step-ups, rows and deadlifts.

Both interval and resistance training are an array of exercises for ripped abs. By increasing our muscles to grow and function more efficiently, we increase our metabolic activity in our bodies. As a result, our bodies become more efficient at burning the fat to get ripped abs.

The overall reduction of stress is also another important factor we need to consider when doing exercises for ripped abs. Stress in our bodies increases a hormone called Cortisol, which increases fat storage in the abdomen.

Stress management exercises for ripped abs include: tai chi, meditation, yoga and deep breathing.

Watching our diet, training with resistance and intervals, and managing our stress levels are ways in how we can get ripped abs quicker. These factors can definitely determine how fast we can burn our belly fat as well as make us feel healthy and happy. - 15438

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