The Foolproof Way to Get Ripped Abs

                

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If You Have Ripped Abs, Then Your Entire Body Will Look More Attractive.

Out of every person working out in your gym, how many have ripped abs? If your gym is like mine, probably less than 1 out of 100 people have great abs. I would say that there are more people who can bench press 315 pounds, then people who have ripped abs. What is crazy is that these people work out hard, yet they are failing in developing the most attractive part of their physique.

Having Ripped Abs Isn't Really a Muscle Thing, It's More of a Body Fat Issue.

About 7 years ago I was watching the TV show, Survivor. It was the episode they filmed in Australia. The people left on the show had lost a lot of weight. They were pretty much starving and I am not giving this example to say that people should starve. What I noticed was that each an every contestant on Survivor had ripped abs. You could see their ripped abs in detail, due to lack of body fat on their mid section. None of these contestants were working their abs, yet they had ripped abs that most gym members would envy.

Spend More Time on Cardio and Less Time Working the Abs Directly.

We all have ripped abs, they are just covered under body fat on most people. The best way to burn this fat is to do cardio. Crunches and leg raises will work the ab muscles hard, but they won't burn off an ounce of fat around your midsection. I would recommend dropping your ab exercises altogether and focus on cardio until you get to a low body fat level which will reveal those ripped abs.

It is Very Possible to Get Ripped Abs Without Working the Abs Directly.

I badly injured my back about 6 months before a trip to Cancun, Mexico. I was really bummed out, because it hurt badly to do any ab exercises. I had to drop ab exercises completely from my routine, until my back healed. I figured if I got my body fat low, then my abs would at least not look terrible. To make a long story short, I did a ton of cardio for those 6 months and my abs were ultra-toned for the vacation. To this day, I don't to any direct ab work and my abs look better than ever.

Give This Approach to Ripped Abs a Shot.

I know that many people will be hesitant to drop their ab work, because they don't want to lose any muscle tone in that area. All I have to say, is that if your body fat percentage isn't low enough then nobody is going to see that tone anyway. Your time is better spent on cardio, which will finally reveal those ripped abs.Rusty Moore is an avid trainer who gives advice to men and women who want a physique that attracts the opposite sex. While most trainers focus on gaining as much muscle mass as possible, Rusty focuses on the lean "sleek model look". For men who want the build of Brad Pitt -or- Matthew Mcconaughey and women who want the build of Jessica Alba -or- Jessica Beil, he recommends this resource... Lean Muscle Fitness

Ripped Abs

                

>>  Be Sure That You Will Never Get Six Pack Abs Unless You Know These Strategies <<

 

With all the attention given to diet and cardio for fat loss and developing six-pack abs, it surprises many people to learn that one of the most effective ways to shrink and harden to midsection and develop ripped abdominals is weight training. If you don’t believe us just go into any gym and check out who has the best abdominal development. The best midsections usually belong to those who perform at least three to four weight-training workouts each week. Sure you’ll see a few portly bellies on guys who do nothing but bench press, but for the most part it’s the bodybuilders – especially competitive bodybuilders who have mastered the art of fat loss and developed chiseled six-pack abs.

So what is it about weight training that results in washboard abs? Let’s take a closer look.

During the workout:

When people think of burning calories during a workout they usually think about cardio. And while it’s true that an average cardio workout will burn 600-800 calories in an hour, weight training is not far behind. A typical weight training workout involving a couple of the larger muscle groups will burn anywhere from 400 to 500 calories. At an average of 3500 calories to the pound you can see how just seven such workouts will maximize your fat loss potential. All things being equal, you could easily lose 30 to 40 pounds of fat a year just by weight training. But weight training does more than burn calories during your workout; it also keeps your fat-burning furnace revved up after you leave the gym. If ripped abdominals are your goal read on.

After the workout:

It’s called afterburn and it’s probably the biggest advantage weight training has over cardio when it comes to fat loss and developing six-pack abs. With cardio as soon as you stop training, your metabolism returns to its baseline level. But weight training elevates your metabolism and keeps it elevated after you leave the gym – by some estimates for up to 24 hours! Just think about it, you can be burning body fat even when sitting down watching TV.

Growth hormone release:

Growth Hormone or HGH is one of the most powerful hormones in the human body, and among it’s functions are building muscle and burning body fat. One of the explanations for the loss of muscle mass and gain in body fat that usually accompanies old age is a decline in HGH. This is why HGH replacement therapy is becoming so popular as it can reverse these effects. So what does all this have to do with weight training? Well it just so happens that short, intense, weight training workouts are one of the best ways to naturally stimulate HGH release. Not only are you getting the direct and indirect fat-burning effects of weight training (calories burned during the workout and from the afterburn), but you’ll get additional fat burning and fat loss from all the extra HGH floating around in your blood stream.

Muscle metabolically active:

Although this ties in closely to the topic of afterburn, it deserves special mention here. Fat is basically dead tissue that sits there and waits to be burned. Muscle on the other hand can be considered a fat-burning machine and actually requires calories to keep it “alive”. The more muscle you have the more calories you’ll use maintaining it. And you can do all the cardio you want but only weight training can build new muscle tissue and ultimately lead to ripped abdominals.

Hopefully by now you are beginning to see how weight training can maximize your fat loss potential. If you want eye-catching, six-pack abs, then you must start weight training now. There are way too many routines to discuss here. For that you’ll need to check out our Abdominal Training Routines page. By consistently following one or more of these workouts you’ll have a midsection of envy.

Bob Howard expert on bodybuilding and steroids. Are you looking for more of his Ripped Abs articles? abs-information.com

Why Crunches Won't Give You Flat Abs

                

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Flat abs are in. It’s almost essential if you are going to wear 70% of the clothes in the store. Halter tops, baby tops, and oh yeah bikini season make having flat abdominal number #1 on most women’s list of how she wants her body. Unfortunately, having flat abdominals are not as easy for the majority of the world’s population. And the rest do sit-ups and crunches until they are blue in the face just to find that flat abs are still thousands of crunches away.

The truth is we all have flat abs. Most of us just can’t see them because of the layer of fat over them. No matter how many crunches you do or how strong your abs are they won’t be flat until your remove the layer of fat on top of them. That means a full fitness regimen including weight training, cardio and nutrition, nutrition, …oh and did I mention nutrition. Eating “clean” is the term I like to call it. A whole food diet that is void of as many pre-made foods, preservative filled junk, and sodium and sugar infested boxes as your dedication will allow you. That means you may have to make time to cook. Yes that means you may have to visit restaurants less often. And yes, that means you will have to change some lifestyle choices for healthier ones that get you closer to your goals. If your answer to the above is a loud “I don’t have time”, “I can’t” or “I’m not able to” Then you should follow it up with the words “have flat abs”. This what it sound like.
“I don’t have time to…have flat abs”
“I can’t …have flat abs”
“I not able to ... have flat abs”.
And all that is interpreted as “I choose not to have flat abs”
Anyone can achieve their ideal body (within genetic capacity) if they dedicate themselves. So if you are ready to ditch your flab tire then follow the five rules of eating clean to clean out the extra fat, reduce your waist size.

1. Eliminate all white poisons and everything that contains them.( i.e. white rice, white flour, white sugar)
2. Eat every 2 to 4 hours (3 meals and 2 snacks)
 

3. Drink ½ your body weight in ounces of water each day
 

4. No grain carbohydrates after 6pm
 

5. Stopping eating 3 hours before bed time
 

6. Do cardio on an empty stomach first thing in the morning
 

7. Weight Train 2-4 times a week
 

Mubarakah Ibrahim is an AFAA certified personal trainer and owner of BALANCE fitness, a personal training service for women in CT that offers in-home personal training, on-line personal training, outdoor boot camps, and hiking clubs for women. She also lectures, promotes and conducts workshops on health and fitness through out the northeast. She can be contacted by visiting her website http://www.balanceCT.com or e-mailed at balanceCT@hotmail.com © BALANCE fitness. Article may be reprinted without permission only in it’s entirety including author bio and contact information.

Summer Ready Abs

                

>>  Be Sure That You Will Never Get Six Pack Abs Unless You Know These Strategies <<

 

I have people come up to me all the time in the gym asking for fitness advice or tips. One of the most common questions is "What do I need to do to get a six pack?". I usually then reply by saying all you need to do is some cardio and probably change up your diet. Then they respond by saying "I do all those ab workouts why don't I see a difference?" then I proceed to explain why they do not notice a change in their appearance.

No matter how many ab blasters or ab crunches you do, you will never see your abs unless you eliminate the abdominal fat covering them. Ab workouts are crucial to do, as a matter of fact I do them every day. Doing these abdominal workouts, strengthen and largen the abdominal muscles. Which is great if you have a low body fat percentage.

Now there are two things you must do to reduce body fat percentage. Cardio is the first part I am going to discuss. Doing cardio burns calories which leads to a lower body fat percentage. Take about 20 minutes at the end of your workout and dedicate it to cardio. You will notice some changes in your appearance if you consistantly do cardio.

Okay so that was the first part, the second half has to do with diet. If you eat right people will see that you eat right. Get on a diet that limits you to a certain amount of calories per day.

So do some cardio, stick with a good diet, and throw in some ab workouts and you will be ready for the summer!

Jacob Thomason Founder of http://www.traintilyougain.com

It's All About the Abs - Abdominal Exercise Equipment That Really Works

                

>>  Be Sure That You Will Never Get Six Pack Abs Unless You Know These Strategies <<

 

Abdominal Exercise Equipment That Really Works

There have been many studies and reports about how our society as a whole has grown heavier and chubbier. The stomach, in particular, has become a trouble spot for many people. This is due in part to the fact that many of us have desk jobs where we rarely use our stomach and abdomen muscles. For others, this is where the excess fat, brought on by the fast food and extra beers, settles in our bodies. Whatever the reason for our big bellies, there has been a host of abdominal exercise equipment and gadgets to help do away with stomach flab. Some of these techniques and equipment work better than others. This article will help you sort through the hype.

Before beginning a discussion of abdominal exercises and equipment, it is important to point out that even the best ab machine will not help you loose fat in your stomach area. Abdominal exercise equipment can tone and shape your muscles, but the only way to loose the fat is to consume more calories than you take in. Exercise will help you do this, but it is a total body process, not targeted to certain areas.

It is also important to note, that for many people, a flat stomach is not in their genetics, even if they are in good physical shape. Some stomachs have a small curve, and all the crunches in the world won’t change that. However, the exercises and equipment discussed below will help tone, strengthen and define your abdominal muscles.

Abdominal Exercises & Equipment

There are many different types of ab exercisers and equipment. One of the most effective of these, the Roman Chair, is not strictly an ab machine. It is a common piece of equipment found at the gym but it can be used to perform a very effective ab exercise. The Roman Chair is a somewhat taller machine with two stationary, parallel arms and a straight, padded back. There is nothing to sit on.

When working on abs, the best way to use this piece of equipment is to place your forearms flat on each armrest, with your back firmly against the padding. You should have the Roman Chair set high enough that your legs dangle straight down when you are in position. Then slowly bring your knees toward your chest as far as you can go and hold for a few seconds before extending them to the beginning position. This exercise was number two in a San Diego State University survey that ranked the top abdominal exercises and equipment.

According to the survey, the best ab exercise is the Bicycle maneuver. Many of you are probably familiar with this fun exercise. We’ve been doing it since we were kids in gym class, and it turns out, the bicycle is one of the most effective exercises for working those abdominal muscles. To do the exercise correctly, lie on a mat and press your lower back flat. Put your hands beside your head. Tighten your abdominal muscles and bend your knees toward your chest until they are at about a 45-degree angle. Bring your right elbow in contact with your left knee. Then alternate with the opposite knee and elbow and repeat. You should feel it in your sides and abs.

Leg Crunches are similar to the Bicycle, but with crunches, your torso does most of the movement. Lie on the mat again with your lower back pressed flat. Place your hands at your sides or by your head, whichever is more comfortable. Be sure not to put any pressure on your arms or you will take away from the effectiveness of the exercise.

Lift your legs straight up above your head and bend your knees slightly. Squeeze your abdominal muscles and then lift your torso up off the mat toward your knees. Return to the original position with your back flat on the mat. Relax your abdominal muscles and then repeat. Remember to breathe during the exercise.

Crunches can also be done on an exercise ball and many feel it is more effective than standard crunches. You sit on the ball and place your feet on the floor about a foot apart. Roll back carefully on the ball until you are lying with your back fully extended on the ball. Tighten your abdominal muscles and raise your trunk off the ball to about a 30-degree angle. Return to the extended position and repeat.

Exercise balls are one of the most versatile and effective pieces of fitness equipment relative to their cost. Another low cost equipment alternative is a stretch band. These are just what they sound like, a stretchy band made of lycra, nylon or sometimes rubber. Sometimes called resistance bands, they allow you to work one muscle group while the resistance of the band stabilizes the opposing muscles. It is good for stretching and strengthening muscles and is often used with beginners and those who have experienced an injury.

If you are looking for something a bit more high-tech, there are several pieces of equipment made especially to work the abs. There are the Ab Crunch Machine and the Back and Ab Machine. Both of these pieces of abdominal exercise equipment have been designed to support the lower back and the neck. They also come with adjustable resistance settings.

The Ab Slider, Ab Wheel, and Ab Trainer are other examples of equipment designed to target abdominal muscles. As with most types of fitness equipment, their effectiveness often is dependant upon correct usage and, in some cases, combining them with other abdominal exercises. It is important to fully research the equipment and read instructions before using.

The quest for six-pack abs and flat stomachs has intensified over the past few years. In response, the fitness industry has resurrected some old, faithful exercises, developed new and improved versions, and even created equipment specifically to target abdominal muscles. Combine these top abdominal exercises with an overall exercise routine and a healthy diet, and chances are you will loose the flab and have a stronger, more shapely mid section in a matter of months.

C.J. Gustafson is a successful freelance fitness writer for Fitness-N-Exercise-Equipment.com, your complete guide to the best home fitness equipment. Find out where to shop for the best recumbent exercise bikes, ab machines and weight training equipment for your home gym.

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