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.

Having ripped abs means, we need to reduce our body's fat levels. When we decrease our overall body fat, then our abs will appear ripped because they will be more visible.

The dietary factors that we need to consider to add to our exercises for ripped abs consist of consuming high quality foods, that are rich in vitamins and minerals. We should eat 5-6 meals per day and each meal should be a well-balanced selection of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables and fats. We should avoid carbohydrates like white sugar and white flour. We should always look for healthy alternatives in our diet and try not to fall for the fad diets. By eating several small meals per day, we maintain our energy levels throughout the day and help optimize our workouts to burn fat.

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.

Activities like hill sprints, wind sprints, swimming sprints and speed rope jumping are different ways to train with intervals. Various equipment like a stair climber, treadmill, stationary bike and rowing machines can also be utilized to do interval training.

On the other hand, when we train with resistance, we not only sculpt our bodies and create definition of the involved muscles; it also contributes to the overall aesthetic look of ripped abs. We should focus on exercises that focus on multi joints to increase our body's fat burning capabilities. Utilizing a low level of repetitions per exercise has been shown to increase the body's metabolic activity.

Lunges, squats, chin-ups, step-ups, dead lifts and rows are all examples of multi-joint exercises.

Interval training and resistance training, both increase metabolic processes in the system and continue burning fat and calories even after the workout.

Stress management is also a major factor in the formula for ripped abs. By managing our stress levels, we can decrease the presence of the Cortisol hormone, which promotes storage of fat in our abdomen. We can utilize, deep breathing techniques and activities that will help us cope and manage our stress levels.

Some examples of stress management activities are: deep breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, tai chi and various other stress reduction techniques.

Our ripped abs formula of diet, interval/resistance training and stress reduction is an effective way to affect how our abs look. By following this formula, you can achieve your goal and have ripped abs, which will result in your feeling strong and healthy. - 15255

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