There are a number of key criteria to fulfill in the quest for those lean ripped abs, a good diet and a great workout plan are an obvious requirement because without eliminating that excess fat from our bellies we will never get to see the six pack hidden underneath. Remember, ripped six pack abs are not just created by repetitive exercises, they are already there!
There are so many factors that will dictate our natural physique, age and gender are just two, but it is our genes that determine where you will store body fat. Your gender can determine where you store body fat, women tend to store it around their butts and thighs, and guys store it around their stomachs, especially as they get older. It is imperative that you grasp just how your body uses, stores and burns fat.
The body uses fat and carbohydrates as an energy source. The intensity level of your training will determine how much fat or carbs you will burn. The current thinking is that the lower the intensity and the longer the time spent on the exercise then the more fat you will burn. In fact you will see it written on all the cardio machines at the gym in black and white. The “Fat Burning Zone” means that the lower the intensity and the longer you work, normally at around 50-60% of your maximum heart rate then the more fat you will burn for energy. The higher your intensity then the more likely you are to use up carbs as fuel.
The fact you must always bear in mind however, is that it is totally irrelevant how much fat you burn if you are not burning off enough calories. Fat burning only happens when you burn more energy than you take in and high intensity workouts are simply the most effective way to achieve this. Don’t forget, less energy in than energy out equals fat loss. It’s actually quite a simple equation.
Now don’t think that there is not a place for a low intensity cardio workout, there is. It would be a good idea however, to mix up your cardio workouts with some real high intensity training. Perhaps 20 minutes at around 80-85% of your maximum heart rate on any cardio machine. Interval training, maybe a full sprint for a minute, will give you all the intensity you will ever need to burn calories as well as fat.
Also try to fit in the odd moderately intense cardio session as well, 75% of your maximum heart rate should do the trick. Muscular definition and ripped abs are there for you, as long as you can combine your cardio with a great strength training programme. Lifting heavy weights is a fantastic way to burn fat as it actively increases your metabolic rate and of course preserves your muscle mass. The more muscle mass you have then the more calories you will burn in your everyday activities., so even just walking around will help to burn fat.
All it takes is a commitment to do a little something each day, even if it’s just a brisk stroll, as that will put your body into fat burning mode. Then, and only then will you get to see those ripped abs and that great physique hidden underneath.
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