As you probably know by now with health and fitness, there are
thousands of contradictions, thousands of ideas, and thousands of
perspectives. However, let us help you by sticking to the basic, and the
best, ways to achieve your fitness goals. Now, there’s no immediate way
to get washboard abs and arms that could crush a bear, but there are
ways you can boost the effectiveness of your gym session, and this will
help speed up how long it takes to get ripped.
#1) Spend LESS time in the gym
You heard correctly. Your muscles need time to recover, because during the workout they actually get torn down.
Therefore they need to build themselves back up afterward…which is where rest comes in. Most people don’t give themselves anywhere near the time necessary to do so.
2-3 days of vigorous exercising per week is plenty, and any more might actually put you at a greater risk of injury.
#2) Diet to Get Ripped
It’s an age old saying, but ‘you are what you eat’ has an annoying ring of truth to it, especially when it comes to your fitness. Maintaining a balanced diet is vital if you want to bulk up in the right way. Although it’s not always easy to plan meals when you’re trying to slim down and on top of that gain muscle, there are a few key foods that you should keep in mind when you’re training.
Fish: There’s a whole list of benefits to eating fish, but the main things to focus on when you’re trying to bulk up is that it helps increase testosterone, lowers body fat, and enables easier joint movement. It’s also a strong source of protein and if you go with something fresh like wild salmon, you’ll gain a good helping on omega-3 fatty acids.
Eggs: Again we’re dealing with protein here, and eggs are a great provider. They’re also high in vitamins E, D and A, and are easy to incorporate into your meals.
Greek yogurt: High in calcium and protein, and helps keep muscles on the go by providing them with a stream of amino acids.
Greens: We’re talking spinach, kale, chard and all those other food that get called ‘rabbit food’ 80% of the time. These are a great source of iron, fibre, vitamins and yes, again, protein.
Flaxseeds: These will probably end up stuck in your teeth at least once a week, but with the benefits that come with them, it’ll be worth it. Flaxseeds are great for your heart, they aid in fat burning, keep your mood up, which is vital for that rainy walk to the gym, and are an easy source or omega-3 fatty acids.
Water: Seems like a no brainer, but something as simple as replacing your morning coffee with a glass of water (I know, not easy to do) is going to drastically help replace that caffeine with clean hydration, ensuring that you stay alert without that crash mid afternoon. Drinking between 2 to 3 litres of water a day is ideal, and will help keep you full, meaning you’ll be less likely to snack on unhealthy alternatives.
As you can see, there’s a lot of protein heavy foods there. Protein is rich in amino acids, which are vital in building, repairing and maintaining muscles. If you didn’t have amino acids you essentially wouldn’t be able to build up muscle, which explains why protein shakes are so popular with gym goers.
#3) Do the RIGHT workouts
What are they? They are exercises that target many different areas of the body…because this will give you maximum results for minimal effort. Examples would be squats…deadlifts…and bench presses.
Whether you are doing six pack abs bodybuilding…big bicep exercises…or just want to know how to gain strength fast…these workouts will help you with your goals.
#4) Short and intense workouts are best
This is one of the most important muscle gaining secrets…and if you remember nothing else, remember this.
If your exercises drag on and on than you are actually training your body for endurance…not muscle gaining. This is ideal if you want to do a triathlon…but it’s not how to get ripped quick.
#5) Get Ripped Workout
It can be hard to motivate yourself or know what exact exercises to do when you’re just starting out, so if you don’t have the luxury of a personal trainer, it’s a good idea to take a look at some videos for clear workout instructions.
#6) Ripped Guys for Inspiration
There’s no reason not to have a little inspiration to get you started on your fitness journey, or help along the way if you’ve already started. These guys have bulked up for movie roles, photo shoots, or just because they wanted to, and the results have been impressive to say the least. Here’s five of the best, and most inspirational.