Getting ripped: 6 tips to help you get there

Building muscle quickly involves several commitments, from food-related adjustments to intense workout plans and lifestyle changes. Your discipline will determine whether or not you will eventually reach your goal and within the desired period. Here are six simple tips for getting ripped.

1. Create a routine

Creating a regimen should be the very first thing you do after deciding to get shredded. Most people are aware of this but don’t know what a good regime should entail.

One thing you need to keep in mind is that what worked for someone else won’t necessarily work for you, and what they were looking for might not be what you are looking for either. Make sure to involve an expert if you don’t know where to start or if you want to accelerate the process.

2. Use bodybuilding supplements

Bodybuilding supplements have been used for decades to stimulate muscle growth and enhance physical performance during resistance training. Creatine and protein are the two most popular supplements among modern-day bodybuilders.

Depending on what you want to achieve and your personal preferences, various brands create different products that are made up of specific combinations of compounds. Steel Supplements, for instance, has a line of products that targets someone who wants to work out like a superhero. Take the time to understand your needs, so you know what product in the market is right for you.

3. Getting ripped: Increase your protein intake

Your body depends heavily on protein for muscle repair. During intense exercise, your muscles experience microtrauma, or tiny injuries on tissues, caused by repetitive stress.

Eating a protein-rich diet helps your body increase its muscle retention, burn more calories, and stabilize blood sugar. For the best result, ensure you consume proteins just after exercise.

Many experts recommend that you eat 1g to 2g of protein per pound of your body weight. If you weigh 120 pounds, that means you will eat between 120g and 240g of protein per day. Chicken, beef, eggs, almonds, oats, and Greek yogurt are all examples of excellent protein sources.

4. Change your exercises

Hitting the gym and performing the same exercises over and over will cause your body to adapt and become resistant to muscle stress. Luckily, you don’t need much to reignite the results cycle; just tweak your routine, and you’re good to go. For example, switching to back squatting will get you back on track if you have been doing front squats.

Small changes like these ones can go a long way toward maintaining your progress curve and getting closer to your desired result. However, it’s worthwhile noting that rapid variation of exercises can be as detrimental to your program as sticking to one activity for too long. You want to ensure you get the most out of an exercise before moving onto the next one.

5. Getting ripped involves drinking water

Hydration should be a core component of any muscle-building regime. If your body doesn’t receive enough water, it will struggle to perform the muscle repair process and build new muscle mass.

You will also have nutrient-absorption problems since water is a medium in the process. That means your dietary efforts wouldn’t make much of a difference either. To get the most out of your workout and meal plans, make sure to drink between eight and 11 glasses of water per day, even when you don’t work out.

6. Calories are still needed

Protein is the main dietary ingredient in muscle-building, but you still need other nutrients to complement it. Usually, when someone gets into muscle-building, the first thing they do is reduce their calorie intake.

While fewer calories may sound like a sensible idea, it is often counter-productive. Your body perceives this sudden change as starvation and may adjust and start burning fewer calories as it works to prevent weight loss.

That means your effort will be nullified, while your body’s performance will take a nosedive. Instead of drastically reducing your calorie intake, consider maintaining your consumption, but eat them in small amounts throughout the day instead of a few large amounts.

Concluding thoughts on getting ripped

Getting ripped is a journey that you don’t have much influence over. However, by incorporating the above tips in your program, you have a good chance of creating a significant, positive change in your progress.