How do I get ripped?

The word 'ripped' refers to the look you get when you have a low body fat percentage and your muscles are able to bee seen. This word is commonly used on pill bottles, sports drinks and other supplements, but getting ripped requires none of the above. Getting ripped is easy, at least in theory. All you have to do is burn all of that excess fat that is sitting around your arms, chest, stomach and legs. Yes, that sounds a lot easier than it actually is, but don't give up. The reason that you have excess body fat is because you eat more calories than you burn. When you do this, your body takes those extra calories and stores them as fat in all your trouble areas. To get ripped, you need to reverse this process by burning more calories than you eat. Once you start a calorie deficit (burning more than you eat) your body will be forced to use the fat stores as energy and over time you'll see your body start to look more defined. Start by figuring out how many calories you burn per day. You can use the calorie calculator to get an estimate. Next, make an effort to: 1)increase the amount of calories you burn by exercising more and 2) reducing your calorie intake. These two steps will cause your body to begin drawing on the fat stores for energy. The first foods you should cut out of your diet are those high in sugar. Sugar is digested and absorbed very quickly which means that if you don't burn off those calories right away, your body will store them as fat. Eat foods that are high in complex carbohydrates such as whole wheat bread and pasta, brown rice, fruit, vegetables and oats. These are digested slowly and are less likely to be stored as fat. It doesn't matter what area of your body needs more definition. If your body stores fat mostly in the midsection, don't be tempted to do hundreds of sit ups each day. The same goes for trying to do squats to burn off fat that is stored in your thighs. Spot reducing isn't possible so don't waste your time. For more information on getting a more defined body, visit the Guide to Reducing Body Fat. You can also share you toning experience at the diet and exercise forums.

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