How Much Work Does It Take To Get Ripped?
Despite what television ads and some health websites would have you believe, getting ripped takes time. This is particularly true if you are attempting to reduce body fat in addition to building muscle, as the body needs to undergo a complete transformation. Don’t get disheartened though, you can absolutely get ripped! You just need to be patient and have faith in your abilities.
Furthermore, it may not take that long to see results. If you’re looking for an example, see the challenge given by Myprotein to three average Joes from money-saving website Voucherbox as they attempt to get ripped in just twelve weeks. Their secret? A combination of supplements, personal diet and exercise plans and regular follow-ups. As for you, the only way to find out how long it will take you to get ripped is to get stuck in, and we have listed some tips to help you along your journey.
Be Prepared
Before you put your body to the test, you must prepare your mind. Gaining muscle can take anywhere from three months to two years depending on your starting point and how much muscle you wish to build. If you expect to see results after a few days or weeks, chances are you’re going to become discouraged and you may even stop.
The trick to true dedication is to be realistic. You will not see results immediately and sometimes your body may even work against you. For instance, your nervous system may go into preservation mode after immense stress caused by challenging workouts, leading to a plateau. To combat this, try planning multiple short workouts and meals ahead of time. This will not only encourage you to keep progressing but will also speed up the process.
Build Muscle
Cultivating lean muscle requires a lot of devotion. Alan Aragon of The Lean Muscle Diet estimates that an entry-level lifter can gain around 2 to 3 lbs of muscle mass per month if they are avoiding fat, whilst an intermediate lifter should expect gains of 1 to 2 lbs per month.
As well as lifting (bro), you will also need to increase your calorific intake. So, if you usually eat around 2,000 calories per day to maintain your body weight, you will have to increase that to 2,500 or even 3,000 calories per day whilst lifting, and include a lot more protein. Sleep is also very important, as your muscles will need a lot of time to recover and mature between sessions.
Reduce Body Fat
The next step in your journey is to reduce body fat without losing your sick gains. This also takes time due to the fact your body can usually only lose 1% of its total weight per week at the most. So, if you dedicate yourself to a healthy diet and regular workouts when you weigh 200 lbs, you can lose 2 lbs a week or 50 lbs over twenty weeks. This may seem like a long time but if you think about it you would be losing a quarter of your total body weight in just five months, which is incredibly impressive.
Your diet should revolve around a reduction in carbohydrates, an increase in water intake and a lot of fibrous vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats. You’ll also want to start doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) as it burns calories at an amazing rate.
These three tips are sure to help you reach your goals, but the most important factor in all of this is you. True, you may not see results in the first few weeks but if you are patient, you’re sure to get ripped.