Archive for March, 2011

There are a number or benefits that come with being in top condition and owning and sporting a ripped, chiseled physique or shapely, toned figure.  There of course are the obvious ones like increased levels of energy, confidence, higher self-esteem, strength, improved athletic performance, etc.

But anyone who has labored long and hard to sculpt, shape and tone their muscles has experienced one truly awe inspiring and outstanding benefit-

Going shirtless or sporting your favorite bikini with a sense of pride and confidence!

With the summer approaching most men and women are forced to reveal their bodies regardless of the shape they are in and an overwhelming majority are out of shape.  Generally those in this category are carrying excess fat around their belly, love handles, hips, thighs, butt and chest.

All eyes male and female take notice of the select few; the elite, those who refuse to accept mediocrity:

• That truly rare breed of man with the V-tapered back, strong shoulders, sculpted arms, and rock hard chiseled abs

• That diamond in the rough vixen with shapely legs, hips and butt

Being admired, gazed at and checked out under such circumstances is a privilege earned.

And why not?  Looks do count in today’s society.  What do most people do for big events in their lives – job interviews, auditions, re-unions and marriages?  They are usually interested in losing weight and getting into great shape.

Whether you like it or not, how you look influences and impacts those doing the viewing.  Great faces and good looks are born but great bodies and superior health are made!  There are no excuses for being obese or out of shape.

We are a product of the lifestyle we live and we have the power to take control of our life and not let circumstances control us.  It all begins with deciding to take action on the right healthy lifestyle choices.

With the Rapidly Ripped Complete Fat Burning System for Life, we outline the most effective yet simple eating and nutrition strategies. We structure time- saving cardio programs and a fat burning resistance training routine to help get you ripped.

This summer you will stride with pride under the sun as you sport your new physique or figure!

The Rapidly Ripped Fat Burning workout DVD is a 55 minute full body, circuit training workout designed to work all the major muscles on your body, working from larger muscle groups to smaller.  It focuses on exercises that shape your hips, thighs and butt; sculpt a powerful chest and V- tapered back and chisel broad strong shoulders and arms.

If six pack washboard abs is what you’re after, the Rapidly Ripped Abdominal Routine will surely make your abs shine!

The program uses dumbbells and your own body weight as resistance and can be performed in the privacy of your own home!  We put together the most effective fat burning exercises that will help get you to your goal.  And you still have a few months before summer to get yourself into beach body shape.

You will be surprised how fast you can transform your body once you get into the right mind-set, and are armed with the right nutrition and exercise information you will learn from the program.

I had one client who lost 21 pounds in the first 8 weeks and I am certain you will see similar results on the program, when you apply the proven fitness and nutrition strategies that are outlined.   And once you do, you will not only improve your body but your life as well!

By Charles Damiano
Nutrition and Fitness Expert
Bestselling author of “Rapidly Ripped”
The Ultimate Fat Burning System for Life!
Body-for-Life 2004 Grand Master Champion Winner

In Part 1 of Tips for Getting Ripped Six Pack Abs! I gave the 10 overall keys to getting ripped six pack abs which focused mainly on the exercises and mental game. In part 2 of Tips for Getting Six Pack Abs we focused on the other half of the ripped abs success equation -Proper Nutrition.

In this final article of the getting Ripped Six Pack Abs series, I will cover 4 more nutrition tips that will help you etch out those six pack abs.

A smart nutrition strategy is essential for getting those washboard abs!

4. Think More Fiber

“As an appetite suppressant, fiber is hard to beat” says Stephen P. Cullo, PH. D., president of the Institute for Health and Weight Sciences.

To reap its rewards, start or include fiber- rich foods in each meal.  Your best bets are, salads, vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus, peas, brussel sprouts or mixed vegetables, as well as whole grain cereals, oatmeal or bran flakes.

Fiber will help keep you full longer and when you feel full you won’t over eat which will help you lose body fat.

5. Eating the Right Amount of Food

Keep your portions small for optimal utilization, assimilation and digestion. This will help ensure that no excess calories are getting stored as body fat!

Look at each plate of food and divide the plate into thirds. Fill the first third with a protein source roughly the size of your palm, the second third with a complex carbohydrate source no bigger than your fist and the third part with either a salad or some vegetables.

A sample fat burning meal may be 6 ounces of grilled chicken breast, 4-6 ounce boiled yam and spinach with some garlic and virgin olive oil for some essential fats.

Scientific studies have shown that the right fats or the essential fats, such as olive oil, actually increase the metabolism of stored body fat and decrease fat production in the body!

6.Eat on Schedule

Eat 5-6 small meals each day spaced out every two and a half to three hours. The way to maintain a high, fat burning metabolism is to feed it energy in small increments throughout the day. Eating this way will turn you into a fat burning machine which is necessary for achieving, maintaining and seeing those six pack abs!

As a general rule of thumb; eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper, while keeping your other two to three small meals around 200-250 calories.

Most studies show that overweight/fat people skip breakfast and lunch and consume upward of 75 percent of their calories in the evening.

This is not ideal when you are looking to obtain shredded six pack abs, since metabolism slows down at night making it more likely for you to store those excess calories as body fat!

7. Drink Plenty of Water

Keep hydrated for best fat loss results! Drink at least 6-10 glasses of water at day or at least one glass with each of your six meals and upward of a gallon for heavy exercisers. Water helps you feel full longer, producing less cravings and staying hydrated allows your liver to do what it does best…metabolize fat!

By Charles Damiano
Nutrition and Fitness Expert
Bestselling author of “Rapidly Ripped”
The Ultimate Fat Burning System for Life!
Body-for-Life 2004 Grand Master Champion Winner

In Part 1 of Tips for Getting Ripped Six Pack Abs! I gave the 10 overall keys to getting ripped six pack abs which focused mainly on the exercises and mental game. In part 2 of Tips for Getting Six Pack Abs we will focus on the other half of the ripped abs success equation -Proper Nutrition.

Learning how, what and when to eat is crucial if you want to sculpt a ripped physique with striated six pack abs! You can strengthen your midsection with constant exercising, but if you consume the wrong foods, in the wrong amounts and at the wrong times, you will never see results. A smart nutrition strategy is essential!

Here are some key eating strategies to get and keep you eating right in your quest for six pack abs:

1. Calories Count

Keep your calorie intake below your calorie expenditure. As a general rule of thumb, keep caloric intake around 2000 calories per day or about 10 calories for every pound of body weight you carry, but never less than 1200 calories a day, for optimal fat loss.

2. Cycle Your Total Calories Daily

Each day do your best to vary your caloric intake from 1200 on one day to 1800 the next, then back down to 1400 the third day and then you can jump back to 2000 on day four, for best fat loss results.

You get the picture! This will keep you body guessing, never feeling deprived into thinking it is in a starvation state, where it is programmed to hoard body fat instead of releasing body fat more efficiently.

This will help get you into a fat burning mode instead of a fat storing mode, which in turn will help get your body fat down and moving towards 10% so you can begin seeing your chiseled six pack!

3. Think Protein First

When planning each meal always make sure that the majority of the calories in your meal, around 40-5o percent, come from lean protein. Good sources of quality protein include: chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs, low fat cottage cheese and milk.

Scientific studies show that protein helps stabilize blood sugar levels when it’s consumed with carbs which contributes to a sort of ‘time-released’ energy as opposed to spikes up and down. Whey protein in particular has been shown to help stimulate the release of appetite-suppressant hormones, causing you to eat less!

Studies have demonstrated that adding whey protein to a midday snack or beverage provides stable energy and can help control food intake at the next meal. Protein also has the highest ‘thermogenic effect’ of any food. This means our metabolism gets a boost when we eat protein and as a result we burn more calories.

In summary, protein helps build muscle, requires more energy to digest-increasing calorie burn, and gives you a harder more defined look to you physique. It keeps you feeling full longer as well as keeping your insulin levels in check, which will keep fat burning enzymes turned on!

Wow! What a power food PROTEIN is for helping you get your body fat down in preparation for the unveiling of those six pack abs!

In part 3 of Tips for Getting Six Pack Abs, I will give you a few more key nutrition tips for getting ripped six pack abs! We will cover the importance of fiber, eating the right amount of food in each meal, eating at the right times and a few other Nutrition pearls of wisdom.

So check in next week for part 3 and for the complete program order now….
Rapidly Ripped, The Ultimate Fat Burning System for Life!

By Charles Damiano
Nutrition and Fitness Expert
Bestselling author of “Rapidly Ripped”
The Ultimate Fat Burning System for Life!
Body-for-Life 2004 Grand Master Champion Winner