Exercises for the Abs: Workouts to Get Ripped

You might think that doing workouts to get ripped is limited to strength training exercises specific to the front and side of the body. Actually, it also means a proper diet and doing cardio work to burn calories and get the body lean enough to show ripped abs.

About That Body Fat

All trainers will tell you that slimming down to bulk up begins first with addressing your diet. You build abs in the kitchen, not in the gym. Proper nutrition is the key to getting ripped six pack abs and eating right means lean protein, fiber, good fats, and complex carbohydrates, and no sugar or junk food. What goes in your gut is going show right there front and center on your stomach and love handles. If you overeat, it will be noticeable. If you eat right and do workouts to get ripped — it will be noticeable!

Getting ripped means to sculpt the body by stripping off fat in order to show developed muscles; it does not mean bulking up with overdeveloped muscles. A lean runner can look quite ripped but will not have the bulk of a weightlifter. You can also be quite scrawny with no body fat, and yet have no definition in your muscles at all.

Lets look at some exercises for the abs so that you can start working towards that ripped hard 6-pack you’ve been dreaming about.

The Core Workouts

Cable crunches – Attach a rope to a high pulley and kneel below the pulley. Grasp the rope and lower it until your hands are next to your face. Flex your hips and arch your back. With hips stationary, exhale as you pull the rope down and contract your abs as your upper body lowers towards the floor. Inhale and slowly return to the start position. Repeat.

Compare Abdominal Machines at Amazon

Lying leg lifts – Lie on your back on a flat bench, with your legs extended over the end. Place your hands under your glutes. Lift your legs until they are straight, then slowly bend the knees and pull your thighs towards your chest as you exhale. Keep the knees slightly bent as you hold the position, then inhale as you lower your legs to the start position.

Jackknife sit-ups – Lie flat on your floor on your back with your arms extended back over your head. Exhale, bend at the waist, and simultaneously raise your legs about 45 degrees off the floor as you bring your hand over your head and down towards your feet to a jackknife position. The upper torso should be off the floor. Inhale and lower your arms and legs to the start position. Repeat.

Oblique crunches – Lie on the floor with your feet resting on a bench, knees bent, and your back flat on the floor. With your right hand on the floor, place the left hand next to your left year, exhale, and slowly lift your shoulder, contracting the abs, and reaching your left elbow to almost touch your right knee. Inhale and slowly return to the start position. Do a set of reps on this side, then do the reps for the right elbow to your left knee.

Barbell Side bends – Stand up straight, with feet shoulder width apart and a barbell resting on the back of your shoulders behind your head. With the head up, inhale, and bend at the waist to your right keeping the rest of your body stationary. Return to the start position, then lower the bar to the other side. Repeat. Like oblique crunches, the side bends with a barbell or dumbbell works the trunk rotation and lateral flexion.

Tips for doing your workouts to get ripped:

• Do sets in the 8 to 15 reps range, and 4 to 5 sets per exercise, with only 1 or 2 minutes rest in between sets.
• Always use perfect form. Sloppy lifting will likely injure a body part, or recruit other muscles groups to do the work for the intended muscle, or both.
• Train progressively by increasing the intensity (adding weight). Intensity and overload will get the abdominals built up.
• Along with following a proper diet, add 30 minutes of cardio about 3 to 5 times per week.

The quality of the workouts you do is more important than quantity. Do the exercises slowly and concentrate on contracting the abs. Don’t swing into a position or cheat in any way – you aren’t helping yourself if you do. Your abs should be sore after doing these types of workouts to get ripped. For that reason, make sure you get at least 48 hours of rest on the ab muscles before doing the next workout.

Best Ab Exercise Machines – Shrink Your Waistline and Show Those Muscles

Home Gym Workouts: Tips for Your Training Regime

Return from Workouts to Get Ripped to the Home Gym Reviews Index Page