5 Tips to Get Ripped Abs for Women

A six-pack looks great on women as they do men.

If you’re a woman and are looking to get respect with ripped abs, you’re in luck. The truth is, it’s easy to get a nice set- all you need to do is follow these 5 tips to get yourself primed for a killer stomach!

 

Related: The 3 Biggest Training Mistakes for Women

 

Fat Loss is Essential for Great Abs

Women who want ripped abs should remember one simple rule- every action you take must be about losing fat.

Forget ab-melting gadgets on the Home Shopping Network or articles that tell you to do endless crunches. The thing is, you won’t be able to see your abdominal muscles if they’re covered by thick layers of fat.

To uncover that treasure you will need to do some ‘fat digging’. Drop that remote and follow these 5 rules on ripped abs for women.

 

 #1 Increase Your Fiber Intake

Fiber may seem like a distant second or third when it comes to ab exercises, but let me explain.

It’s true that fiber is often discarded in favor of ab rollers and supplements, but those who do this will be making a huge mistake. Fiber is essentially an MVP when it comes to fat loss programs, and it’s the key to getting the figure you want.

You see, soluble fiber isn’t absorbed by the body as it makes its way through your gastrointestinal tract. It helps empty the stomach and makes you feel satiated for longer.

Studies have shown that an increase of fiber by about 14g daily leads to a 10 percent lower caloric intake and a weight loss of 4.2 pounds. In the same vein, fiber has been linked to stop fat accumulation dead in its tracks- a 10g fiber dose led to losing 3.7 percent belly fat in the span of 5 years. What’s impressive is that you don’t need to modify your diet or physical activity to reach this, although I’d still recommend working out to get the best results.

Fiber is found in lots of healthy foods, including seeds, nuts, whole grains and of course, vegetables and fruits. Make it a point to get a generous serving and you’ll be on your way to washboard abs.

 

Related: Do You Really Need to Eat More Fiber?

 

#2 Lower Your Carb Intake

Not many people know this, but for your body to start burning fat faster you’ll need to go easy on the carbs.

Fat and carbs are two of the main energy sources of the body. When you take in lots of carbs, your engine burns it and stores fat as the reserve. However, when you cut back on carbs then the body switches to fat for energy.

Carbohydrates is one of the three main macronutrients, and therefore I do not recommend you eliminate it completely in your diet. You can choose good carbs though in the form of brown rice, whole grain bread and green vegetables, for example. These foods have an added benefit of passing through your gastrointestinal tract slowly so you absorb the nutrients better.

In general, complex carbs are better than simple ones in terms of fat loss.

#3 Incorporate HIIT Cardio in Your Routine

HIIT, or high intensity interval training is a kind of exercise that alternates between vigorous exercises such as timed sprints and low-intensity ones, like walking. The ‘interval’ between the two is equal, so when you run for 2 minutes then the walking part should be 2 minutes as well.

Keep in mind that there are sets on this type of training. A typical run-walk routine is such that you do 5 to 10 sprints and walks per set until you reach five sets.

HIIT has been proven to work against burning fat in the midsection so you’ll uncover those beautiful ab muscles sooner. Plus, it’s so much more interesting compared to jogging or working on the treadmill for hours on end. Your body will feel the burn and you won’t have to yawn through every session.

#3 Make Those Ab Muscles Work

A ripped abs for women article wouldn’t be complete without actually showing you the best exercises to get them fast.

My favorite ab movement is the hanging leg raise since it works so well in defining the lower ab section. Moreover, it gives your stomach that ‘ripped’ look you can flaunt in the pool, beach or gym.

If that’s not enough, then try going for some crunches using the stability ball. Add a turn so you exercise your oblique muscles as well. Finish it off with cable crunches and you’ll be left with stunning abs before long.

 

#5 Allow For Some Cheat Days

Last but not the least, allow yourself to slack off and…well, cheat.

Our bodies are not machines, and our souls won’t be able to take sticking to a regimen for so long. You can bet that you’ll rebel at some point if you religiously follow your diet and routine for a month or two.

So, go ahead and break it up, at least once or twice a week is okay. Whether it be gorging on a pizza, a hamburger or some ice cream, or not doing anything for an entire day, you’ll feel good and get extra motivation to pick up where you left off afterward.

Also, your body will be thrown off the loop, which is actually a good thing. It will get tripped up after a slew of healthy eating with low carbs, and will do what’s called a ‘metabolic reset’. The bottom line is you’ll want your metabolism working at maximum so you can burn fat faster.

Workout to get Ripped Abs for Women

• Hanging Leg Raises- 2 sets at 15 reps per set
• Cable Rotations- 2 sets at 10 reps per set
• Side Bench Crunch w/Hold- 2 sets at 15 reps per set
• Ab Wheel Rollouts- 2 sets at 15 to 20 reps per set

Bonus

Taking a fat burner supplement for women can give you a boost in the weight loss department and give you ripped abs sooner. The best ones work in several stages- to make you feel fuller, reduce appetite and increase your metabolic rate. I’d recommend you try my tips outlined above and take a quality fat burner for women to get the best results. Good luck!