The Real Reasons You Can't Get Ripped
By Genevieve Cunningham
Getting fit feels so good. Whether you’re a veteran in the fitness world or a complete newbie, chances are good that your goal is the same: to improve health and look as good as possible. How do we do this? By burning fat and building muscle. But what happens when our fitness plan just doesn't seem to be working? When no matter what we do, our bodies just don't have that definition we’ve been working toward? If you want to break through the plateau and finally look and feel ripped, take a look at these three things that may be standing in your way.
You’re Not Working Every Muscle Group
Many people believe that they’re working all of their muscles, but they're actually only working the big muscle groups. The biceps, quadriceps, and the glutes tend to get a lot of attention. But we often forget about the smaller muscle groups in the body. When we work these smaller groups of muscles, it provides both strength as well as definition. And the more defined these small muscles, the more your big muscles will pop as well. If you've been working hard, but you've been forgetting these small muscle groups, try working them out for a while and see if it makes a difference.
You’re Not Eating Well Enough
Let’s face the harsh truth: If you’re not seeing results, it might be because of your diet. The diet is the hard part, and many people get it wrong without realizing it. Make sure that your diet is free of excessive sugar, empty calories, and mounds of carbs. Instead, you should be eating plenty of protein and vegetables. If your diet isn’t up to snuff, you’ll keep a layer of fat over the muscles that prevents that ripped appearance. Clean up the diet, and you'll probably see big improvements.
You’re Not Giving Enough Recovery Time
Many people are unaware that the muscles actually grow during recovery time. For this reason, rest days are so important! If your body isn't changing like you would prefer, reevaluate your rest days. Are you getting enough? Are you making rest a priority? If not, schedule in some rest and watch your body improve.
Improving the appearance of our bodies is a big goal. Everyone wants to look their best, and we work hard to make it happen! Make sure that these obstacles aren't standing in your way, and you’re much more likely to finally meet your health and fitness goals.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Westminster, Colo.
