Every now and again in the gym we will come across someone with awesome muscular definition, they may not be stronger than us, fitter than us or even train harder than us - so why are they ripped and we are not?
There are 3 contributing factors to an indivuals ability to shred fat, diet, training and genetics. The last of which, we can simply not escape.
Let's not beat around the bush with this one, some people simply have it easier than others and there is simply no disputing it. There is a reason why only one White European man has run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds (Christophe Lemaitre did this in 2010) and another reason why no women of any ethnic background has ever achieved this. In fact only 4 out of the 76 human beings to have achieved this have not come from West African decent. Genetics are key! We can talk about role models or cultural difference all we want with this one but the fact is that the male human being has higher testosterone than the female human being and the mal with West African decent has higher testosterone and more fast twich muscle fibres than the rest of us. Genetics contributes to everything from who is more at risk to Diabetes even down to how an individual burns fat.
As we cannot control our genetic code, as aspiring beach bodies we have to concentrate on diet and exercise. If you want to be ripped you have to work for it - at the end of the day the body will adapt to make whatever activity you do seem easier. For instance, long distance runners carry very little muscular tissue or fat for that matter - running long distances is simply easier the lighter you are. If one is to take up a long distance running training regime the body will adapt to make this easier by shedding excess weight and increasing bone density in the lower half of the body.
Taking the above into consideration if we want to burn fat we have to convince our bodies this is in our best interest, increasing cardio vascular activity will do this but what is to stop the body shedding the havier tissue which requires more Oxygen which is muscle? Take in as much Protein as possible to avoid muscular loss and convince your body this is required by performing heavy weight training sessions to tell the body that the huge pectorals you have built are still required. Even use weight training sessions as cardio session by performing High Intensity Interval Training so your body will adapt by retaining muscle and buring fat.
The final point I wish to make is one that people know deep down but shy away from as the work is hard - here goes........ performing Abs exercises without doing cardio is exactly like body building without eating Protein - there simply is no point!
I read a really interesting article on the above point recently, see for yourself - http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/importance-of-cardio-for-abs-development-6418642.html
