Danny Gonzalez, RN for St. Mary Medical Center and Health and Wellness Coordinator for the Portage Township YMCA is here to answer all of your health-related questions. It's hard to know where to start when taking steps to better your health these days. Asking the questions are easy, but find the answers...that's another story. Lucky for us, Danny makes it easy with his clear and concise (and humorous) answers to our tough health questions. Get ready to get some knowledge dropped on you!
This week's question: How do you get ripped fast?
Danny G.: In short: you can't. Getting "ripped" is the result of living a healthy lifestyle for a long period of time. However, if you already find yourself having a physique that you are okay with but want to tone and build more lean muscle, the key is to seriously embrace heavy strength training.
A strong body is a fit body, and if you need any evidence of this I have a suggestion: look at any athlete with a physique that you admire and you will see someone who is almost guaranteed to seriously lift weights.
Ladies, here's a busted myth, lifting will NOT make you big and bulky. It simply isn't physically possible for you to bulk up like a guy will; the testosterone levels aren't there. But what about those girls that look HUGE? The ladies that do look like professional bodybuilders are using professional, and most likely illegal, means to achieve those physiques, just as the male professional bodybuilders do. But, for those of us who aren't using illegal substances, lifting heavy weights will result in a strong, fit body; not a big and bulky one.
Becoming "ripped" means building a strong body, so embrace the weight room, make it your friend, and look to large multi-joint lifts like squats, deadlifts, presses, and pulls to build your best body.
Do you have a question for Danny? Send your questions to share@ideasinmotionmedia.com with the subject title: Attention Danny G. You can also contact Danny at the Portage Township YMCA by calling 219-762-9622.
*Discalimer: The information in this article is for informational purposes only and not intended as medical advice.
