Go shredded this summer!

Everyone who can ever be found in the gym often aims to become the best version of themselves in the summer. It is great to show everyone at the beach what you have been training for all this time. But what is the best way to handle this? In this blog, we're going to tell you how to get as ''shredded'' as possible by cutting.

What is cutting?

The term cutting is becoming increasingly popular in the fitness world. The goal of cutting is to preserve your muscle mass and to lose as much fat as possible so that your muscles are even more visible. Nutrition and the right training play a big role in this!

Nutrition is the key to success

An important part of cutting is watching your diet. You ensure that you have a calorie deficit by taking in fewer calories than your body needs. This causes your body to burn more calories than it takes in. The amount of calories you need to cut back depends on what your body needs.

Priority number one of your nutrients is protein. Protein ensures that you maintain your muscle mass, this is the goal of cutting. Foods that are high in protein are chicken, cottage cheese, tuna, salmon, protein shakes, eggs, and soybeans. It is also necessary that you drink enough water, keep in mind at least 1.5 to 3 liters per day.

Micros and macros

While cutting, you need to pay attention to what nutrients you are taking in. There are 2 groups of nutrients: macronutrients and micronutrients.

-Macronutrients are also called macros and they consist of: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

-Micronutrients are also called micros and they consist of minerals and vitamins.

For cutting, a popular ratio of macros is 40% protein, 40% carbs, and 20% fats. A common mistake while cutting is to focus only on your macronutrients. You should also ensure that your eating schedule contains enough micronutrients, such as magnesium, iron, and calcium. These substances play an important role in burning fat and maintaining your muscle mass. And of course, don't forget your daily vitamins!

For more information about micro's, macro's and nutrition. Check out top eight picks for best nutritionist certification

Workouts

Many people who start cutting think that cardio is necessary. However, this is not true! Your diet and the way you train will ultimately determine ‘’shredded’’ you become. Cardio can play a role in burning the last bit of fat. Make sure you increase the intensity of your workout by taking shorter breaks between your exercises. To burn more calories, you can increase the number of repetitions of the exercises. And keep training heavy! Your muscles need to be constantly challenged. The best exercises during cuttting are compound exercises. These are exercises where you train several muscle groups at once.

One last tip!

Keep exercise fun for yourself. Make sure you set realistic goals and don't expect big progress every day, this will come naturally.

Good luck to all of you!