There are several popular terms and phrases attributed to bodybuilding, including "cut" and "ripped". It's an awe inspiring vision to see striations separating muscle tissue like they were cut by a blade. Most want a lean physique but don't know how to get ripped muscles.
The Bodybuilder Routine
When someone hears the word "bodybuilder" the image of a perfect muscular physique appears because glamor photos are taken when they're on stage competing. Most would be surprised to learn how much weight and body fat a professional bodybuilder will carry when not competing. It's not uncommon for someone who competes at 200 pounds to carry an extra 75 pounds in the off season.
The reason for such a drastic weight change is efficiency. Bodybuilders use "cycles" to separate their goals. They'll try to gain as much muscle mass as possible, without trying to reduce body fat. Then eight to twelve weeks before a competition they'll shift their focus away from gaining size, and increase efforts to get ripped.
Burning fat and building muscle can be counter productive because you need more calories to build muscle, but fewer calories to shed fat. Following a bodybuilder's mentality by cycling your goals can help you develop a more efficient exercise routine.
Dramatically Increase Cardio Regimen
When it's time to get lean, you need to dramatically increase your aerobic exercise. You aren't going to burn sufficient calories or body fat through weight lifting. The only way you can truly get ripped is by increasing your heart rate to burn through calories.
The key to a constant fat burn is to change your aerobic routine as much as possible. Repeating the same workout more than twice will give your body an opportunity to adapt, which means it will burn fewer calories with every repeat workout.