Shredding. It may not sound like the most inviting activity ever created but it's a trend that's having incredible results. Shredding is exactly what it sounds like – shredding fat like your life depends on it.

What's it all about?

Shredding is about burning fat so that your muscles look more defined. It heavily depends on burning more calories than you're taking in, so diet and cardio play a big part. However, unlike other weight loss training regimes there is also a heavy emphasis on weight training as you are looking to define and build muscle at the same time.

What will you need to do?

High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a big part of shredding. This is where you exert yourself in short bursts for prolonged periods. An example of this is sprinting for 30-40 seconds mixed with lighter exercises like squats in between. This keeps your heart rate high and your body burning fat while you get brief moments to rest and regain energy for sustained periods. 

Focus on the muscles

Leave no muscle behind but equally don't over work any of them. Shredding is about fitting in weight training cross each part of the body over one week. Always give yourself enough time to recover one body part before re-working it again. Aim for at least four weight sessions in a week and cover all main areas.

Diet is key

Like all regimes, diet plays an important part. However, shredding is quite a high intensity program so you will need to maintain solid energy levels. This means eating foods that help maintain sustained energy levels like wholegrains, nuts and beans rather than sugary peaks. The key to sustaining the shredded look is to maintain a healthy balanced diet and shred over a longer period of time. Don't trick your body into losing fat by starving yourself, as it will eventually come back with a vengeance.