Ask Gilad

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: I have been a follower of yours for many years and I never cease to be amazed at how you have always been in such great shape. The main reason I work out is so I can eat whatever I want and burn it off. Is that one of the reasons you exercise?

Answer: It seems that you and I have differing views on exercise and fitness. As an athlete and an active person I am constantly searching for ways to improve my fitness level, energy level and my overall sense of well-being. In my search I have tried various ways of eating and I have come to realize that certain foods make me feel and look great while others make me feel miserable and slow me down. I can honestly say that when I eat processed foods, wheat and dairy products, I feel it within days.
Ultimately, choices have to be made about which foods we eat. Through my own personal experience, I get the best results in maintaining a lean, pain-free body with plenty of energy when my diet is free of processed foods and full of fresh vegetables, fruits and lean proteins. This way of eating is easy, it works and the feeling it gives me is reward enough in itself.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 13 April, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness, Gilad, goals, tips, Weekly Blog, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

Healthy Cooking Swaps

Question: You have lists of foods that are better for you than others. You make It easy to make up a shopping list and buy healthier foods. My problem is I am not much of a cook. I don't know how I should be preparing these foods. Do you have any helpful tips?

Answer:

This is not an uncommon problem. Here is a list of cooking techniques that can vastly improve the healthfulness of your food:

Trim all visible fat from meats.
Season your vegetables with spices such as lemon, wine, garlic, onions and mushrooms. This will help you avoid salt and butter.
Remove the skin from poultry and fish.
Use buttermilk, cottage cheese or yogurt as bases for sauces and salad dressings instead of sour cream.
Use half the sugar that is called for in recipes. Bet you can't taste the difference.
Use non-stick pots, pans and baking dishes so less oil or butter is needed to keep food from sticking.
Learn alternative cooking techniques such as steaming, poaching, baking, barbecuing or microwaving so you can avoid frying...especially deep-frying.

Simple cooking techniques can make a big difference.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 30 March, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness, Gilad, goals, Healthy, Motivation, practice, tips, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: Is running the best way to strengthen my legs?

Answer: Running is an excellent way to keep you legs strong, but it is not the only way. A weight training program that targets your quadriceps and hamstrings is a good place to start. Running small hills is another good way to get results. I recommend you run up and walk down. The downhill is what causes wear and tear on your joints.
Taking step classes or even more traditional aerobics classes will also go a long way to increasing your leg strength.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 23 March, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness, Gilad, goals, Healthy, Motivation, practice, tips, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: I know I need start dieting but I keep procrastinating. I am reluctant to give up all of my favorite foods. Can you give me some tips on how to get started?

Answer: At no point will I ever tell you that you have to cut out every one of you favorite foods or go on some restrictive diet. That kind of thinking will not lead to long term success, and we are in this for the long term.
To me eating healthy is more a matter of education than anything else. Most of you know that I believe that getting on a scale every day to check your progress is a waste of time. I am not a big believer in calorie counting either. If you eat good healthy wholesome food that sustains your fit lifestyle you don't have to worry about counting calories. In fact, if you have to worry about how many calories are in something that you want to eat, it probably doesn't belong in your diet.
If you are serious about eating better I suggest you get a copy of my Eat Right Now nutritional plan simply for the knowledge of what foods are good for you and why. The more you know, the easier it is to make decisions on a meal to meal basis. And the next time you want to check your progress....look in a mirror.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 16 March, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness, Healthy, Motivation, practice, tips, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

How To Lose Belly Fat

Question: I can't understand why I can't lose my pot belly. I have been doing sit-ups and crunches like crazy but it just doesn't seem to work. What am I doing wrong?

Answer: Attempting to lose weight in any particular area is called 'spot reducing', and unfortunately, it can't be done. Your problem area is your waistline and there is no possible way to get tight, defined abdominal muscles just by doing a million sit-ups when those abdominal muscles are covered with a layer of fat. You will develop the abdominal muscles all right, but you will never be able to see them until you shed some body fat. This means following a sensible diet and doing aerobic exercise as well as strength training.
The same principle applies to every part of your body. If the backs of your arms are flabby you can tone the muscles underneath, but you have also got to lose the fat on top. And fat loss never happens in one place. It happens simultaneously all over the body.
Now that you have the formula your goal is attainable. Think about it. You were motivated enough to do all those sit-ups. Now all you have to do is channel that energy into your revised fitness plan and watch that belly disappear.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 09 March, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness, Healthy, Motivation, practice, tips, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

Running Versus Walking

Question: I am considering starting to run for exercise but I have heard that you can get just as much cardiovascular benefit from walking. Is that true?

Answer: If you are a beginner to exercising, or if you are more than 15 pounds over-weight, you don't want to go outside and just start running. In fact, I would recommend that you go outside and start walking instead. Walking and running can produce the exact same cardiovascular benefits and will burn the same number of calories. The only difference is that with walking, you have to be out there longer. Runners can get a great workout in half an hour of running, while walkers would probably have to walk briskly for about an hour to get the same results.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 02 March, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness, Gilad, Healthy, Motivation, practice, tips, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: Is counting calories a good way to lose weight?

Answer: I, personally don't count calories...but I do believe that you should be knowledgeable about calories. If you understand that calories are not created equal it can steer you in the right direction when you are deciding what to eat. Some foods are rich in calories and poor in nutrients and others are just the opposite.
For example: An average breakfast muffin has about 720 calories but since it is probably made with white flour it has very little nutritional value. On the other hand, for just under 720 calories you could eat this entire list of foods that are loaded with health promoting nutrients: 2 whole wheat roles, 1 pear, 1 apple, 5 ounces of grapes, half of a papaya, one kiwi fruit, ½ cantaloupe and a half of a pineapple...total? About 710 calories!
Which would you rather eat? The choice is yours.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 10 February, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness, FYI, Gilad, goals, Healthy, Lord of the Abs, Motivation, practice, Weekly Blog, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

How often should I exercise?

Question: How often should I exercise?

Answer: No matter what kind of training you do I recommend you do something at least three times a week. If your fitness level is high enough you should be exercising more often - maybe five or 6 times a week. But I do believe that everyone should take at least one day a week off from any exercise program. One day of complete rest for the body will vastly improve your performance on the other six days.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 03 February, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness, goals, Healthy, Weekly Blog, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: Can you explain why form is so important when exercising?

Answer: I can't emphasize enough what an important part form plays in performing exercises, not only for the effectiveness of the exercise but also for safety and injury prevention. For example, when you are doing conditioning exercises such as squats, lunges, calf raises and all the standing shoulders, arms and chest moves here are some basic guidelines to follow:

1. Always keep your abdominals pulled in to help support your back.
2. Unless otherwise directed, keep your feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent and back flat.
3. Complete one breath for each repetition of an exercise. Exhale during the contraction of the muscle and inhale when the muscle relaxes.
4. Avoid arching the neck and back.
5. Avoid 'locking' any joint.
6. Always maintain good alignment and technique and complete the largest range of motion possible for each exercise.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 20 January, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness, goals, Healthy, Lord of the Abs, Weekly Blog, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: You always hear about athletes "leaving it all" on the field. Does that mean that the best way to exercise is to keep going until you have expended every last ounce of energy?

Answer: If you are just starting an exercise program, think of it this way: "How much can I do and still have some energy left over?" My recommendation to anybody that is pursuing health and fitness is always to walk away from your workout feeling like you have some energy left. Never finish your workout feeling like you have given it everything that you've got. You will do that later on when you become more fit, and even then you will only "go for it all" once in a while.

Have a question for Gilad? Click HERE and send it in! Gilad will choose one question each week to answer.

Find out more information about Gilad and his Fitness DVD's HERE.

By Collage Video | 13 January, 2016 | Abs, Ask Gilad, Gilad, goals, Healthy, Lord of the Abs, Weekly Blog, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

Ask Gilad

Posts in the Abs category

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Healthy Cooking Swaps

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

How To Lose Belly Fat

Running Versus Walking

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

How often should I exercise?

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

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