Ask Gilad

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: I started an exercise regimen a couple of months ago and I am feeling better every day. The problem is, I don't seem to be losing any weight...at least not very fast. What is my problem?

Answer: It sounds like you are on the right track...and there may not be any problem at all.  Since muscle is 2 and a half times heavier than fat, the answer is very simple, and it ties in to both exercise and nutrition. When you exercise on a regular basis and eat a healthy diet you are constantly challenging your muscles to perform causing them to get stronger and denser and to weigh more. At the same time you are burning off fat. In other words, you are turning your body into a lean and healthy machine. You are gaining muscle weight and you are losing body fat. 

People who are very muscular can weigh more than people of the same height who are sedentary. But the people who are more fit will be slimmer and wear smaller sized clothes. Enjoy the change!  

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.

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question:  How often should I exercise?

Answer: No matter what kind of training you do I recommend you do something at least 3 times a week. If your fitness level is high enough, you should be exercising more often.  Maybe 5 or 6 times a week. But I do believe that everybody 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 6 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.

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: Why should we limit the amount of salt we consume?

Answer: Too much salt in your diet increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.  Most of the sodium in our diet comes from salt that has been added to processed food we eat.  Most Americans consume more than twice the recommended daily amount of salt.

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.

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question:  I always hear that we should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day.  I don't drink anywhere near that much.  How important is it to drink that much?

Answer:

 Our bodies have very good defense mechanisms.  But when it comes to fluids, our bodies' defenses are lacking.  They don't always remind us to drink water when we need to.  We can need water before we actually experience feeling thirsty.  Many people forget to drink enough water and are constantly dehydrated.

The name of the game is awareness.  If you do nothing else, increase your water consumption consciously to 8 glasses per day.  Do it slowly over a period of several weeks.  Add a glass of water per day and get to the point where your base is 8 glasses per day.  You will not believe the positive changes in your energy level and appearance.

Gilad

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.

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: What percentage of a good nutritious meal should be vegetables? Can fruits and vegetables be interchanged? 

Answer: Rather than breaking your nutrition down into meals let's take a look at your food intake as a whole. Complex carbohydrates should make up the largest part of your diet.  They should make up 60 to 75% of your daily food intake. Complex carbohydrates include unprocessed fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts. They are the long term sustaining fuel of your body and when they are burned they leave only water and carbon dioxide as end products. That makes them very easy on the body's digestive system.

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.

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: I need to lose some weight for my high school reunion in 3 months.  What kind of diet do you suggest?

Answer: The best diet I can recommend is simply to eat sensibly. The key to diets is this. Don't even consider going on any diet that you wouldn't want to stay on for the rest of your life. A diet should never be a temporary fix. It should be a lifelong eating pattern that emphasizes balanced nutrition. Always remember that what you want to develop are good eating habits that will last a lifetime. I would never recommend that you have to cut out all of your favorite foods or go on some restrictive diet. That kind of thinking will not lead to long-term success... and all of us are in this for the long term.

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.

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: I have a sweet tooth and a hard time resisting the dessert tray. What should I do?

Answer: If you are craving something sweet try a piece of fresh fruit and see if that curbs your appetite. Fruit is just like a dessert but with all those extra vitamins and minerals along for the ride.
With a little practice and voluntary mind-control fruit can become your go-to sweet. You will be glad you made the switch.

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.

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: I know that I am supposed to eat a lot of fiber but I am not sure why. Is it the fact that fiber makes it easier for me to have regular bowel movements?

Answer: Regular bowel movements are an excellent reason to consume large amounts of fiber but they are not the whole story.
Your body is not supposed to absorb all the food you eat. In fact, you should strive to increase the amounts of food you eat that your body cannot absorb. These foods include whole grain and unrefined foods which are high in fiber. The fiber found in unprocessed foods can actually help reduce the risk of colon cancer, diverticulitis, diabetes and heart disease. Fiber is found only in plant foods like whole grain breads, brown rice, bulgur wheat, oatmeal, bran cereals, bran muffins and bran flakes. It is better to eat whole foods to get your fiber than to add bran to everything because too much bran can actually rob your body of some minerals.
Fiber leaves a residue in the intestines that the body cannot absorb. This residue is actually good for the digestive tract and it also aids in lowering cholesterol levels. The effect of fiber that is immediately noticeable is that it fills you up... but with few calories.
High fiber foods include everything mentioned above plus vegetables and fruits. and it also aids in lowering cholesterol levels. The effect of fiber that is immediately noticeable is that it fills you up... but with few calories.
High fiber foods include everything mentioned above plus vegetables and fruits. You can also get plenty of fiber in your diet by eating cereals such as shredded wheat and puffed wheat, or making whole grain pancakes, waffles and muffins. 

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.

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: OK, you have convinced me.  I am going to start training with weights.  What can I expect?

Answer: So now we can all lift weights!  What good will that do?  Well, for starters, your strength is not the only thing that will improve.  Your body is going to look different as well.  Your body fat will drop, and you will increase your lean muscle mass, so you will have a longer, leaner look.  Also your chest, back, abdominals, arms and legs will become stronger.  Your posture will improve, your bone mass will increase, your resting heart rate will probably drop and you will decrease your risk of injury to your joints and bones.  Not too bad for a little weight training two or three times a week, and you can do it in as little as 30 to 45 minutes per workout.

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.

THIS WEEK’S “ASK GILAD” BLOG

Question: I am a big fan of aerobic exercise but shy away from free weights and toning exercises. How important is strength training to an overall workout?

Answer: People are starting to realize that aerobic exercise, while great for the heart and lungs and terrific for overall general health, is not an all-inclusive recipe for fitness. Possessing muscular strength is equally important and provides many of the same benefits as cardiovascular fitness, such as lower blood pressure, lower resting heart rate, improvement in cholesterol levels and lower body fat.

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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.