Ask Gilad

This Week's Ask Gilad: Flexibility Training Tips

Welcome to "Ask Gilad" - a weekly blog written by Fitness Hall of Fame member Gilad.  Thanks for reading.

Question: I like to work out with weights but afterwards I tighten up.  I need to work on my flexibility and I know that means stretching.  Do you have any tips for me about flexibility training?  

Answer:

The most important part of flexibility training is stretching each muscle within the limits of comfort.  Forcing a stretch, or over-stretching a muscle beyond what it can comfortably do actually causes the muscle to contract in order to protect itself from being torn.  This is the opposite of what you want to achieve.  You want the muscle to lengthen, expand and relax in a stretch.

Pay attention to your breathing as you stretch.  Don't hold your breath while stretching.  If you exhale and inhale rhythmically, trying to relax into the stretch, you will stretch deeper and further. 

Stay within the limits of comfort.

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: Cardio for the Short Term - Recommendations?

Answer:

I recommend: Gilad's Lord of the Abs: Maximum Abs

and Gilad: Xcelerate 4: #1 Burn it Off

Both are popular cardio workouts.  

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

This Week's Ask Gilad: How Often Should I Change My Fitness Program?

Welcome to "Ask Gilad" - a weekly blog written by Fitness Hall of Fame member Gilad.  Thanks for reading.

Question: How often should I change my fitness program? 

Answer: This is different for each person. When you get bored or hit a plateau it's time to switch it up. 

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: How Much Rest Between Workouts?

Welcome to "Ask Gilad" - a weekly blog written by Fitness Hall of Fame member Gilad.  Thanks for reading.

Question: How much rest should I take between workouts?

Answer: General rule of thumb is to wait 3 days between body parts for weights, and 24 hours for cardio.  This will work for most. It also depends on the type of workout and the intensity. Best advice I can give is to listen to your body.   

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: Suggestions For Older, Fit Adults

Welcome to "Ask Gilad" - a weekly blog written by Fitness Hall of Fame member Gilad.  Thanks for reading.

Question:  Dear Gilad, I am 74 and have difficulty finding exercise DVDs.  The ones for seniors are too easy and boring.  (I have been working out for decades) but watching exercisers in their 20's is meaningless.  What do you suggest for older adults who are fit? 

Answer:

  Sounds to me like you are in excellent shape! But naturally at 74 we cant do what we did at 24 and I'll take the liberty to suggest that we wouldn't much want to either..

In regards to recommending home workouts for you I will suggest my Ultimate Body Sculpt series (3 DVD's) I think you will find all 3 workouts challenging enough without putting excessive stress on the joints and with me you know you'll have fun! give it shot!  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: Getting The Most From Your Abdominal Workout

Welcome to "Ask Gilad" - a weekly blog written by Fitness Hall of Fame member Gilad.  Thanks for reading.

Question: I have gotten to the point in my fitness program where I am happy with the results I am getting in most parts of my body.  But I still have a problem area.  I can't seem to get the definition I want in my abs.  Any suggestions?  I want a well defined 6-pack! 

Answer:

The truth is that the abdominal muscles usually work in unison and it is hard to isolate specific parts.  However, different positions and angles can help shift the emphasis of the exercise to a specific part of the abdominals. 

Basically we divide the abdominals as follows: Upper abs, lower abs, obliques and transverse abdominals.  The transverse abdominals are the muscles that pull your belly button in toward your spine.  In order to get the most out of your abdominal workout no matter what angle you choose, always start the exercise by consciously engaging the transverse abdominal muscles by simply pulling your belly button slightly towards the spine, then execute the exercise while maintaining that posture. This simple 'trick' will help you get better results no matter what part of the abdominals you are going for!

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: Diet Recommendations To Go Along With Regular Exercise

Welcome to "Ask Gilad" - a weekly blog written by Fitness Hall of Fame member Gilad.  Thanks for reading.

Question: What kind of diet do you recommend to go along with regular exercise?

Answer:

I would have to write a book to fully answer this question. And the truth of the matter is, "I have!".  It is titled the 'Eat Right Now' nutritional program and it is available on my website.

But to sum it up, making a commitment to eating nutritional foods is a far cry from putting yourself on a diet, and it will bring much better results without any deprivation.  While dieting or denying yourself food is a negative step, committing to eating nutritious foods is a positive step.  Once the commitment to good eating is made the benefits follow naturally and easily.

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: How Long Will It Take Me To Get Into Shape?

Welcome to "Ask Gilad" - a weekly blog written by Fitness Hall of Fame member Gilad.  Thanks for reading.

Question: I am going to start a 60-day fitness challenge.  How long will it take me to get into shape?

Answer:

 How fast will you get to the goal you set for yourself?  If you are committed to a program and really work at it, you can achieve noticeable results in 6 short weeks, good results in 12 weeks and excellent results in 6 months. 

 The most important thing to remember is to let go of the idea that you can accomplish your goal faster if you take a short cut such as a crash diet or working twice as hard as your body can handle in its present condition.  In fact, those are two sure ways to put you right into the 'roller coaster club' of those who gain, lose, gain, lose, and so on.

The fact is, if you work within your ability and if you implement slow and controlled changes that your body can adapt to, those changes will become comfortable and you will achieve incredible 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.

This Week's Ask Gilad: Diet Tips to Pair with Exercise to Lose Weight

Question: You are always stressing the importance of good nutrition to go along with your exercise regimen. What kind of diet do you recommend to go along with regular exercise?

Answer:

I would have to write a book to fully answer this question. And the truth of the matter is, "I have!". It is titled the 'Eat Right Now' nutritional program and it is available on my website. But to sum it up, making a commitment to eating nutritional foods is a far cry from putting yourself on a diet, and it will bring much better results without any deprivation. While dieting or denying yourself food is a negative step, committing to eating nutritious foods is a positive step. Once the commitment to good eating is made the benefits follow naturally and easily.

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: How to Push Through Weight Loss Setbacks

Question: I was really making progress with my fitness program and then I got distracted for a couple of weeks. I gained back 6 pounds and now I am so discouraged with myself that I am finding it hard to start again. How do you get over these setbacks?

Answer:

Don't forget to encourage yourself. It is easy to overlook our small successes and not give ourselves the credit we deserve. Congratulate yourself for all those small changes and successful steps. And if you don't achieve your goal right away don't give in to discouragement, because of change, large or small, is never an easy process.

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.