Ask Gilad

Rest Up!

Question: In your fitness programs you always recommend getting plenty of rest. Why is rest so important?

Answer: The three most important elements to your fitness program are healthy eating, a regular exercise program and REST! Rest is often overlooked! Making sure you get enough rest and a good night's sleep becomes even more important if you are exercising vigorously. A good night's sleep is essential to our physical as well as mental health and positively affects our memory, creativity and overall well-being.Many processes happen during our sleep time. Growth hormone, which is essential for recovery and improving fitness levels, is released during our sleep. Melatonin which is known as the 'sleep hormone' is often taken to recover from jet lag. Melatonin is released during sleep. It is an important and powerful antioxidant that plays a crucial role in maintaining good health and helping to reduce cell damage.

So, how much sleep do you need? The answer is that it varies from person to person. The bottom line is that a good night's sleep is a powerful tool to help you maintain your health and fitness levels. May you all have a good and restful night...!

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 | 04 October, 2017 | Abs, Ask Gilad, empowerment, goals, health, Healthy, healthy aging, healthy lifestyle, live long, Lord of the Abs, Weekly Blog, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

Curb Your Sweet Tooth

Question: I have a very active sweet tooth and that is my downfall when it comes to losing weight. Is there any 'cure' for a sweet tooth?

Answer: The problem with eating sweets is that the more sweets you eat, the more you crave them. Somehow we have to break that cycle. When you are craving sweets, try substituting a piece of fresh fruit instead. See if that curbs your appetite. Fruit is just like dessert but with all those extra vitamins and minerals along for the ride. And, do yourself a favor. Don't buy candy, cookies, ice cream, etc. If you don't have them readily available, you can't eat them. Stock up on plenty of fresh fruit instead. Doesn't a handful of grapes or a bowl of fresh strawberries sound good right about now?

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 | 27 September, 2017 | Abs, Ask Gilad, fitness tips, Gilad, health, Healthy, live long, Lord of the Abs, Weekly Blog, weight loss, weight loss exercise, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

Why is Swimming So Difficult?

Question: After reading your suggestion about a 'knee-friendly' swimming workout, I started to swim. I can hold my own with your aerobics workouts but I find myself getting winded much more easily when I swim. Why is this?

Answer: Swimming laps is a great form of cardiovascular exercise. However, even people who exercise regularly and think they are in good shape are often surprised to find that they can only swim a few continuous laps of the pool before feeling very out of breath. Part of the reason is that swimming, unlike cycling or running, involves working the whole body, and particularly the upper body. Also, more than other exercises, swimming requires the conscious control and coordination of breathing with motion, something that swimmers often find exhausting. However, as you spend more time in the water, your breathing will become as natural in swimming as it is in land based sports.

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 September, 2017 | Abs, Ask Gilad, exercise, fitness tips, Healthy, healthy aging, healthy lifestyle, Weekly Blog, weight loss, weight loss exercise, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

Bone Building Exercises

Question: Do you have any exercises that you can recommend for bone building?

Answer: The best exercises you can do for bone building are resistance exercises with weights. Outside of some of my DVD's such as 'sculpt and tone' 'cuts and curves' I would highly recommend getting into the gym and incorporate free weights into your regiment.

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 August, 2017 | Abs, Ask Gilad, health, Healthy, healthy aging, healthy lifestyle, live long, Lord of the Abs, Weekly Blog, weight loss, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

Cross-Training

Question: I have been doing your aerobic workouts (the TV shows) for about 3 months now and like the results. However, I think I am ready for the next step. What do you suggest?

Answer: I suggest you mix it up a little. Jog, ride a bicycle, even start doing some weight training. This is what is referred to as cross-training. I find that cross-training is the best way to balance a good workout program. It eliminates the typical 'burnout' or 'boredom' syndrome of doing one single activity over and over. It is also more versatile and therefore easier for anyone with a busy schedule. It keeps your fitness activities more healthy, fun and alive. It also allows your body more rest between repetitions of the same activity.

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 August, 2017 | Abs, Ask Gilad, cardio, health, Healthy, healthy aging, healthy lifestyle, practice, tips, Weekly Blog, weight loss, weight loss exercise, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

Cravings

Question: Why do we crave foods that aren't good for us?

Answer: That is a complex question with many different answers based on each individual. Let's just look at one all encompassing answer for now...advertising. We have been exposed to advertising our entire lives. We have seen so many commercials and print ads that advertise fast foods, sugar, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages that they have to affect us. They show beautiful people with beautiful bodies photographed in exotic locations holding in their hands cans of...you know the rest.

What's wrong with this picture? Obviously, the ads are not telling the whole truth. You can be sure that those beautiful bodies are not regularly eating and drinking what they are advertising. They are professional models and they get paid to glamorize the consumption of certain products. You will never see an ad showing an intoxicated driver coming out of his wrecked car holding a beer can in his hand and telling you to "Go for it!".

Let's face it...we have all been programmed by a lifetime of advertising. Fight it and you will reap the benefits.

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 August, 2017 | Abs, Ask Gilad, Gilad, health, Healthy, healthy aging, healthy lifestyle, Lord of the Abs, Weekly Blog, weight loss, weight loss exercise, Wellness | 0 comments | Read more

Is Steak Bad For You?

Question: I love meat....but I love fruits and vegetables too. I trim as much fat as I can from my steak whenever I eat it. If you make an effort to eat your steak as lean as possible, is it still bad for you?

Answer: You have probably heard that all calories are not created equal. It's true. Calories from fat are actually more fattening than calories from other sources. Carbohydrates and proteins (including fat-free steak) both weigh in at only 4 calories per gram while fats weigh in at a whopping 9 to 11 calories per gram! (Please note that it is impossible to trim ALL of the fat off of steak.) This means that you are getting 2 ½ times more calories from fat than from equal amounts of carbohydrates (fruits and vegetables) or protein. As you can see, it is a lot smarter to get your calories from carbohydrates. Not only can you eat more with less calories to worry about, but the calories you get from carbohydrates are a lot more efficient and easily used by the body.

So keep trimming as much fat as you can from your steak and consider substituting fish or skinless chicken more often...and don't be afraid to eat large servings of vegetables.

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 August, 2017 | Abs, Ask Gilad, fitness tips, Healthy, healthy aging, healthy lifestyle, Lord of the Abs, Motivation, practice, tips, Weekly Blog | 0 comments | Read more

Avoiding Sugar

Question: I am making a concerted effort to avoid sugar. I have quit drinking soda and I avoid ice cream, candy, cookies and all other pastries. Are there any other sources I should be aware of?

Answer: First of all, good job! You seem to be avoiding the main culprits. But most people don't realize how much sugar they are getting from other sources. Sugar is the number one additive in processed foods. It is used in bread, catsup, crackers, cereals, spaghetti sauce, bouillon cubes, non-dairy creamers, cured meats....you name it. AND, it goes by many hidden names such as fructose, dextrose, honey, maple or corn syrup, molasses, etc.... Watch for these names on ingredient lists.

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 | 26 July, 2017 | Abs, Ask Gilad, Gilad, health, Healthy, healthy lifestyle, live long, live strong, Lord of the Abs | 0 comments | Read more

Running For Exercise

Question: I want to start running to lose weight. My knees and joints are in good shape but I am uncomfortably overweight. Any suggestions?

Answer: If you are a beginner to exercising, or if you are more than 15 pounds overweight, you do not want to go outside and just start running. In fact, I would suggest 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 have a great workout in half an hour, 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 | 19 July, 2017 | Abs, active, Ask Gilad, empowerment, exercise, exercise to lose weight, fitness, fitness tips, Gilad, Healthy, healthy aging, healthy lifestyle, Motivation, Weekly Blog, weight loss exercise | 0 comments | Read more

Stress Relief Tips

Question: I have issues with stress. I never want to get out of bed in the morning and I toss and turn at night. I am a mess at work and I never seem to be able to motivate myself to exercise. Any advice would be helpful.

Answer: There are a lot of things you can do to relieve stress. You can exercise regularly, drink less coffee, but let us explore one of the major factors in stress relief. One of the best coping devices for stress is lots of rest. I am often surprised at how many people I meet who say they are tired all the time, and then tell me that they get only 5 or 6 hours of sleep each night. They don't believe they need any more.

Every person is different but most studies indicate that the average person needs between 7 an 8 hours of sleep per night. But remember, quality of sleep is more important than quantity. If you are waking up every hour or so during the night because of noise or other disturbances, and you have trouble getting back to sleep you are probably going to feel tired the next day even if you were in bed for nine hours the night before. Try to find a sleeping area in your house that is free from disturbances like light, noise and movement so that you can get continual quality of sleep.

And maybe the best advice I can give you...is to turn off your phone. Resist the urge to go on-line and check your email. They are finding that activities of this nature can be extremely disruptive to your sleep.

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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.

By Collage Video | 28 June, 2017 | acceptance, active, Ask Gilad, empowerment, exercise, fitness, fitness tips, health, Healthy, healthy aging, live long, live strong, Lord of the Abs, Weekly Blog | 0 comments | Read more

Ask Gilad

Posts in the Healthy category

Rest Up!

Curb Your Sweet Tooth

Why is Swimming So Difficult?

Bone Building Exercises

Cross-Training

Cravings

Is Steak Bad For You?

Avoiding Sugar

Running For Exercise

Stress Relief Tips

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Ask Gilad

Posts in the Healthy category

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