Q & A with NYC's Fitness Guru: Why Diet is a Dirty Word, How to Get Great Abs, and What You Shouldn't Eat!
The Fitness Guru is dedicated, first and foremost, to putting fun back into health and fitness. The Guru is a thriving "lab" studio in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, NY, which is run by co-owners (and husband and wife), Lawson Harris and Michael Felgin, two of the most well-respected Pilates instructors in NYC.Together they conduct "Fitness Guru in the Park," (pictured above) free summertime weekly Pilates classes, right underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. They've written for or have been written about in numerous magazines, including Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Best Life, Self, Time Out New York, The New York Times and many others. They are also the co-creators and co-hosts of "The Fitness Guru" -- a daily live radio show presented by Lime on Sirius Satellite Radio.
MindBodyGreen: How did you become the "Guru"?
The Fitness Guru: The Guru grew out of a desire to reach more people and give them a place to get information, ideas, voice opinions, and ask questions about fitness. It was obvious that folks needed some help and inspiration to understand that taking good care and being physically aware starts with you; that idea can spread to your whole community and affect people in ways you never imagined. Fitness began as "survival jobs" 25 years ago for my husband and I, when we were both dancers trying not to starve. We taught Pilates in small studios all over Manhattan, worked with people in their homes and became favorites at larger Gyms that morphed over the years from places like "Body by Gilda" to "David Barton Gym."
MBG: Were you always committed to fitness? Were you athletic as a child?
FG: I began dancing seriously at the age of 11 and before that was always a pretty active kid. I had ants in my pants from the day I was born, so it's not so much "fitness" as a total inability to sit still. Michael was an overweight "theater kid" and at points in his childhood was teased mercilessly for his weight and bowl haircut. Michael followed a hot chick into an aerobics class in 1988 and it was over from there -- he became The Guru and Mayor of the West Village where he was the hottest group fitness instructor going. Walking down the street with him in those days was an exercise in being invisible and trying not to punch out the hordes of adoring female students who would habitually run up to him and make fools of themselves (bitter much?)
MBG: How do you start your day? Do you have a morning routine? What do you typically have for breakfast?
FG: I'm up at 7am, pack school lunch, get the 12 yr old out the door to school on time, walk the 7yr old to PS 8, take the dog to the park and see my first client at 9:30. I like an egg over easy and half a multi-grain bagel, sometimes Fiber One cereal or some vanilla yogurt with fruit and shredded coconut.
Michael gets up at 4am, eats some steal cut Irish Oatmeal or 2 eggs, whole wheat toast and lean sliced turkey- sees his first client at 5am--what?!
MBG: How did you lose weight after giving birth?
FG: Starvation and hours of psychotically intense daily exercise--so kidding. After the first kid I was 31 and really lax about it. I figured it would just fall off since a lot of what I do is exercise with others. I was wrong. After a year and a half, I was still carrying around an extra 12 lbs and on a fitness pro, that's not cute--or good for business…
I got serious and dropped all the alcohol, and starch from my diet. The only carbs I ate were fruits, vegetables and whole grains. No cakecandycookiepieicecream. I added an hour of exercise a day, 6 days a week combining cardio and weight training with a heart monitor to make sure I wasn't kidding myself. I lost all the weight plus 5lbs in 3 months. 5yrs later when I had my second child, I went right to plan B with the same result.
MBG: If someone only has 30-45 minutes a day, 3 days a week to workout, what would you suggest they do?
FG: It really depends on the individual; I'd have totally different answers for a 78 year old in relatively good shape and a 33 yr old who was overweight. That having been said, it's important to elevate your heart rate to burn fat and feed your cardiovascular system, weight bearing exercises are important for muscle tone and rebuilding bone and flexibility is essentially the fountain of youth. I'd cross train like a Mother!
MBG: How much of a role does diet play in your own lifestyle? Are there foods that you try to eat? Are there any foods that you highly recommend? Are there foods that you try to avoid?
FG: If you think about it too much, food can be the Devil. Common sense and moderation are your best bets. I eat everything I want; I just don't pig out on it if I know it's not going to be good fuel. Working out regularly also helps you keep food in moderation because you start thinking about food as gas in the tank as opposed to a social activity. As your awareness increases, your habits change. I can have a great conversation and reconnect with people over a salad and a glass of wine as well as I can over pork chops, mashed potatoes, and a couple of martinis. Chances are my run will go much better the next day and more importantly I won't be bloated or hung over.
MBG: Abs. Everyone wants nice abs. What are the best and most efficient exercises to tone our abs?
FG: Pilates, Pilates, Pilates and a healthy diet. When it comes down to actually seeing the abs there can't even be 1/8 of an inch of fat or they'll be hidden by it. That's really tough when you think about the average person. Cutting out white starches, junk food of any kind and sugar is key. Pilates on the equipment and mat work with a physio-ball are the answer for an "Ab Reveal" workout.
MBG: What's your favorite guilty indulgence?
FG: Oreos
MBG: Do you have one piece of general workout advice?
FG: If you don't love it--don't do it. Pick something you love: boxing, volleyball, dancing, yoga, fencing, something---anything you have a genuine interest in that makes you happy and when it's time to move on--go!
For me exercise is like a drug. I never feel more alive or myself than I do when I'm lost in the zone of movement. Reaching that state of being is what makes me want it everyday. Do I procrastinate and worry that I won't make to that state? Hell, yes! But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try.
MBG: What are your thoughts on detoxes?
FG: I stay away from that stuff like the plague.
MBG: What do you recommend to people who travel a lot?
FG: There are so many small, light fitness toys that will help you stay fit on the road. Magic circles, exercise tubing, and foam rollers are all awesome. There are videos galore with great workouts and poses on all these small pieces that can be downloaded to your iPod. Bring running clothes and get out there! See the town your conference is in. Even if it's industrial Ohio and your run is a brisk power walk -- play your favorite music and get off your ass.
MBG: There are a lot of "branded diets" out there, e.g., South Beach, Atkins, Skinny Bitch, etc. - are there any particular diets that you subscribe to? What is your philosophy on diets/dieting?
FG: South Beach is actually a very healthy, reasonable food lifestyle. Atkins could make you drop dead of a heart attack since you may feel it's all right to consume all the red meat and vodka on the planet and Skinny Bitch is just a clever title for a book about vegans so don't be fooled.
Diet is a dirty word. They're temporary, and they make you mad, sad, and irritable, and they just plain don't work. Small changes go a long way to adopting a healthy food lifestyle. Make a small change every week starting with the big things like eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day, drinking 64 oz. a day of water, and move down the list until your down to 2 drinks a week and half a teaspoon of salad dressing.
MBG: Please tell us about Fitness Guru, what you have planned for the Fall/Winter, and why we need to check it out!
FG: We have awesome new classes (The Diamond/Move Sucka), a walk in work out cardio/strength circuit with free podcasts that will walk you thru the workout so you can just take the ride. Our trainers are all dual certified in Pilates and Personal Training as well as being mentored by Michael and me. They'll educate and enthrall you on levels you would never ascribe to your usual idea of a Trainer. Most importantly, it's a really smart, fun, friendly community to get fit, feed your body and your mind and just plain feel happy.
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