Why the Atkins Diet is not for you

How could I know the Atkins diet is not right for you if we have never met. I know this because you are human. Despite its enormous popularity and founder (Dr. Robert Atkins was 255lbs at his death) it has some terrible side effects on the human body.

The idea of the Atkins diet is simple, eat high protein foods and reduce or eliminate the intake of carbohydrates found in breads, pastas, cookies, rice, etc. What this will do is force your body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates as well as reducing your appetite. While in theory this sounds great there is a reason the food pyramid suggests you have six to eleven servings of carbohydrates per day. The Atkins diet claims you can lose ten pounds in two weeks a very aggressive claim considering physicians recommend safe weight loss should occur at two to three pounds per week. Interestingly after the first two weeks the Atkins diet only claims a loss of one pound per week.

Why is there such a sharp drop off in results? The reason is water weight. The average person is 65% water. Water is found in bones, muscles, and it is stored in carbohydrates. With some simple math we can deduce that a 175 pound man would be roughly 105 pounds of water. Since there is a lack of carbohydrates in your system water escapes at a very fast pace. You may notice this when you are working out an need to drink twice as much water than normal. The side effects of this can be devastating. People who stick with the Atkins diet for an extensive period of time will often have tooth decay, bad breath as a result of Ketosis, weak bones, insomnia, dizziness, and reduced muscle mass. There are some irreversible drawbacks that can be found in a high protein diet which has a lot more fat than a diet of carbohydrates, they include increased cholesterol, risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and kidney failure.

So what does your body do to cope? Actually as a result it creates more fat to keep the water in your system and because water is used to regulate your body temperature the fat acts as insulation in its absence. Is the get thin quick regiment starting to look less attractive. I hope so.

There is only one diet that works and that is burn more calories than you take in. Stick to about 2500 to 3000 calories a day with a balanced diet and exercise regularly, just like your parents told you. See they can be right.

Zack
Co-Owner
http://www.gimme20.com

America, Your not eating enough.

A very audacious claim, no? Considering we are the largest nation in the world what possible reasoning could I have for saying this. How many people reading this eat breakfast every morning? A study done by the National Weight Control Registry found that 80% of people who eat breakfast daily are able to keep their weight controlled for a year and beyond. Many were able to lose 30 pounds over the course of that year.

So why is breakfast so instrumental in weight control? It has to do with early activation of your metabolism. If you eat a large breakfast early in the day it will give your body the most amount of time to burn it off, while providing a greater amount of energy and concentration to your activites. Next the need for snacking throughout the day will be decreased. We tend to have our largest meal prior to doing the least activity, in the evening. The final reason is breakfast supports a healthier lifestyle and mindset. If fitness and health is not in your top three priorities then nothing will be accomplished.

The things included in such a breakfast are nothing out of the ordinary, eggs and ham or perhaps cereal and some fruit. Stay away from things like donuts and fast food, which should go without saying. Eat a healthy breakfast and it will reward you everyday. I look forward to hearing your comments.


Zack
http://www.gimme20.com

Picking the Right Gym

What is involved in picking the right gym? Companies like NYSC and Gold's have made a fortune running them but, what makes us choose one gym over the other. In this case I am really looking for your feedback. One factor must involve location. Getting people off the couch even on a beautiful Saturday is no easy task, let alone keeping a new years resolution one makes every year. So a gym that is close in proximity will reduce the number of excuses one can make about going. Factor two, the facilities. No one wants to use grungy, dirty, or dilapidated equipment. Its both dangerous and gross. Factor three, the price. Money is the great divider between what we have and what we want. Many gyms these days ask for a down payment. This must be the only industry that can charge you for you to do all the work and this will surely excite those who are not serious. Fee's can range from $25 a month to several hundred. Factor 4, people. Are your friends there, is it always crowded, is there people my age. The people around can be great motivators either by example or with the follow through. The last and final factor, five. The staff. Trainers, spin classes, yoga, what a gym offers and the people who support it can make all the difference. These people are paid to take an interest in you achieving your goals and you should use that to your advantage. Its no coincidence they often look how we would we want to. So reach out and tell me which one helps you pick the right gym.

Zack
Co-owner
http://www.gimme20.com

My opening statement

Welcome,
I will pre-apologize for this post as it may read more like a resume than a blog. I figure before I start placing these blogs on the sites that I own I may as well tell you something about me. Where would I like to visit most you ask. If I could visit anywhere in the world it would probably be Greece. I am not greek myself but I do like the history behind it.

Since I graduated Towson University in May 06(on time) with a degree in Sports Management and Kinisiology, I have genuinely made an attempt to branch out into as many things as possible. If your not failing your not trying. Which brings me to my current line of work as an Internet marketing Consultant. Prior to graduation I never knew there was more to the internet than AIM and espn.com. Since that time I have spent the last two years as the head of business development for start up and now a member of the consumer sponsorship marketing team at WebMD. I have also started my own consulting web property management firm called WeKnowThe.com. Yes, now what does that mean? Without being to salesy we will manage your website, as opposed to build it and leave you hanging or market it and tell you what to fix.

I have included a link below if your interested enough in seeing one of my clients. Look forward to working with all of you and as David said helping each other out. Comments and critics are always welcome.

http://www.gimme20.com (another place these blogs will appear for now on)