Fitness Blurbs » Fitness http://fitnessblurbs.com Improve Your Fitness Level with Blurbs of Moving Information Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:33:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Understanding Homeostasis and Adaptation for Optimum Fitness Health http://fitnessblurbs.com/understanding-homeostasis-and-adaptation-for-optimum-fitness-health/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/understanding-homeostasis-and-adaptation-for-optimum-fitness-health/#comments Fri, 02 May 2008 21:46:04 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/understanding-homeostasis-and-adaptation-for-optimum-fitness-health/ Did you know that your homeostasis mechanism is vital to keeping you fit and alive. This negative feedback system is a dynamic process that is in constant flux to maintain optimal internal conditions for your body’s survival. It self regulates, carrying on without your knowledge.

Homeostasis has one goal ~ to maintain. When your body is exposed to an external or internal environmental stress, it is dealt with through a negative feedback control mechanism.

What this means is that when a stress is presented, your homeostasis mechanism responds in the opposite to negate a stress’ influence. All this in a battle to return you to the prior preset point. Not good if this point is less than optimum health.

A working understanding of this regulatory balancing system helps you understand why you may be finding it difficult to lose weight, or perhaps stick with a fitness program. Essentially homeostasis is hard at work trying to maintain a steady state. In some cases, against all your best efforts.

Homeostasis also has the amazing ability to adapt to a repetitive stimuli, thus creating a new set point. You conditioned your homeostasis to an unhealthy steady state, by overeating or under moving.

Once a new set point was established, you will then need to mentally push your own body to adapt to a newly desired set point, the beauty of adaptation. Did you have a good time establishing an overweight and lazy new homeostasis?

Hope so. Because if you wish to lose those extra pounds, or get your unhealthy self into shape, you will need to battle your own body’s homeostasis. Frankly, it will fight against you initially.

Adaptation takes time and repetition. How long it takes your homeostasis to adapt depends on your particular genetic being. So essentially you must condition your body to maintain less fat or get moving.

Just having a mental desire to change this does not create a new set point. What will change this is conditioning. Conditioning is repetitive stimuli (fewer calories or increased movement) that pushes past homeostasis, and thus setting a new optimum fitness health steady state.

Adaptability is preparing your body for the future based on the past. Don’t get discouraged and lapse back to past behaviors. Push through your homeostasis negative feedback system until it has the opportunity to create your newly desired healthy set point.

Remember, homeostasis didn’t set an overweight steady state overnight, so give it an opportunity to reset to optimum fitness health.

]]> http://fitnessblurbs.com/understanding-homeostasis-and-adaptation-for-optimum-fitness-health/feed/ 0 How Much Time or How Long is Needed for Fitness and Exercise http://fitnessblurbs.com/how-much-time-or-how-long-is-needed-for-fitness-and-exercise/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/how-much-time-or-how-long-is-needed-for-fitness-and-exercise/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:29:53 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/how-much-time-or-how-long-is-needed-for-fitness-and-exercise/ There are 1,440 minutes in every day. Could spare 30 of them for a fitness activity! You really can’t afford not to give this time.

Regular exercise is a critical part of staying healthy. People who are active live longer and feel better. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight. It can delay or prevent diabetes, some cancers and heart problems.

Most adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days per week. Examples include walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming for recreation or bicycling. Stretching and weight training can also strengthen your body and improve your fitness level.

The key is to find the right fitness and exercise program for you. If it is fun, you are more likely to stay motivated. You may want to walk with a friend, join a class or plan a group bike ride.

If you’ve been inactive for awhile, use a sensible approach and start out slowly.

Take a pie and divide it in 48 different slices, or slivers is more like it. Get that picture. Commit a sliver of your time to fitness – that’s it!

]]> http://fitnessblurbs.com/how-much-time-or-how-long-is-needed-for-fitness-and-exercise/feed/ 0 Four Key Components to Physical Health and Fitness http://fitnessblurbs.com/four-key-components-to-physical-health-and-fitness/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/four-key-components-to-physical-health-and-fitness/#comments Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:03:35 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/four-key-components-to-physical-health-and-fitness/ People of all ages who are inactive can improve their health, well-being and fitness by being more active regularly. However, for most it’s difficult to adopt new habits and routines. So start slowly and work your way up, and before long you will adopt a healthy new fitness routine.

Your overall fitness is made up of four key components. In order to assess your level of fitness, you must consider all of these components together. Here’s a blurb about each component.

Cardiorespiratory endurance is your body’s ability to supply fuel during sustained physical activity by way of your circulatory and respiratory systems. To improve it, try to keep your heart rate elevated for a sustained length of time such as walking, swimming, or bicycling. Remember that the cardiorespiratory activity you choose does not have to be strenuous. Start slowly and work your way up to a more intense pace.

Muscular strength is your muscle’s ability to exert force. You make your muscles stronger by working them against a resistance. Gravity offers a great source of resistance, so be creative.

Muscular endurance is your muscle’s ability to perform without fatigue for a period of time. Cardiorespiratory activities such as walking, jogging, bicycling, or dancing helps improve muscle endurance.

Flexibility refers to your joints range of motion. Joint flexibility helps prevent injuries, so adopt a basic stretching program. Remember that stretching can be done periodically throughout your day.

Get yourself moving with these four key components in mind, and get health and fitness on your side!

]]> http://fitnessblurbs.com/four-key-components-to-physical-health-and-fitness/feed/ 0 Health Benefits from Regular Physical Fitness Activity http://fitnessblurbs.com/how-your-health-benefits-from-regular-physical-fitness-activity/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/how-your-health-benefits-from-regular-physical-fitness-activity/#comments Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:36:47 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/how-your-health-benefits-from-regular-physical-fitness-activity/ Regular physical fitness activity benefits all your organ systems, and as a result it helps to prevent many health problems and diseases. Although the benefits of physical activity increase with more frequent or more intense activity, substantial benefits are evident even with moderate levels of activity.

Physical activity at any age produces three major health benefits:

These benefits of physical activity are especially important for aging men and women, because of the increased likelihood to develop chronic diseases and conditions that can affect physical function, for example arthritis.

Regular physical activity has beneficial effects that are supported by consistent scientific evidence are:

  • lower risk of obesity
  • lower risk of diabetes
  • lower risk of colon cancer
  • lower risk of falls and injury
  • improved function in persons with arthritis
  • improved quality of life and improved functioning
  • improved mood and relief of symptoms of depression
  • lower overall mortality ~ greatest among the most active persons, but were also evident for moderate activity
  • lower risk of coronary heart disease ~ cardiac risk of being inactive is comparable to the risk from smoking cigarettes
  • lower risk of developing high blood pressure ~ exercise also lowers blood pressure in individuals who already have hypertension

Additional possible benefits of physical activity (research is less consistent) include:

The benefits of regular physical fitness activity are “downright” too big to pass up. And it doesn’t cost anything. Just get moving!

]]> http://fitnessblurbs.com/how-your-health-benefits-from-regular-physical-fitness-activity/feed/ 0 Resolution for Fitness Success http://fitnessblurbs.com/resolution-for-fitness-success/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/resolution-for-fitness-success/#comments Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:09:26 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/resolution-for-fitness-success/ Whether its a new year, mid year or end of year, your resolution is the ticket to success. With ticket in hand, climb aboard the fitness train and never get off. Ride it all the way.

Resolution on this train equates to a firm determination to improve your fitness. It is a steadfast or unwavering commitment to move your body.

Parts of your journey will not be pleasant causing you temptation to jump off at the next station. When that “want to get off” feeling strikes take a moment and contemplate what you might be missing should you chose to bail out.

Fitness improvement goes far beyond the next stop. It is a manner of living that reaps minute rewards as well as long term benefits. The lifestyle incorporates routine movement for its own sake.

The quest does not end. Its success is not time based. Achievement is acknowledge each stop along the way, but creating a new horizon that pushes you out of the station toward a new leg of your resolution journey is challenge.

The secret to success in a resolution of fitness improvement is a series of challenges and achievements. Challenge, then achieve, new challenge, then achieve.

There are three trains you can chose from. The short term resolution train goes from where you are to the next stop and ends there. The boredom resolution train goes from where you are to the next stop, however the next stop is miles down the track. And the fitness resolution train goes from where you are and never ends, only passes through many challenge stations along its way.

The choice is up to you the moment you enter the fitness resolution station. It is all comes down to which ticket you buy at the outset. You will get what you commit to.

May your fitness resolution choice be steadfast or unwavering versus bail at the next opportunity. Come on board, we would love to have you share in this success.

]]> http://fitnessblurbs.com/resolution-for-fitness-success/feed/ 0 Fitness Exercises for Healthy Bones and Prevention of Osteoporosis http://fitnessblurbs.com/fitness-for-healthy-bones/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/fitness-for-healthy-bones/#comments Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:30:25 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/fitness-for-healthy-bones/ No matter your age, fitness for healthy bones is important for treating and preventing osteoporosis.

The reason you should get moving is that bone is living tissue that responds to repetitive stimulus by becoming stronger. The best movement type for your bones is of the weight-bearing kind. Another way to put it is ones that forces you to work against gravity.

Some examples of weight-bearing exercises include:

  • hiking
  • tennis
  • jogging
  • walking
  • dancing
  • lifting weights
  • climbing stairs

Examples of exercises that are not weight-bearing include swimming and bicycling. While these activities help build and maintain strong muscles and have excellent cardiovascular benefits, they are not the best way to exercise your bones.

You will achieve greater peak bone mass, maximum bone density and strength, if you exercise regularly when you are young. Bone mass generally peaks during your third decade of life.

Beyond healthy bones, movement also increases muscle strength, coordination, and balance, and leads to better overall health.

Remember, exercise is only one part. A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is vital also.

]]> http://fitnessblurbs.com/fitness-for-healthy-bones/feed/ 0 Healthy Living in Movement http://fitnessblurbs.com/healthy-living-in-movement/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/healthy-living-in-movement/#comments Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:10:13 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/healthy-living-in-movement/ Regular movement is a critical part of staying healthy. People who are active live longer and feel better. A couple of healthy benefits of movement is help you to maintain a healthy weight, and delay or prevent diabetes, some cancers and heart problems. Not a bad deal for a bit of nature intended moving.

Most adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days per week. Some moderate moving examples are walking briskly, dancing, swimming or bicycling. Always remember that health benefit movement doesn’t have to involve a title. Any move is better than no move.

Stretching and weight training also strengthen your body and improve your fitness level, so weave these into your daily routine of moving as well.

The key is to find the right movement for you. You are more likely to stay motivated when having fun while you move. Try moving while in the presence of a friend, joining a class or plan a group events around movement. Do whatever it takes and get moving!

Use the sensible approach by starting out slowly after you’ve been inactive for awhile.

]]> http://fitnessblurbs.com/healthy-living-in-movement/feed/ 0 Take Charge of Your Health with Risk Avoidance http://fitnessblurbs.com/take-charge-of-your-health-with-risk-avoidance/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/take-charge-of-your-health-with-risk-avoidance/#comments Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:46:15 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/take-charge-of-your-health-with-risk-avoidance/ Take Charge of Your Health by Choosing a Healthy Lifestyle. A good way to start is to set small goals you will be able to meet, instead of large ones you won’t.

If you are not of the nature to take charge of your health for the sake of how you feel today (fitness), try taking charge for the sake of reducing your risk for heart disease.

Overall, you can reduce your risk for heart disease if you:

We all are successfully motivated through varying stimulus. If you are a risk avoider, perhaps taking charge of your own healthy lifestyle requires a present risk you can avoid. Is heart disease, the number one killer, enough of a risk for you to avoid?

]]> http://fitnessblurbs.com/take-charge-of-your-health-with-risk-avoidance/feed/ 0 Endorphins: Natural Pain Killer for Survival of Severe Injury http://fitnessblurbs.com/endorphins-natures-pain-killers-for-survival/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/endorphins-natures-pain-killers-for-survival/#comments Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:14:10 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/endorphins-natures-pain-killers-for-survival/ Your brain produces endorphins which play a role in pain relief. If you are injured and need to escape a harmful situation, it would be difficult to do so while experiencing severe pain.

However, endorphins released immediately following your injury provides pain relief to allow for escape. Natural pain killers for survival.

Later, when survival is no longer at issue, your endorphin level decreases. This is also an important survival mechanism. Experiencing pain helps prevents you from causing further injury.

Movement stimulates production of endorphinse which promotes pain relief and an overall feeling of wellbeing. Although you may be experiencing pain it’s crucial to be as physically active as possible.

Also, a good laugh releases endorphines.

]]> http://fitnessblurbs.com/endorphins-natures-pain-killers-for-survival/feed/ 0 The Cost of Living the Good Life is a Lifetime of Fitness http://fitnessblurbs.com/the-cost-of-living-the-good-life-is-a-lifetime-of-fitness/ http://fitnessblurbs.com/the-cost-of-living-the-good-life-is-a-lifetime-of-fitness/#comments Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:56:09 +0000 Healthy Lifestyle Geek http://fitnessblurbs.com/the-cost-of-living-the-good-life-is-a-lifetime-of-fitness/ Your personal cost of living the good life is managing your own lifetime of fitness. That’s it. Learning how to manage your own unique fitness is more a matter of time than money. You can have all the money in the world and still not live the good life if you have a insufficient fitness level.

To begin your quest toward living the good life you must first understand what fitness really is. Fitness is a state of being. Your state of being this moment will be different the next. It is not a static state. It is a state that is in constant flux with a single goal. A steady state aka the good life.

Managing your steady state of being for the good life means preparing your body beyond minimal life sustaining requirements. Think of it as a savings account of fitness that provides a cushion to all life’s stresses. The time you contribute preparing for the future keeps the good life going during times of difficulty.

Living your life with a saving account of fitness means the good life is maintained no matter what comes your way. In the event you give little time and consideration to your level of fitness you more likely than not will find yourself in debt to stress. The good life has no inclusion for fitness debt. It is a bit snobby that way.

Take advantage of your opportunity to live a good life by paying the cost through a lifetime of fitness before something arrives to plunge you into an unsteady “fitness debt” state.

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