Welcome to the Spunk Fitness blog! At Spunk Fitness, our mission is to make reliable health and exercise information as easy as possible to access. On this page, you’ll find a wealth of helpful resources that can help you learn more about nutrition, losing weight, the benefits of tanning, and so much more! We know that many of our readers will want to learn additional information, so we invite you to reach out to us if you would like more in-depth knowledge about any of the topics you see here. Our friendly team will gladly provide you with everything you need to know!
Target Heart Rate simply means the heart rate range that’s best for a given individual. The target heart rate zone is generally calculated by using a percentage of one’s maximum heart rate, which is the maximum number of beats per minute the heart of an individual is capable of beating based on their age and physical condition. An estimate of a person’s maximum age-related heart rate can…Read More
Two terms used in wellness discussions are physical activity and physical exercise. They often are used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Both terms refer to voluntary movements that burn calories. Physical activities are activities that get your body moving such as gardening, walking the dog, raking leaves, and taking the stairs. Exercise is a form of physical activity that is specific…Read More
To determine whether you are exercising within your target heart rate zone, you must monitor your heart rate. This can be done by a couple of methods. The easiest way is to invest in a heart rate monitor. Such a device consists of a strap that you place around your mid-section, and a wrist watch. The two communicate with one another and your heart rate is displayed on the wristband. This…Read More
Strength training, also called weight training, is performing any type of resistance exercise that will build the strength and/or size of the skeletal muscles. There are a variety of ways in which you can strength training. Of course, the most common is by using weight machines at the gym. The benefit of weight machines is that they isolate each muscle group and also provide a level of comfo…Read More
Balance is one of the least discussed components of a complete fitness program. Your balance system includes any sense within the body that sends messages to the brain about how you are moving; in turn the brain activates the appropriate muscles that allow you to move without falling. Technically the word that relates to body balance is proprioception; this means the body’s ability to interp…Read More
Stretching can help your body stay flexible and limber, which gives you more freedom of movement for your regular physical activity, as well as your everyday activities. Being able to easily and comfortably look over your shoulder as you back-up a car, putting on your socks, or cutting your toe nails, all require some level of flexibility. Maintaining flexibility is an important aspect to good…Read More
As adults we often discard the need for setting goals, assuming that self-reasoning will help us stay on track. If that were the case, then America wouldn’t have an obesity problem! No matter what your age, setting goals keeps us focused and motivates us to keep moving forward. It is also best to set both short and long term goals. Goals are most useful when they are “SMART,” which s…Read More
There are two primary strategies for successful weight loss; eat less and burn more calories. Certainly a healthy, well-balanced diet is critical to good health and is especially important when trying to lose weight. 3,500 calories consumed and not burned will add one pound of body weight. Said another way, if you overeat by just 125 calories every day (which is easy to do), you will gain on…Read More
When it comes to weight loss, people vary greatly in how much physical activity they need based on their body type, metabolism and exercise intensity. That said, most people will need a high amount of physical activity unless one’s diet is adjusted to reduce the amount of calories being consumed. The more vigorous your exercise program, the more calories per hour you will burn. What do we …Read More
Statistics show that 9 out of 10 adults have experienced serious stress. Stress is a part of everyday life but has become more of a problem since the introduction of technology into our already fast paced lives. Time constraints, feelings of inadequacy and unrealistic expectations can all lead to feeling stressed out. A certain amount of stress can be useful as a motivating factor but too mu…Read More
