Exercise and Arthritis!
February 25, 2022
Written By: Coach MJThe past five years have seen a lot of changes in the way I move, exercise and work. It started out with a nagging pain shooting down my leg and times where it felt like the leg would give out on me - how awkward to be walking across the road and almost falling over in the middle of town! When it didn’t go away I made the call and got it looked into…arthritis in the right hip, nothing major at this point but something to keep an eye on. Fast forward three years and the next x-ray was a totally different story: bone on bone and severe pain majority of the time. It was affecting my quality of life, work and limiting many activities I wanted to be able to do.
Chronic pain also plays a major role in mental health even though I didn’t recognize this till later.
One major factor that kept me moving was my gym family at Degree Fitness Seaforth. As hard as it was to admit that I couldn’t always do the prescribed workout of the day, my coaching team always came up with a plan to move in a way that would work for me in a safe but effective way. Keeping moving and working on strength training not only helped me keep moving better but was a major help in the recovery process. It is still a work in progress since having a total hip replacement but each day is a step in the right direction. It is like starting over again, relearning what my body can do or changing ways that work best to build up the strength and confidence to be my best.
Arthritis is different for everyone, but in short arthritis affects the joints, tissues around the joint and causes stiffness and pain.
It can be caused by an injury, wear and tear on the joint or genetics. It has no age limit and affects young and old.
When we are sore it makes it easier to want to slow down and move less to keep the pain to a minimum. But the opposite is true - exercising the proper way will help ease pain, strengthen the surrounding muscles and keep joints moving better. By building strong support around the joints it can help in pain management, it helps in maintaining a healthy weight and gives more energy to do your daily activities.
As always when starting an exercise program you will want to check with your doctor to make sure you are cleared to exercise. At Degree, with your permission, we can work with you and your health care professionals to build a program that works best for you. Exercise is not one size fits all; the more we work together, the better we can help you reach your goals!
Our fitness journey will always be a work in progress as we move forward to be the best that we can be. It comes with bumps in the road but the key is to keep working together to jump over the bumps.
I would love to help you improve their fitness and health in a way that works best for you. I have limited openings available to get you started!
Our Free No Sweat Intro is a great time to sit down and talk to see if Degree is that place for you!
To get started with 1-1 coaching to hit your fitness and health goals, email me at maryjane@degreefitnessseaforth.com or book your FREE No Sweat Intro by clicking here!
Written By: Coach Sienna Showing up for yourself is so important but its often overlooked and dismissed. Showing up for yourself isn't some cheesey, made up statement. There is meaning behind it and science! Showing up for yourself is an empowering practice that can transform the way you live, love and lead! BUT what does showing up for yourself actually mean? And why does it matter so much? S howing up for yourself is... Not Selfish You matter and you are important! Treat yourself as if you were a loved one. It means honoring your own needs, values and well being to achieve overall wellness. This means being consistent in the way you treat yourself, not just when it's convenient to you! It is…. Keeping your word to yourself and keeping those promises Choosing rest to prevent burnout It means giving yourself grace and speaking kindly to yourself (Its your first time living!) Prioritizing growth even if its uncomfortable Creating boundaries and sticking with them Say No when something doesn't align with you or your beliefs I t's about treating you like you are worth caring for not only when you have “deserved it” but because you are worth that care, always! Why does all of this matter? It strengthens your relationship with yourself Prevents you for burning or crashing out Builds self confidence as well as trust in yourself Helps you stay balanced emotionally and physically The more time you spend getting to know yourself you learn and discover hobbies! You learn that YOU CAN DO IT and that YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS! You become more present for others! You are no longer pouring from an empty cup! What does this look like in real life? Drinking enough water even though you would rather skip it Going on a walk or doing meditation to have time for yourself to avoid crash out Keeping promises you said you would Letting go of perfection and simply doing the best that you can with what you've got S tart showing up for yourself today! Let yourself know that you've got you :) --- To inquire about services, programs or to get started email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com or call/text 519-441-7492!
Written By: Coach Kelly I’ve been exercising since high school... I don’t want to age myself tooooo much ;) but that was quite sometime ago. I meet with people all the time who are looking to get started. They are looking to lose weight, tone up, feel better, happier, increase bone density, do something for them, for various reasons. I’m going to give you two of the most important things that you need to do to make your fitness stick, through al season nd all set backs. Write these down, memorize them, and repeat them over and over. You’ll always succeed. Forget about motivation Seriously, forget it. Motivation comes after you get started. It comes when you start to see results; it comes when your pants fit different; it comes when you’re not out of breath going up stairs; it comes when you are running down the soccer field with your kids; it comes when you are happier; it comes when you feel less anxious, less depressed; it comes after you get started. Remember your why Why are you wanting to get started? Why do you want to spend money and time at a gym? Are you willing to do this for months, if not years? When your schedule gets busy, or your kids get sick, why will you keep coming to classes or appointments? You just need to get started, and you need to clearly understand why you are starting in the first place. After that, you must stick with it. Even when y you’re tired, when you’re frustrated, when you want to give up. Everyone wants the quick fix. We will spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on supplements that promise to help us lose weight, feel better, but honestly, nothing will compare to the eating some vegetables and getting in a structured workout with a Coach or at a gym 2 - 3 times per week. I know it’s hard. I know it’s hard. Like, I really, really know it’s hard. But, as you’re reading this, look way down the road, like 1 year, then 3, then 5 years. How do you want to feel? As hard as it is to get started, it will be even harder if you don’t do anything. You deserve to invest in yourself. You deserve to feel good. You have got this and we believe in you - Let’s go! ----- To inquire about services, programs or to get started email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com or call/text 519-441-7492!
Written By: Coach Kelly My gym ownership journey started in December of 2019. At the time I was managing the day to day Degree, coaching classes/appointments and running events/programs. The previous owner had some really exciting things coming up in her life that required big changes. One of them being handing over the keys to someone else. It was an immediate yes, and an absolute honour! Degree was originally founded as a place to workout with a group of like minded, amazing people. Using fitness as a vehicle for a better overall life (happier people, healthier people). I always believed int eh original mission, vision an values of Degree and they haven’t changed much over the years :) Fitness to me was a way to escape; I could move my body, stay strong and feel empowered when everything else around me felt like it was falling apart. I’ve continued to use fitness to improve my overall health and strength, and just like when I first started, to stay grounded when everything else feels shaky. Fitness to me, and at Degree, is more than muscles. It’s helping our clients have a safe space they can come, be themselves, and workout with their gym buddies. As they do this, the most amazing things happen, and it makes our hearts soar as you Coaches… We see you light up when you crush a hard workout, or do something you didn’t think you could do. When you share a bright spot and everyone in your class is genuinely happy and excited for you, too! When you start to realize, and believe , that you are whole heartedly capable of anything you put your mind to. That you are worth it; you always have been. Degree is the cornerstone of health and wellness, and we will always be here to help you, and our community live their happiest, and healthiest lives! ----- To inquire about services, programs or to get started email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com or call/text 519-441-7492!