Functional fitness will mean something different to each individual person…
November 25, 2019
Written By: MJ Greidanus
What is functional fitness? It is something that is thrown around a lot in the fitness world, but what does it really mean?!
Functional Fitness is using everyday movements and activities in your exercise routine. We squat, reach, lift, pull and carry in our daily lives. Functional movements are put into action in a safe and manageable place in your fitness routine.
To understand it even easier, think of it this way…
In our daily lives we sit down and stand up many times throughout the day. This is your squat. We pick things up off the floor. This is your deadlift. We take things out and put things away in cupboards. We are reaching and lifting over our head. We carry groceries, work in our gardens and flowerbeds, play with grandchildren or pets and so many more things daily and don’t even think about it.
Functional fitness will mean something different to each individual person, depending on what your goals and needs are. What is needed for someone who wants to run a marathon and someone who just wants to keep up with energetic grandchildren will vary in degree not by the movement itself.
Quoting Greg Glassmen, the Founder of CrossFit and where Degree CrossFit Seaforth’s name came to be:
“The needs of Olympic athletes and our grandparents differ by degree, not kind. One needs functional competence to stay out of the nursing home. The other wants functional dominance to win medals.”
When we work at building our strength in the same way that we move in our daily lives, it gives us the tools to move safely, reducing the risks of injury and making our quality of life that much better.
This is so much truer as we age! We need to keep ourselves as mobile and flexible as we can, building up our strength and endurance to do what we need in our daily lives.. Many of us are caught in not only changes within our own health and mobility, but we are also busy caring for extended families and friends. We need to make the time to keep ourselves as best that we can be. Putting YOU close to the top of the priority list is a goal we all need to strive for but too often we let it slide to the bottom of the list.
Did you know we have an on-going fitness program developed specifically for men and women 50 years young and older? Click here to learn more about our Young at Heart Fitness Program! We also offer personalized fitness programs with your Personal Trainer. Click here to learn more about 1-1 Training, or, hop into our Group CrossFit classes to get a step ahead of aches and pains – reaching your full potential by clicking here!
Functional fitness works, all you need to do is start!
See you soon!
Coach MJ
maryjane@degreecrossfitseaforth.com
Functional Fitness is using everyday movements and activities in your exercise routine. We squat, reach, lift, pull and carry in our daily lives. Functional movements are put into action in a safe and manageable place in your fitness routine.
To understand it even easier, think of it this way…
In our daily lives we sit down and stand up many times throughout the day. This is your squat. We pick things up off the floor. This is your deadlift. We take things out and put things away in cupboards. We are reaching and lifting over our head. We carry groceries, work in our gardens and flowerbeds, play with grandchildren or pets and so many more things daily and don’t even think about it.
Functional fitness will mean something different to each individual person, depending on what your goals and needs are. What is needed for someone who wants to run a marathon and someone who just wants to keep up with energetic grandchildren will vary in degree not by the movement itself.
Quoting Greg Glassmen, the Founder of CrossFit and where Degree CrossFit Seaforth’s name came to be:
“The needs of Olympic athletes and our grandparents differ by degree, not kind. One needs functional competence to stay out of the nursing home. The other wants functional dominance to win medals.”
When we work at building our strength in the same way that we move in our daily lives, it gives us the tools to move safely, reducing the risks of injury and making our quality of life that much better.
This is so much truer as we age! We need to keep ourselves as mobile and flexible as we can, building up our strength and endurance to do what we need in our daily lives.. Many of us are caught in not only changes within our own health and mobility, but we are also busy caring for extended families and friends. We need to make the time to keep ourselves as best that we can be. Putting YOU close to the top of the priority list is a goal we all need to strive for but too often we let it slide to the bottom of the list.
Did you know we have an on-going fitness program developed specifically for men and women 50 years young and older? Click here to learn more about our Young at Heart Fitness Program! We also offer personalized fitness programs with your Personal Trainer. Click here to learn more about 1-1 Training, or, hop into our Group CrossFit classes to get a step ahead of aches and pains – reaching your full potential by clicking here!
Functional fitness works, all you need to do is start!
See you soon!
Coach MJ
maryjane@degreecrossfitseaforth.com
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian We all know drinking enough water and staying hydrated is important - and even more so in the summer! But with so much information out there, sometimes it's hard to know what you need to focus on! Check out these answers to the most common hydration questions! How much should I be drinking? For most healthy adults, aiming for about 30ml per kilogram of body weight per day will meet your needs. You can also take your weight in pounds, and drink half that number of ounces of water daily. The math will work out pretty similar! In warmer weather or for those who are sweating a lot, you may need more water than this. What counts as water? Generally plain water is considered best to meet your hydration needs, although technically all fluids (except alcohol) do count. Aim to meet your fluid goals mainly with plain water, unsweetened soda water, unsweetened coffee and tea, and try to limit sugar-sweetened beverages, such as pop and energy drinks. Does caffeine dehydrate me? Some people are concerned that their coffee is causing them to lose twice as much fluid as they're putting in! While caffeine is a diuretic, meaning you will pee more often, it does not dehydrate you. Aim to make most of your fluid intake non-caffeinated, and you will stay hydrated! Can I drink too much water? Yes! Despite what you may see on social media, drinking gallons and gallons of water can actually be hazardous and causes mineral imbalances in your body, causing you to feel sick or even need medical attention. You do need to drink enough but you don't want to overdo it. You're likely properly hydrated if your pee is a pale yellow colour. If it's consistently clear, you might be drinking too much. Do I need electrolytes to stay hydrated? Electrolytes are everywhere right now! These minerals do help your body maintain it's fluid balance, and are lost in sweat. If you are working out or active for long periods of time in the heat or know you're a "salty sweater" from seeing salt stains on dried workout clothes, you may want to consider using electrolytes. However, these products don't take the place of drinking enough total fluid in the first place to help you stay hydrated. Help! I can't remember to drink water! It can be hard to drink enough when you're busy! Try bringing a water bottle with you wherever you go to encourage you to drink throughout the day. Use a straw to help you take bigger sips. Set a goal to finish your water or drink a certain amount by certain times in the day. You could even set reminders in your phone or use an app that will help you remember to drink! Looking for more personalized nutrition advice? Let's chat! Email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com for more info about our Nutrition Programs or click HERE to book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat!
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian We all know that vegetables and fruit are good for us and key part of a healthy diet. They are packed with fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are low in calories, for those watching their portions but still wanting to stay full. A diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. But actually getting those fruits and vegetables in can be hard work, especially for families! Fortunately, there's lots of ways to make produce more fun for everyone - from parents who know what they should be eating to kids who just don't want to. For kids, even if they don't love their produce, continuing to explore and be exposed to fruits and vegetables is still helping them learn about healthy eating! Check out these tips to help everyone eat more produce! 1. Explore new options! There are so many fruit and vegetable options out there! If you're feeling bored with your usual produce standbys, it's time to look for more options. Go explore the produce department of your favourite grocery store - the bigger the store, the more new options there may be. Kids especially can have fun checking out all the different new-to-them ideas. Pick one or two to bring home and try, and repeat the whole adventure as needed! Even for adults, this can add a much-needed dose of whimsy to your fruit and vegetable game. 2. Add produce to your snacks! Sometimes we just need more opportunities in a day to get that fruits and vegetables in. If you're not already, adding them to your snacks can give you just that! Easy options on the go include apples, bananas, and raw veggie sticks. It doesn't need to be complicated, and can be an easy options for kids and adults alike. For longer lasting energy, make sure to pair your produce with some kind of protein, such as cheese, nuts, or hummus. 3. Cook them in different ways! Maybe the rut you're stuck in is that you're preparing your produce the same way every time. If you always go for a basic salad or steamed veggies at dinner, try roasting a medley of whatever's in your crisper drawer. Maybe do a family experiment to see how many different vegetables you can find that make great oven fries! (Spoiler alert, it's way more than just potatoes!) For fruit, try making fruit salads, or adding them to more savory salads, baked goods, or your favourite breakfast cereal. Mixing it up might be just the way to get everyone more excited about fruits and veggies! 4. When in doubt, add a dip! Kids love dip. Adults love dip. This can be such an easy win! While dips sometimes have a bad reputation due to their higher fat content, the veggies or fruit you have with dip is still better for you than having no produce at all! In fact, the fat you find in many dips actually helps your body better absorb certain vitamins, including vitamins A, E, D, and K. While the obvious dip pairing is with raw veggies, roasted or other cooked veggies may also be fun to dip, and fruit pairs well with yogurt-based dips! Would your family try any of these ideas this summer? When the goal is to help everyone include more vegetables and fruit in their diets, sometimes you just need new ways to make them more fun! Looking for more personalized nutrition advice? Let's chat! Email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com for more info, or click HERE to book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat!
Written By: Coach Sienna The media portrays fitness as looking a certain way and creating this picture of a “perfect person” who eats clean and works out everyday and does everything right and never messes up. When you're always being shown this version of fitness it’s easy to start to think, is this what being fit is? ..... And suddenly you find yourself comparing yourself to unrealistic standards. Fitness is much more than the shape of our body! It's about what your body can do for you and how it can support your daily life and how movement makes you feel strong, accomplished, proud, empowered! Here is how we can overcome the negative impact that some Media has on us, and fitness in general: Redefine Fitness Fitness is more than your body, it's strength, endurance, mobility, energy and how you feel. It's not supposed to be perfect or linear, your body will change and life will happen. What matters most is showing up for yourself and moving your body. Even a little bit can go a long way! Positive Self Talk You don't have to be perfect to love yourself. Be kind to your mind and speak to yourself with kindness. Remind yourself of what your body can do for you, remember you are WORTHY! :) Focusing On The Little Wins We often have such a heavy focus on how we look but what if it was never about how we looked but more about how we felt. Do you notice after you get in a workout or a session you always tend to have a lift in your mood and a shift in perspective. Movement has the power to make us feel strong and happy and more like ourselves! Do Movements You Enjoy Fitness should be fun and functional. You are more likely to stick to it if you enjoy it! Find movements that excite you. Like lifting, walking, running, dancing, gymnastics etc. When you focus on what your body can do and not what it looks like, you can start to see how strong and capable you really are! Set Goals Related To Movement-Mood-Function Movement - touching your toes or doing your first push-up Mood - Having more energy during the day and feeling less anxious Function - Carrying groceries, running around with your kids, etc. Remember - you are already enough! You don't need to look a certain way to be fit. You just need to move your body in a way you enjoy, take care of yourself and celebrate what your body does for you everyday! If you've been feeling stuck, or wanting to start working out with a Coach, or in an environment that is inclusive, inviting, safe, honours all body shapes and sizes, we can help! CLICK HERE to book a free meeting with one of our Coaches to learn how you can get started at Degree or, email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com .