What Am I Searching For?
April 18, 2022
Written By: Jackie, General ManagerWe all know that someone who is constantly searching! Searching for that Fitness Program that will give them that body or the ABS they have always wanted! That diet that will make them skinny in no time at all! That Health Care Professional that will fix their ailments! The Dietitian that will provide the best meal plan to fix years of not eating the healthiest!
I am sure we have been there ourselves, or continue to be in that mindset. But do you ever just ask yourself, WHAT EXACTLY AM I SEARCHING FOR?
Part of the problem is that, generally speaking, people do not stick with something long enough to actually allow a program or health journey to work properly. You have to understand that this kind of dedication will take months, if not years, to work.
FITNESS IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION
Let me give you an example:
You start a new Diet that will ensure you lose weight. You stick to it for an entire month and you feel better in your clothes and more confident around people. You then have a weekend where you consume ‘old’ foods and drinks pre diet and you find yourself right back to square one in no time.
The failure here is that the Diet program didn’t account for long term sustainability! It didn’t teach you how to appreciate certain foods and how they can keep you healthy while sustaining healthy body weight! It didn’t teach you to understand how proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates work hand in hand. It didn’t teach you that eating healthy is a lifelong journey! It doesn’t teach you to build a mindset around food that you will appreciate and understand.
Another Example:
You want to work out and plan on going to a gym 2-3 times a week to start and hope to reach your goal by the end of summer.
This is a great goal to have, but is it realistic? Are you giving yourself enough time to develop a routine of working out and eating properly (because these two HAVE to go hand in hand) so you can try to reach your goal? And what if you do not reach your goal? Are you going to give up and tell yourself that you have FAILED?
Or are you going to allow your mind to embrace the hard work you have already done and continue to tell yourself, you are WORTH THE EFFORT?
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not wrapped up in a month or two of hard work, but rather a lifetime of learning about yourself so you can become stronger, happier with yourself, and build on the foundations you have already built for yourself!
Next time you are finding yourself searching…. Take a step back, look at exactly what you want to be doing and make a commitment to YOURSELF for the long term.
If you need someone to hold you accountable, to cheer you on day in and day out, to support you through the tough days, then invest in a trained coach or dietitian. This will help you achieve your long term goals in the most effective way possible.
If you are still searching and struggling to start a routine, reach out to Degree Fitness to book a No Sweat Intro information session where an ideal plan can be customized for you!
Helping you be accountable is what our trained coaches and dietitian are here to help you with! Click HERE or email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com to get started!!
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 .
Written By: Coach Sienna We know Cardio is good for your heart health but it is also good for our respiratory systems which help bring oxygen to fuel our muscles to do what they gotta do! By doing cardio we strengthen all of these components which help us live a happier healthy lifestyle! Your body is built to move and releases happy chemicals called endorphins from having an increased heart rate which can improve your mood. This can happen in just 10 minutes! We all know Cardio is an important part of our health but most of us just don’t have a lot of time due to kids, work, life etc. Just remember any movement is a good movement! No matter how long or short it may be. The little things add up (: Use this 10 minute at home cardio workout (no equipment needed!) to get your heart rate up and feeling your best even on the busiest days. 2 Rounds of 1 minute of Jumping Jacks 1 minute of High Knees 1 minute Air Squats or Jump Squat 1 minute of Burpees 1 minute of Mountain Climbers *Rest as needed but try to keep it 30s or less between movements! We understand life gets in the way and schedules can be tough - we are here to help! Let us know how it went! Email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com , or, visit www.degreefitnessseaforth.com/get-started to book your FREE No Sweat Intro to learn more!
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian You've probably heard of iron and know it's important. Maybe you've even had your levels checked through bloodwork! Iron is an important mineral in our diet. It is part of the blood cells that carry oxygen around our body, and plays roles in growth and the production of some hormones. The amount of iron you need varies. Men need less, while women need more due to blood loss during menstruation. This puts women at higher risk for low iron. The symptoms of low iron include feeling sluggish and fatigued, pale skin, and even hair loss! Women under 50 years old need 18mg of iron a day, while women over 50 and all men only need 8mg of iron daily. Many people can get enough iron through a varied and balanced diet. Iron is found in meat, poultry, fish, legumes, eggs, soy, and many grains and vegetables. Our bodies are better able to absorb iron from animal sources - this type of iron is referred to as "heme iron". Non-heme iron is found in plant sources and is harder for your body to absorb. If you rely on plant-based sources of iron, you may need to eat a lot more of it. Pairing iron sources with sources of vitamin C can also help increase absorption. If you suspect your iron levels are low, ask your doctor to check your levels through a blood test. If your iron level is low and you're already consuming enough through diet, you may need a supplement to increase your levels. Always check if you actually need an iron supplement before starting one! Iron plays some key roles in our bodies, and is important for overall health! Make sure you include a variety of sources daily to meet your body's needs! Looking for more personalized nutrition advice? Let's chat! Email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com for more information about our Nutrition Programs, or click HERE to book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat!