What's your best weight?
July 11, 2021
Written By: Registered Dietitian Mairead As a dietitian, this is a very common question I get: how much should I weigh?
While this seems like a straight-forward question, it's often more complicated than we'd think.
You could pull out a calculator and figure out how much you should weigh for your height according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). This will give you a theoretical range, but BMI doesn't take variations in how much muscle people have. With our training at Degree, we often see people put on muscle and lose body fat, but their weight stays the same. The BMI equation can't account for this because it's simply just an equation.
BMI also isn't accurate for tall people, short people, and many different cultural groups.
Theoretically, technically, and temporarily, we could diet ourselves down to be almost any weight we want. But long-term weight maintenance is more complicated than that. Temporary weight changes often just take into account calories in and calories out. Long-term changes have to consider the impact on your metabolism, what your lifestyle looks like, how often you can actually exercise, your favourite foods, who cooks at home, your grocery budget, social events... the list goes on!
Your best weight is the one you can maintain without a fight, but where you're still looking after your body.
What exactly that weight is might change through the different seasons of your life, whether that includes an injury, growing your family, or a change in job.
Your best weight includes eating satisfying amounts of foods you love, as well as making eating decisions that support your long-term health. It includes moving your body in ways that feel good, and moving your body often enough to maintain a level of fitness that lets you enjoy your life the way you want.
When we add or take away something from our life in the pursuit of health or a change in weight, there might be a trade off. Getting in extra workouts might mean going to bed earlier and therefore less TV in the evening. Does that fit with how you want to live your life right now? Going on a restrictive diet might mean less eating out with friends, more time in the kitchen, and less of your favourite foods. Are those trade-offs you want to make? There's no right or wrong answer, just deciding what matters to you.
Finally, contrary to what social media would have you believe, there is more to your body size and weight than just how much you exercise and how you eat.
Your body's specific and unique physiology plays a huge role too, and one we usually can't override completely. This includes genetics, your stress levels and the impact that has on your body, and your current metabolism. Other factors could include socioeconomic status and history, dieting history, and any underlying medical conditions.
Keeping all of this in mind, here's my answer to what your healthiest weight is:
Your healthiest weight at this time is the one where you are eating and moving in ways that feel good and are promoting overall health without taking away from other important parts of your life or sacrificing your mental health.
If you're looking to learn more about how we can work some nutrition changes into your life to help you be your happiest and healthiest self at your best weight, let's chat more.
Nutrition Consultations and On-Going Nutrition Coaching are not available at this time, but you can join the waitlist to be first in line when spots open up. To join the waitlist or to learn more, email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com!
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!