Why Do We Struggle This Time of Year?

October 13, 2022

Written By: Jackie, General Manager


Is anyone else finding it difficult to stay motivated this time of year? I know I am! I don’t know what it is but it is like clock work, year after year. Do any of these resonate with you?

It is harder to get up in the morning.

It is more difficult to stay motivated.

It becomes easier to just veg on the couch.

No matter how much sleep you get, you still feel tired.

You may have feelings of despair or misery.

 

Do you also know that this is very common during the fall and winter months? Some researchers call it Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD for short). However labeled or not, the struggle is very real.


Seasonal mood shifts often include less energy, feeling less social, losing interest in favorite activities, having cravings for carbs and changes in sleep. The one main factor contributing to these mood shifts is LIGHT! We all know that days are getting shorter as we approach fall, affecting our circadian clock, the biological response to changing light levels.

We often find this time of year many people begin to lose interest in staying active. Yet, staying active is one of the most important aspects in our life for boosting our moods; along with getting sunlight, eating right, and surrounding yourself with people. 

Here are some tips to help get over the Fall Mood hump:

Remain active - if you are going to the gym, continue showing up! If getting up in the morning is hard now to go workout, go right after work! Commit to keeping yourself active, especially when it becomes hard!

Get outside for your breaks and take in the sunlight/fresh air. That fresh air can help rejuvenate you and the sunlight will feel great on your skin.

Try to stick to a schedule. Go to bed at the same time every day, wake up the same time every day! Schedule in those things that are important to you.

Eat healthy and try to limit excessive sweets and simple carbs as they will only contribute to your fatigue and mood.

Prioritize social activities and find ways to stay connected with people! Join a book club, join friends for coffee at a local cafe or park, participate in social activities, find something that will allow you to connect! 


If you are looking for that sense of community in a gym where you can spend time working out together to improve your mood, then reach out today to book a No Sweat Intro information session where we can chat about getting you active to boost your mood.

The Coaches at Degree are ready to help you get started! Click HERE or email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com to make that important first connection!

What It Means to Be Fit

June 4, 2025
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 .

10 Minute at Home Cardio Workout

May 25, 2025
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!

What You Need to Know About Iron!

May 22, 2025
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!
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