Why I prefer a gym with a coach or personal trainer!
March 30, 2022
Written By: Jackie, General ManagerThere are many reasons people chose to go to a gym! It could be location, equipment, accessibility, class offerings, cost, the vibe, workout options, etc….
A gym can be defined as a physical location where people go to exercise and train. To me, and to many members, a gym is more than that physical location!
At Degree Fitness, the space is more than a space, but rather a place to recharge, socialize, and unwind; a place to leave the stressors at the door, if only for a half hour or hour!
“It makes my fitness routine fun and enjoyable to have a cheerleader or support person to lead me through my session.”
-LARISSA
Degree Fitness does not only promote physical wellbeing, but the staff and coaches really focus on your mental wellbeing as well. The space allows members to have a functional and comfortable workout environment, free of judgment!
“Everyone works hard cheering each other on, Degree is a great place to be in mind and spirit. I recommend Degree to anyone!”
- CRAIG
What you can expect from Degree Fitness also depends on your openness to learn something new every day! Not only something new about a movement but what you can accomplish! You are so much stronger than you think!
“The extra encouragement that I can do a little more than I think I can has helped me reach goals and surprise myself many times.”
- MEGAN
If you are worried about starting at a gym, Degree offers a free No-Sweat Intro where you can actually sit down with one of our coaches or trainers and discuss your goals. From there you and the coach will assess what is the best path forward to achieving your goals.
“Having a certified coach/trainer is the best thing in my opinion to ensure each workout and the movements are done properly for less risk of injury.”
- CRAIG
The services that are offered at Degree Fitness include group training, online personal training, personal training programs, nutritional coaching, 6 week programs, specialty courses, and youth or kids' programs.
“Being able to pick different class times/days through the week is also super nice, especially with different shifts at work, I can make classes around my schedule.”
- SHERI
No matter what your schedule, there is a time that will allow you to get your workout in!
“I can be sure if my form or mechanics of a movement or lift are off or need a little extra tweaking, my coach will be there to help me.”
- LARISSA
The group classes are capped at 8 participants to ensure the most fun, and most effective workout for you. The best thing about group classes is that function movements allow coaches to ensure participants move in the safest, most efficient way to power through a movement.
“The class sizes are nice because coaches have the ability to make sure everyone is moving properly; you don’t get lost in the crowd.”
- SHERI
The fact that each day is a different WOD (workout of the day) makes it so much more appealing to members.
“I love that the coaches share the ‘why’ behind what we’re doing as well. Their knowledge, support, and encouragement has been a huge part of my success in sticking with it. I tried for years on my own, doing drop ins, etc.. this has by far been the longest and most successful experience in my fitness journey.”
- MEGAN
Reaching your personal goals is what Degree staff focus on as well. Many members take advantage of personal training (PT) where you work one-on-one with a coach to reach your goals. Let’s hear from one of our PT clients and her reason for choosing this option:
“I don’t have a schedule that is consistent. Having PT sessions booked around my ever changing schedule is much easier. PT sessions allow me to work towards personal goals. I found that depending on the day, how I felt physically and mentally, my coach could change the plan for me. There is always a way to keep moving.”
- LORI
Why work with trained coaches?
“The individual advice given based on my abilities and how I feel on a particular day. This allows me to safely challenge myself.”
- ANGELA
Degree Fitness coaches have all taken certified coaching courses that teach them to find the tools to assist their clients in achieving their desired outcome. But the most important aspect of hiring a coach is that they need to care about their clients first and foremost! A coach will not only relate to their clients personality wise but knowledge in what they are teaching.
“A trained coach makes sure we are doing the moves correctly, so we don’t hurt ourselves.”
- RAY
The Atmosphere is Contagious
At Degree Fitness, everyone is so encouraging and welcoming! Judgment is not welcomed! We thrive off laughter and encouragement!
“Encouragement from other class members helps us get through a class and have fun at the same time.”
- RAY
“The crazy chatter, jokes, and fun talk before, during, and after a workout is so fun!”
- SOPHIE
We have some of the best laughs! We encourage each other to lift a little heavier, push themselves a little further, cheer to finish a workout, and celebrate with each other after each workout!
“Moving my body with the aid of a coach has also helped my mental well-being!”
- COURTNEY
If this sounds like a gym you want to be part of, reach out today to book a No Sweat Intro information session where an ideal plan can be customized for you!
Whatever your goals or aspirations are, we have the coaches that can help you reach your goals! Click HERE or email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com to get started!!
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian Snacking causes a lot of worry for many people! Is snacking bad? When should we be snacking? What's the best snack? Snacking itself isn't a bad habit, unless it's not aligned with your health and fitness goals. Snacks can actually do a lot of good to keep our energy levels up throughout the day and help meet our nutrition needs. Let's check out four ways you can improve your snacking habits! 1. Think about why! If you're concerned about whether your snacks are a problem, it's worth thinking about why you're snacking. Are you hungry between meals? Do you need some fuel before or after a workout? Are you bored at work in the afternoon or need a pick-me-up? Do you need something to do with your hands while watching tv? Are you starving at the end of the day when you get home before you have a chance to make dinner? Snacks serve lots of purposes, from keeping our energy stable during the day, to meeting emotional needs. If you don't feel good about why you're snacking, it might be time to find some other way to meet that need. 2. Plan for your snacks! Often, we may know we need a snack, but not be able to make a healthy choice about it because we're too busy or just too hungry. A little planning goes a long way! Planning ahead for these times can help us make choices that align with our goals, and have something at the ready before we're too hungry to make that healthy choice. Pack a snack or have one at the ready during the times of day or situations when you know you'll need it. 3. Make them satisfying! If a snack isn't satisfying, we'll be reaching for something else soon. For longer lasting energy, choose snacks that have a combination of protein and carbs. This might include yogurt with berries, a higher protein granola bar, crackers and veggies with hummus, or even a couple handfuls of trail mix. If you find yourself finishing your snack without even noticing what you've eaten, try taking a minute to eat more mindfully and focus on your food. This will help you feel more satisfied with it! 4. Fill your nutrition gaps! Snacks are another opportunity to add nutrition to your day. Are there specific foods you're trying to add more of to your diet? Are there nutrients you feel you may be lacking? Use snacks as a way to add these in. If you're concerned about protein, try adding canned tuna, hardboiled eggs, or Greek yogurt to your snacks. If you feel you're lacking vegetables or fruit, include at least one in your snack. If you're trying to include more plant-based proteins, lean on bean-based dips or try roasted chickpeas. The options are endless! Remember, snacking isn't good or bad, and can serve a lot of different purposes. Try using these tips to help your snacking align better with your health and fitness goals! 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!
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian As a Dietitian, I work with a lot of different people. One common thread is that we talk about excuses. So many people come in to a nutrition consultation and tell me about their challenges with nutrition and fitness, and then follow it up by saying something along the lines of "I know these are just excuses, I can do better". The things we often consider excuses can include having a busy job and a busy family life. Working weird hours. Struggling with the cost of groceries. Caring for loved ones. Managing health concerns, chronic diseases, or injuries. The list goes on. For my nutrition clients, I rarely consider any of these things to be excuses. It's not an excuse that you can't eat well because you work long hours and then take your kids to their sports practices - these are very real reasons why you're struggling to make healthy choices. It's not an excuse if you work nights and need to get some sleep so you didn't make it to the gym - it's as aspect of your life that makes getting enough exercise challenging. Think about the things you might consider to be your excuses for not "doing better" with your health and fitness. Are they really just parts of your life or the season you're currently in? None of these things should be making you feel bad or like you're making excuses. But on the flip side, these reasons also don't mean we need to throw in the towel on our goals entirely. They mean we might need to get a bit creative, decide what's really important to us right now, and ask for help when we need it! Instead of feeling bad about your "excuses" that aren't really excuses, it might be time to find some new ideas. Working with a Dietitian can be a great way to figure out what's actually important in your health and fitness goals, and come up with some new ideas to get you there. There are always steps we can take in the right direction to move past those "excuses" and work together for a happier and healthier you! 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!
Written By: Coach Kelly Have you heard... "You’re too old, you’re too tired, you’re too X Y Z" to workout? WRONG! Did you know that the more you move, the less likely you are to experience injuries? The less likely you are to trip, slip or fall. If these things happen, you are less likely to be severely injured. We’ve worked with many different people over the almost 10 years that Degree has been around; hip replacements, knee replacements, strokes, members that experienced an injury outside of the gym but still came to class, etc. We often put ourselves in a box that “I can’t because…”. But, is that true? What if you just tried? Moving keeps us healthy and independent; movement also promotes recovery when done appropriately. So, how do you stick to a fitness routine? Why does it matter? And believe me, it really, really does matter. Keep it simple. I saw the most changes in my fitness/health when I ate well and exercised regularly. I didn't starve myself, I didn’t do any low fat things, I didn’t have to take any extra supplements. I just ate well, trusted the process and moved my body. Now, keep in mind things are different for me than they were 3 years ago; I have a 14 month old and a 3 year old at home. Am I tired? Yep! Do I always get a full nights sleep? Nope, never. Do I have more stress now than then? 100%. However, my why stays true. I want to grow old with power and strength. I want to keep up with my boys and beat them in races as long as I can. I don’t want to be at the Doctors office all the time (even though our local Docs are amazing!). I don’t want to be at the mercy of someone else for my own health. You have the amazing opportunity to keep moving. You have friends, family, jobs, groups and an entire world that wants you to feel good. To feel happy, healthy, strong, and not question if you can go for the bike ride, or be scared to take the stairs. The next best thing you can do if you’re stuck? Ask for help. When our cars break down we take them to the mechanic. When we need a teeth cleaning we go to the Dentist. When we have a tax question we go to the accountant. The world is saturated with health and fitness fads - most of which isn't always the best. Ask for help - Talk to a Coach that can help you leaf through what Google is telling you to find out what will actually work for you, and help you create a habit that works. Ready to get started? Email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com or call/text 519-441-7492!