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: Coach Sienna Training your body through exercise can provide more benefits than just improving your physical health. It can also support emotional wellbeing, mindset, mood and mental health! As much as working out can physically be tiring and challenging. It also challenges your mind which is just as good. Here is what is going on in your body when working out… Endorphins (happy, feel good hormones) Your body releases these when you are exercising and can impact how you feel. Example of this would be runners high. This happens when a release of these feel good chemicals occur during or after a workout. This happens biologically and is a mood elevator! Dopamine (motivation chemical) Is the brains reward chemical which also makes an appearance during exercise. This chemical affects your motivation and focus and overall sense of accomplishment and the “I can do anything!” Mentality. Serotonin (mood regulator) Serotonin helps balance your mood and keep you happy! Regular exercise can increase the production of this hormone.Overall change your day and even your life. Reduces Cortisol (stress hormone) Cortisol is our bodies stress hormone which can affect our mood negatively and make us feel like blah. During exercise this hormone is than kicked to the curb and replaced with our happy ones. Regular exercise can also help reduce this hormone over time overall leading a happy life. Confidence Since working out gives you a sense of accomplishment and that you did something hard. This can improve your confidence and help you release that you can do hard things. Confidence from a workout can help you flow into your work day with that same feeling and mindset. Movement as a Emotional Outlet Exercise can be hard and this can be a place to let out built up energy in your body instead of storing it. Maybe you had a hard week a work or something isn't working out in your favour. Exercise provides this outlet for these feelings and can help process them. Exercise is more than just a workout. You rewire your brain and change your mindset. It Improves your mood calming your nerves and provides an emotional outlet. Exercise isn't just for your physical health it also supports your mental health which is just as important! Ready to get moving? Book your Free Consultation by CLICKING HERE , or email us at info@degreefitnessseaforth.com to inquire.
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian Supplements are a hot topic these days! It seems like everyone is on a different combination of products they swear by. Everywhere you look online, someone is trying to sell you a new shiny supplement, swearing that it will change your life. Supplements include vitamins and minerals, like multivitamins or those with a specific nutritient. The category of supplements also includes fibre supplements, electrolyes, probiotics, and many other products. There's just so many! There's many reasons to take supplements. Your doctor may diagnose a deficiency and recommend a supplement to correct it. You might need a supplement to make up for certain foods that you don't or can't eat, or to manage a specific condition. May people just take them because it seems like a good idea! And while many supplements are harmless, not all of them are harmless at all doses. Next time you're wondering if a supplement is for you, think about the following questions to decide if it's a good fit! 1. Could I get this from food? Sometime we have to take supplements because of things we don't or can't eat - but sometimes we can avoid the need for supplements altogether by using food! If the thing you need more of is found in food, you can often meet your needs without a supplement simply by learning more about what foods have that certain nutrient. For example, instead of taking vitamin C, you could focus on eating more fruits and vegetables to meet your needs. There are even nutrients that are more effective in their whole-food form than when they're isolated in a supplement! (Psssttt... your friendly neighbour dietitian is the perfect person to work with on this.) 2. What is this going to do for me? Often, people take a supplement just because it "seems like a good idea". This can lead to taking supplements that you don't need, which is harmless at best and can cause health issues at worst! If you are taking a supplement, it should be because you actually need it, not just for fun. One person may need a supplement because of their own dietary habits and health concerns, while the next person may not! 3. Who is selling me this? If someone is selling you a product, they can't possibly give you an unbiased opinion on whether you should be taking it. While you can definitely buy products to support your friends or influencers, make sure the product is actually the right one for you. Many people selling supplemented products may not have much or any health and nutrition education, and may not be the right person to be making recommendations. 4. How much is too much? Just because some of a vitamin, mineral, or other product is good, doesn't always mean more is better! Most vitamins and minerals have a Tolerable Upper Limit. This is the amount beyond which you could start to see side effects or health concerns as a result of taking in too much of the nutrient. Taking some supplements for extended periods of time can actually result in deficiencies of other nutrients! Some blended supplement products may also have very high amounts of certain nutrients, so remember to have a look at your labels. Check your supplements to make sure you're not taking in too much! 5. How do I know if it's working? If you are spending money on a product and using energy to remember to take it, it should be doing something good for you. So how do you know if it's working? For some cases, you may need to repeat bloodwork to see if a deficiency has been resolved or is being properly managed. For other supplements, you can assess for yourself based on whether any symptoms have improved. There are also some types of supplements that may just quietly do their job without you really noticing - and that's also ok! Make sure you know what to expect your supplement to be doing so you know if it's the right fit and working for you! Looking for more supplement 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 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!