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Written By: Coach Kelly When it comes to our fitness and nutrition routines, there are a few resources we need to consider that we either have a lot of, some of, or minimal of. These are: Time Money Environment Support Skills Together, these 5 resources give us the framework for what style of fitness is going to fit us best, what our schedule may look like, and our overall enjoyment of the program - this equates to PROGRESS and CONSISTENCY! Skills We aren't talking about how good your dance moves are, or if you can cook a 5 course meal with your hands behind your back. We mean the simple tools that we often have to learn through practice to help us do the things we want! Have you ever heard the phrase "I'll start going to the gym when I know what I'm doing." Or, "I'll test out that new recipe when I figure out how to work my oven." If we wait for the skills to magically show up, we'll be waiting forever! Take the time to learn the technique, whether that's how to cook your veggies to perfection or, how to squat without knee pain. This is how you can help move your fitness and health dial ahead, and not get stuck. We all start somewhere! If you're looking to get started, we are here to help you develop the skills to feel your best CLICK HERE to book your FREE No Sweat Intro and learn how!

Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian The Victoria Day long weekend is usually considered the kick-off of summer! Many of us will be enjoying BBQs, campfires, or maybe the first weekend at the cottage or trailer. With so many fun activities, it can be hard to prioritize your fitness goals while enjoying yourself. Never fear - we've got tips for you! Keep these strategies in mind; they'll help you balance eating well with eating your favourite foods all summer long! 1. Balance your plate! This is one of the simplest strategies to help you watch your portions, while also making sure you include protein, veggies, and fruit at your meals. Try to make half of your plate vegetables and fruit (salads, cut up fruit, veggies with dip, grilled vegetables or fruit, etc.), a quarter of your plate a protein food (meat, beans, plant-based proteins, poultry, or fish) and the last quarter of your plate carbs (bun, potatoes, pasta salad, etc.). This is especially helpful if you know there's going to be lots of "treat" meals over the course of a few days, and gives you room to enjoy your favourite foods. 2. Stay hydrated! As the weather warms up, we're going to be losing more fluid through sweat, which means we need to be be on top of our hydration! Aim to drink at least 8 cups of water daily, and consider making sure you're getting even more if you know you're sweating a lot. Those who are exercising (this includes yard work) in the heat and sweating a lot might want to consider including electrolytes as well! 3. Watch your alcohol intake! It's no surprise that alcohol isn't good for us. Alcoholic drinks can quickly add a lot of extra calories, and possible sugar depending on your drink of choice. The alcohol itself can cause us to be more dehydrated and lead to worse recovery after workouts or training. Try to drink in moderation by choosing water between each drink. If you know you have an important workout or training session the next day, consider holding off on drinking so you can take it on feeling your best. 4. Enjoy your favourite treats! All of the local ice cream places are opening up! If you have a favourite treat you only get to enjoy during certain seasons, make sure you take time to have some and enjoy yourself - and let go of the guilt around it! Choose something you really enjoy and eat it in amounts that are satisfying. If it only comes in a size you know you won't feel good after eating, consider splitting it with a friend. We're not aiming for perfect healthy eating around here, we're aiming for a balance of foods that fuel your body and foods that fuel your heart. Looking for more personalized nutrition help? 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!

Written By: Coach Kelly When it comes to our fitness and nutrition routines, there are a few resources we need to consider that we either have a lot of, some of, or minimal of. These are: Time Money Environment Support Skills Together, these 5 resources give us the framework for what style of fitness is going to fit us best, what our schedule may look like, and our overall enjoyment of the program - this equates to PROGRESS and CONSISTENCY! Support Starting and maintaining a fitness routine or nutrition habits is hard enough on our own, and that's even with good support at home and within our friends. Ensuring that you have the support you need from somewhere is so, so important for long term success. Not everyone is going to understand why you wake up at 5am to workout before the day starts, and not everyone is going to understand why you perhaps look at nutrition a little differently, and that's OK! The important thing is to find those that do, and support you to do this! This could be: FriendsF or amily Your Fitness or Nutrition Coach(es) Your Gym Family Having those people, or groups, to fall on when things get tough; when you want to quit and throw in the towel, they will help you to work through the challenges and stay the course! At Degree, you get a whole Team of fitness and nutrition coaches to help guide you the entire way, plus a crew of members who want nothing more than for you to be successful and feel your best! To find your support, and discover the difference at Degree CLICK HERE to book your FREE No Sweat Intro and learn the best plan for you! 

Written By: Coach Kelly When it comes to our fitness and nutrition routines, there are a few resources we need to consider that we either have a lot of, some of, or minimal of. These are: Time Money Environment Support Skills Together, these 5 resources give us the framework for what style of fitness is going to fit us best, what our schedule may look like, and our overall enjoyment of the program - this equates to PROGRESS and CONSISTENCY! Environment We're not talking trees and grass (although this is important, too!) We mean things like: Where do you live (is it close to a gym)? Do you have meals and snacks ready? Do you have quality food around? How is the support from friends or family at home? The environment we live in will directly impact how we are able to manage all the things. If we live further from a gym, we will want to take into account the time it takes to get there, or maybe we live within walking distance. Can we have some healthy snacks available for after work or school? (This is tied to TIME from the list above!) You can contact our Nutrition Coach directly HERE for help! Setting our environment up for success can take a little bit of time at the start, but have a big pay off in the long run! Do you need help workshopping ways and ideas to get your environment ready for your success? We can help! CLICK HERE to book your free intro meeting or email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com ! 

Written By: Coach Kelly When it comes to our fitness and nutrition routines, there are a few resources we need to consider that we either have a lot of, some of, or minimal of. These are: Time Money Environment Support Skills Together, these 5 resources give us the framework for what style of fitness is going to fit us best, what our schedule may look like, and our overall enjoyment of the program - this equates to PROGRESS and CONSISTENCY! Money There are so many ways to stay active - some require no cost (ie. walking or running outside, playing a YouTube video, etc.), whereas some services have a fee to them (ie. Coaching, Group Classes). As always, there are a few things to consider: Are the free options working for you? (ie. Are you able to get out for your walk regularly and continue to see the changes you want?) Or, do we find that the accountability or motivation simply isn't there to get it done? When we invest in something we are generally more likely to use the service. Then, it's a matter of finding the best package or program that fits your budget, and is something we can commit to in the long run. At Degree, we offer different options with different price points based on schedules, budgets and what sort of environment a person is looking for (ie Group Classes , Personal Training , Nutrition Coaching ). It's important to sit down with a Coach, look at what is available and pick the thing that fits so you feel good about doing it, and invest in Yourself! Sit down with one of our Coaches by CLICKING HERE to explore your options, and find the best fit for you, or, email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com !

Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian When it comes to health and fitness goals, we're all often looking for that next new shiny thing that's going to change our lives. It makes sense - when we find something new, it seems fun and exciting. We're super motivated and hitting our goals or targets seems like a game. But eventually, that shine wears off and it starts to feel like a chore. We start to slip more often and might not be seeing the progress we were before. Often this leads to us giving up entirely. Until we find that next new shiny thing. And the cycle repeats over and over again. As a dietitian, I have clients come in all the time looking for some magic secret. They're hoping there's some trick or hack or secret diet they haven't heard about before that's going to stick forever and fix all their problems. I wish I had one. In reality, the best nutrition advice I can give you is not shiny or magic. While there may be new things you need to learn for specific conditions or needs, the basics for most people are the same. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit. Choose whole grains and high fibre starches over more refined versions. Eat a source of protein at most meals and aim for variety in these sources. Include healthy fats. Wash, rinse, and repeat. If most people did these most of the time, they would see improvements in their energy levels, their performance in the gym, and in their health overall. The hardest part of all is sticking to it for the long-term. It's not a 75 day challenge with an end date, it's the rest of your life. The key is finding ways to incorporate these basics over and over and over again, in ways you enjoy enough that you'll keep doing it. Is there more to nutrition than these basic pieces? Absolutely. And if you have concerns about a specific condition or need, you should seek out credible information for that. But the basics still apply, and are being consistent with these is what will get you those biggest gains in your health and fitness. Looking for more personalized nutrition advice? Let's chat! Email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com for more info, or CLICK HERE to book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat!

Written By: Coach Kelly When it comes to our fitness and nutrition routines, there are a few resources we need to consider that we either have a lot of, some of, or minimal of. These are: Time Money Environment Support Skills Together, these 5 resources give us the framework for what style of fitness is going to fit us best, what our schedule may look like, and our overall enjoyment of the program - this equates to PROGRESS and CONSISTENCY! Time Considering your regular daily or weekly schedule, how much time do you have to commit to your fitness and nutrition? For example, if you work Monday to Friday, 8-5pm (leave the house at 7:15am, home by 5:45pm) does a morning workout or evening workout make more sense for you? Do you work shift work? Maybe you work from home? Maybe you're a student in school? Do you have kids or pets at home? Would it make the most sense to book into 2 Group Classes per week, or maybe Personal Training gives you the most flexibility in terms of time. Consider your recovery time as well (sleep, eating). This must be added in, too. Overall, everyone's time requirements will be different, so it's important to not compare yourself, but rather, focus on what you want and the time you have to commit to it for the long haul. Are you struggling to manage your time, or even find it for your fitness and health goals? We can help! CLICK HERE to book your FREE intro meeting to make a plan that works for you, or, email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com to inquire.

Written By: Coach Kelly In this blog we'll touch on why it's important to stay active as we move through all stages and ages of life, and how you CAN do it! The thing with fitness is, it doesn't actually need to be as complicated as the media makes it seem. Also, we need to remember that it is OK, and normal, for our exercise to change and shift as we move through life. At our Wellness Coaching Classes , the focus is creating a small group environment that offers support, certified coaching , and movements that are tailored to each individuals' unique needs and wants from their program. This means that movements are designed to help you not only get a great workout in the gym, but also make sure that you can continue to thrive throughout your entire life, not just the first 50 years. There are a thousand reasons to stay active. If we name a few.... - Decreased risk of chronic or acute disease and illness (ie. diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular challenges) - Decreased risk of falling, which drastically decreases your risk of chronic or acute injury if this were to happen - Improved mood - Increased socialization - The ability to stay independent at home and in the community (ie. self care, cleaning the home, tidying the yard, taking care of grandbabies, etc.) The next question is, how do we fit it all in? How can we make it work? A big roadblock to starting or staying active as we age tends to be physical barriers (ie. arthritis, joint replacement) or simply that are harder so we avoid doing them all together. The easiest, fastest and most effective way to get the benefits above, and make it fit is to check out the Wellness Coaching Program. Your classes are created for you, and tailored to you. Your Coach will check in with you regularly, and we consult with any health care providers you may be working with as needed to ensure we are providing a safe space for you. The best part? You just have to show up! Join us at our FREE 'try it' class on Wednesday, May 1 from 930-1030am to try a class out! This is a perfect opportunity to see the space, meet your Coach, and see the benefits of the program first hand. To register email maryjane@degreefitnessseaforth.com or call/text 519-441-7492