In the northeast (where most of you are) the leaves are changing, it's dark when you go to work in the morning and carrying around a hoody in the evening is always a smart idea. Yes, it's autumn and that means football, Halloween, new prime time TV shows, and unfortunately, more time spent on our butts...eating junk! Here are five reasons why this is the time you should be attacking your health and fitness plan with unbridled enthusiasm instead of giving in to the season's many pitfalls.
1. Football on TV - What do we do while watching football? Most of us tend to stuff our face unconsciously with salty snacks and drown them out with calorie filled alcoholic or sugary beverages. This is not the time to skip the gym! In the summer when we are outdoors and burning calories, it is OK to spoil yourself a bit with some of your favorite guilty pleasures, but in the fall, Saturdays and Sundays are usually spent plopped in front of your TV with your hand in a Doritos bag. Make it a point to get to the gym early on Saturday and/or Sunday mornings before the games begin. This way you have burned your calories for the day and slipping in a few extra during the game is not a crime. If you don't make that time to burn your calories, they just continue to add up on you and wreak havoc on your waistline.
2. Cooler temperatures - This goes without saying, the crispness in the cool autumn air is the greatest feeling in the world to an outdoor exerciser. Humidity is all but gone and the sun doesn't beat on you without restraint. Keep your sweating to a minimum and enjoy your exercise much more in the months of September, October and the start of November.
3. Halloween candy - Admit it, you do not have to be a child to fall prey to those evil baskets of Halloween candy sitting ALL OVER THE PLACE! Those sugar-filled demons are dying to add hundreds of extra calories to your daily diet without you ever even thinking about it. Want to enjoy some of those sweet treats? Spend 15-20 more minutes burning calories at the end of your workout.
4. Kids are back in school - For you stay at home Moms (and Dads), use part of the school day to take care of yourself. The kids are away, make the most of it! Get to the gym, go for a long walk, take a lunchtime Pilates or Yoga class, go for a hike or a bike ride, pop in your favorite fitness DVD and "Sweat to the Oldies" or get in your "P90X" workout for the day. Use this time to take care of yourself so that when the kids get home you have the energy to spend time with them doing the things they like to do.
5. Enjoy the fall harvest - Two of my favorite fruits are plentiful this time of year; apples and pumpkins! Apples are at their juiciest and tastiest in the fall and provide you with an easy way to add fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin C, and folic acid to your diet. Toss slices on a salad, dip them in some yogurt, or just grab one on your way out the door. Pumpkins help add flavor to some favorite fall recipes and are packed with all kinds of nutrients including: fiber, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and potassium. They also are a great source of carotenoids which fight against heart disease and cancer.
Use these tips and make this autumn the best you ever had! Remember, the holidays and winter are right around the corner and that season serves up it's own dish of obstacles to overcome. Learn how to make healthy choices now and avoid "falling" behind.
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