Fall is one of the best seasons. Each season has something to offer, but fall is especially beautiful with its crisp weather, colorful leaves, and fresh air. Exercising in the fall can sometimes be tough though, with less daylight and more holidays that make you want to cozy-up inside all day long—don’t even get me started on all the available seasonal treats. While you might want to store food and weight for the winter, autumn is a time to focus on your health.
Outdoor Fitness
There are plenty of activities you can do outside that will keep you fit and energized while you enjoy the beauty of the falling foliage. A simple walk, jog, or cycle around your block can help wake you up in the morning or relax you after a long day. Hiking may take more planning than a jaunt around your neighborhood, but being in the great outdoors is a refreshing excuse to burn calories. Hiking strengthens your muscles, works your heart, and increases your endurance, and it usually has a great view!
Indoor Exercise
Not everybody likes exercising outdoors or has time to plan and execute a hike, so having some indoor exercises you like can help encourage you to workout inside. Some people enjoy using home workout DVDs to get pumped and complete a workout. Other people prefer using gym facilities to exercise. A gym is a nice resource if you’d like to try fitness classes, use new workout machines, or hire a personal trainer. Both options are great, as long as you can motivate yourself to use your resources.
Safe Choices
While you may work up quite the sweat during your workout, if you are exercising outside, you must dress appropriately. Wear a jacket and a hat to keep your body at a safe temperature. You may also want to wear moisture-wicking clothing since sweat will make you feel colder. Besides wearing warm clothing or rain jacket, you’ll also want to wear something visible or reflective if you are exercising when it’s dark or will get dark before you get home. It’s also important to stay hydrated and allow time for a proper recovery.
Water will help you regulate your body temperature and give you the energy you need. Water also helps with recovery, though time is a large component of that as well. Try to mix up your workouts to work new muscle groups while allowing others a chance to recover and relax.
Nutrition
You know what they say, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Fall produce like pumpkins, apples, and pecans are all nutritious food items to pack into your diet. Apples can be used in many different recipes, or you can eat them on their own. They are rich in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Pumpkins have carotenoids with help fight different cancers, and pecans, as with most nuts, offer magnesium and vitamin B6. Not only are these seasonal foods nutritious, but they can be eaten in a variety of ways to keep you excited to eat healthily.
Being healthy in the fall isn’t easy, but it is worth it. Though you might feel chunky in large sweaters and jackets, you’ll feel much better about yourself when you step on the scale. If you find yourself dragging through your workouts and not sleeping well, visit eastidspine.com or talk to your doctor about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy which can improve your energy and give you better workout tolerance. Instead of wasting the season inside bundled up and eating pumpkin cookies, enjoy the fall weather by exercising safely and focusing on your health.
