Get Fit: Inside & Out
How to Stay on Top of Your Health Game This Fall
While we often associate the fall with spending more time indoors, cuddling up on the couch with a hot beverage and consuming comfort foods, we don’t need to let all the hard work of getting fit and healthy over the summer fall to the way-side. If you’re looking to keep your wellness momentum going, here are three ways to embrace the season of change and help you stay on track with your health goals.
Fitness: Group Workouts
If shorter days and colder temperatures negatively impact your fitness routine and enthusiasm, it’s time to change things up. Group workouts are a great way to stay motivated, have fun, and keep you accountable. But don’t worry if you don’t like Zumba, Barre, or Yoga. With so many new fitness trends on the rise, there’s never a shortage for trying something new! Group rowing, treadmill workouts, HIIT (High Intensity Interval training) of all varieties have become some of the latest trends to hit the gyms. And it doesn’t stop there. Group workouts can be as simple as buddying up with some friends to go running, indoor rock-climbing or head to the nearest spin class and could be just what you need to beat the motivation blues!
Food: Eat Mindfully
Food can be one of the most difficult things to manage come fall and it’s no coincidence that people get off track as we head toward the holiday season. One of the biggest reasons we get off track is because of special events (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas). It’s not necessarily the events in themselves that are harmful, it’s the inability to get back on track afterwards. My advice to navigating through this season is to be mindful when it comes to eating. Want to indulge a little bit at Thanksgiving? Choose what your indulgence will be beforehand and limit the quantity by planning your meals in advance. Stop eating when you are full; even if the stuffing is “todie-for”. Take your time. Drink plenty of water. Don’t make it a binge eating or drinking weekend. Healthy eating doesn’t always have to be about embracing the latest diet trend and restricting calories either. It can be as simple as making conscious, wise choices on a consistent basis. A little bit of thoughtfulness can go a long way.
Sleep: Make Sure You Get It
While people are finally recognizing the fact that sleep is important, it’s one of the first things to go when schedules get busy as they do in the fall. Don’t neglect your need for rest. According to the National Sleep Foundation, lack of sleep impacts your cognitive performance and focus. That means that everyday activities become more difficult, whether it’s driving, working, or even relating to others. Safe-guard your need for sleep by not overextending yourself and managing stress; which can keep you up at night. When you make sleep a priority, you say "yes" to your health and "yes" to your body’s need to regenerate and recuperate.
See Bianca’s original column article in The Local Biz Magazine (Autumn 2019, page 30).
