Fall Fitness

Fall is a great time to switch up your workout routine and get a jumpstart on creating good exercise habits during the upcoming holiday season.  Here’s a list of different ways you can switch up your workout and be one step ahead of the New Year’s resolution crowd at the gym in January:

1. Try something new.  Getting out of your comfort zone is the best way to realign your motivation and trying a new workout or routine can be the best way to hit the reset button.  Start practicing yoga, attend a boot camp class, or give that cross fit gym that you’ve been thinking of trying a shot.  A lot of classes at gyms and elsewhere start in the fall, so look around and see if something interests you.
2. Stay motivated.  With the days getting shorter, it’s easy to stay in and give your couch and TV more of your time.  But, don’t let binge-watching your favorite shows stop you from keeping your eye on the prize!  Set goals for yourself and help to keep the commitment by writing your workouts on a calendar and planning them just like you’d plan meetings at work, school functions or getting the kids to practice.
3. Partner up.  Pair up with a spouse, family member, roommate or coworker to reinforce your motivation.  Having a workout buddy has plenty of benefits like keeping your workout fun and helping to bring variety so both of you don’t get bored.  This is also a great way to stay focused on your goals and keep that motivation up.  Most importantly, you and workout buddy can share your accomplishments to maintain your focus.
4. Get active at the office.  Sitting for long periods of time at the office can take its toll on your body.  Think of your work setting and try to come up with creative ways to move around more.  Choose taking the stairs instead of the elevator, take a walk with coworkers during lunch, or switching your chair for an exercise ball are all great ways to help stay fit and even have a positive effect on productivity.  Also, buy yourself a water bottle and make it a point to fill it up several times a day which will give you more energy and hydrated for that exercise session after work.
5. Track your progress.  If carrying an actual log and writing everything down time seems too time consuming for your busy schedule, then fitness apps are the way to go about tracking your diet and workouts.  There are some great apps out there like MyPlate which is a food and calorie tracker and also CardioTrainer which lets you choose your workout function (walking, running, spinning, weight lifting, etc.) and counts calories burned.  Pick up your smart phone and search for apps that will help you maintain your fall fitness program!

 
Remember to keep your focus by setting goals and using these different ways to help you switch things and motivate a new workout routine for the fall!