Wellbeing Wednesday: Planning for Success

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Fall. it’s a great time to celebrate the change of season and cooler weather. It’s the time for pumpkin flavored everything and apple baked goodies. It’s also when we pull out the comfortable sweaters and yoga pants and ditch the shorts and tank tops. With the cooler, shorter days and less outdoor activity, it is easy to reduce your exercise level and increase your food intake without realizing it. This is one of the biggest attributes to pre-holiday weight gain. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
I know what you are thinking… you thought there was only holiday weight gain, and now there is PRE holiday weight gain?
But there is a way to avoid both, and it is all about setting yourself up for success as the days get shorter and colder.

Take a look back:
What did you do to stay active this summer? Was it gardening and yard work? Hiking, biking and running? Chasing the kids at the reservoir? Did you train for a race that had you following a specific program to keep you focused? Now is the time to turn that activity into something that is winter friendly. Be sure you are getting roughly the same amount of time still being active despite the weather.

Bring it indoors:
During the fall I still get outside for runs and bike rides when I can, but it is also the time to get back to my gym workouts.  I have race goals already set up for next spring, so I can’t allow myself to get out of shape just because I am tempted to hibernate for winter.
I start reviewing apps to see how I can stay motivated and entertained while getting my mileage indoors over winter. My favorite app for indoor cycling is The Sufferfest. (It's more fun than it sounds.) and my favorite app for the treadmill is Beat Burn.

Get out of your comfort zone:

Getting back in the gym also means checking out what the trainers are doing and what classes are happening that might be a good fit. Is there a class or trainer that you are interested in finding out more about? This is a great time to attend free classes or use your free personal training consultation to find your motivation for working out through winter.

Roasted Pork Loin and Root Veggies
Ramp up the healthy eating:
Someone told me last week that the summer beer drinking season is almost over (apparently they don’t watch football). But as the bbqing and partying slows down, fall is a great time to pick up new recipes and healthy eating strategies to get you through the holidays. Go out and buy a new cookbook, get involved in a healthy eating challenge group and expand your recipes so you don’t go back to your old habits from last winter.



Set some goals: 

Last but certainly not least. Set some physical goals for yourself this winter. Use this time to improve your 5K time, increase your squat or train for a spring race. By taking the focus away from the scale you will find it easier to stick to your habits with tangible goals. When you stick to your good habits, your weight has less chance of fluctuating over the winter.


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