Autumn Health Made Easy

Autumn is a wonderful season. The leaves are changing colors, the weather is crisp and clear, and the holiday season is approaching. For many of us, this is the time when we begin to prepare for the cold winter months and longer nights. We settle into the new routine of staying inside and eating hearty autumn foods.

You can see how this may be an issue for those of us that are trying to attain or maintain a healthy lifestyle. In the days of lasagna and parmesan dishes, meat loaf and potatoes, and the never ending cup of cocoa this is the season to pack on the winter weight.

But this does not have to happen! You can have your hearty meals and enjoy them! How, you may ask? The answer is very simple. Many of us already know what to do and we lack the willpower to follow through. Control your portions. Yes, it is that easy. Well, in the literal sense anyway.

Sitting at a friend's home on a chilly October night, watching sports and enjoying nachos, overeating is almost inevitable. Almost, but not quite. A few tips to remember when in this situation can help you to control your portions. Drink a lot of water. Not soda, not beer, just water. Bring a small veggie platter along for yourself and your friends to share. You will all benefit from the crunchy carrots and sweet celery. Use small plates. It is so easy to fill a large plate, and to avoid feeling bad about wasting anything, we eat every morsel. Use a small plate. Fill it one time only with the unhealthy snacks. You can refill it any number of times with the veggies. Have a plate of veggies before you snack on the junk to already have a layer of food in your waiting and empty stomach.

On cold days, the last thing that comforts us is a large salad and some cold fruit. We want something full of carbohydrates and steaming hot. This can be created using healthy foods. However, that is typically not the end result. Starting out with some carrots and asparagus, adding some chicken or shrimp, frying it all together and serving over garlic-butter whole wheat linguine can solve those problems for all of us. By replacing one heavy dinner a week with this recipe will make the entire family a little healthier and slimmer.

Lastly, remember that autumn is the perfect time to exercise. The air is invigorating and gives us all a little extra energy. Go on a hike with the family, ride your bike on a trail through a picturesque forest, and play fetch with the dogs. Don't forget to grab the football or basketball and have a family game a few nights a week. With the brisk air and laughter, it will hardly seem as if you were working out!

Make your weight loss journey fun and adventurous and you will never go wrong!