Fall Exercise and Fitness Tips

Autumn is a great time of year to start or renew your exercise program. The cooler weather energizes you, and there are many opportunities to incorporate fitness into your fall routines after a summer's vacation. Starting or tweaking an exercise program now means you can look great for all those holiday parties coming up in a few months.

It's important to plan your fall exercise program. As schedules become fuller in the autumn, and the days become shorter, it may seem more difficult to fit a fitness program in. Take advantage of free time while the kids are in school, enjoy the early morning daylight after the time change, or jog laps around the soccer field in the evenings while everyone is practicing. While it's great to enjoy the seasonable autumn weather, do have a backup plan in place for those days of chilling rain. Remember that planning ahead and scheduling makes it more likely that you will be able to meet your fitness goals. Commit to making your health a priority.

Autumn is also a great time to take yourself back to school and learn a new sport or skill. Many fitness facilities start their new schedules in the fall, and most community colleges also offer specialty fitness classes during the school year. Need more aerobic and strength work? Try something like rock climbing, Zumba, or join a 5K training group. Need to destress or improve flexibility? Yoga or tai chi may be your new sport, or channel your inner swan and become a budding ballerina. If you prefer your dancing social, try ballroom or swing. Challenge your brain and body with a new skill, and keep your fitness routine fresh.

There are many fun and fit seasonal autumn activities that can be done with others as well. A family leaf-raking party doesn't just get everyone out and playing in the fresh air, but may burn several hundred calories an hour (and save fossil fuel!) if done with old fashioned hand rakes rather than a leaf blower. The cooler weather is also terrific for a family bike ride or a girlfriends-only afternoon hike to enjoy the fall leaves. Take a trip to a corn maze and enjoy the trails there. Or get the guys out for a game of touch football on the front lawn before settling in to watch the big game. Take the opportunity to enjoy some outside time before you're holed up for the winter.

Make sure you're staying safe from the climate during your fall exercise as well. Although the weather is cooler, it's still important to keep hydrated, both inside and outside. Drier air means drier skin, and moisturizing is important, especially for lips. Paula Begoun reminds us that "daylight, even obscure, dim daylight causes sun damage" so continue to apply a sunscreen before exercising outdoors. Cooler temperatures may make you feel less thirsty, but make sure you continue to hydrate, drinking ½ to 1 cup fluid for every 15 minutes of exercise. Keeping warm or cool enough during your fitness routine can also be an issue, so dress in layers which you can shed as your body warms up, then put back on to avoid chills and muscle cramps as you cool down.

Make the most of the lovely fall weather, make time for some autumn exercise, and you can sail into the New Year with a strong, healthy you!

Barbara Russi Sanatoro, "Ten Tips for Fall Fitness", WebMD.com

"Five Fun Tips for Fall Fitness," Pioneer Thinking.com

Paige Waehner, "Five Ways to Fall into Health and Fitness," About.com

"Ditch the Workout, Join the Party,"Zumba.com

Paula Begoun, "Winterize Your Skin," cosmeticscop.com

"The Facts on Water and Exercise," AARP