Fall-ing into Shape

The summer season is winding down and autumn is fast approaching. If you don't believe this, ask any student who knows school is lurking just around the corner! With the advent of this new season, it is an excellent time to either begin a new workout plan or update the one you currently follow.

Summer offers loads of fun in the sun, but that also means heat (sometimes excessive) and, depending on where you live, humidity. With the cool weather autumn is guaranteed to bring, it is the perfect time of year to consider taking a daily walk or run. Some people get caught up in the misconception that one needs to walk for hours on end to achieve health benefit. This is not accurate by a long shot. A half an hour walk only three or four times a week is enough to make a difference. Of course, it doesn't hurt to make it a daily endeavor. Enlisting a walking partner, be it spouse, friend, or canine, can be helpful for motivation purposes. It also gives you someone to talk with while you perform your aerobic exercise.

If you are interested in something more up-tempo than walking, running is a perfect way to exercise in the fall. The cool weather will help keep your feet moving and colorful foliage provides beautiful scenery as you move along. As with walking, you might want to consider a partner. Talking while running is more difficult than when walking, but the accountability factor will provide great motivation.

Beyond walking and running, autumn is an ideal time to join a local rec league for your favorite sports. Football and soccer are two options which will not only get you moving, but also feed any competitive urges you might have. Keep in mind, however, that "rec league" is not on the same level as "professional" and resist any overly-competitive urges. Another great benefit with joining a team is the social camaraderie that comes with it. At the same time you are getting in shape, you also could be forming or strengthening valuable friendships.

Perhaps joining an actual league is too much commitment. Modern life is fast-paced and lots of people have schedules that are already quite full. Adding another component into the mix might be too much. If this is the case, consider getting together with friends for occasional pick-up games of your favorite sports. By doing it this way, you avoid a scheduled commitment for which you might not have time.

For the football fans out there, you have a couple of opportunities to get exercise in while watching your favorite sport. One idea is to join a gym where you can watch television while using a treadmill or exercise bike. By doing this you can get your cardio workout in and not miss any of the game. If joining a gym is not an option (times are tough for a lot of people), you still have an option which will allow you to catch the big game, but also get in shape at the same time. This works for other programs as well, but take advantage of the commercials to hammer out some push-ups and sit-ups.

Fall is a great time of year to either mix up your existing workout program or start fresh. Take advantage of the cool weather, sports opportunities, and commercial breaks and you will be well on your way to a healthier life!