How to Get Fit This Autumn: Fall Exercise Tips

Many find the summer's sweltering heat too unbearable for outdoor activities. Too hot to move, hordes seek fun things to do indoors where it's air-conditioned. Like going to the movies and relaxing with a big bucket of buttered popcorn and an ice-cold soda. Or meeting a friend at the mall food court to cool off with a king-sized frozen yogurt.

When too many hot summer days get strung together, lack of movement and heavy food choices send some vowing to get fit once it's cooler, once fall comes.

As the calendar flips to September and those humid nights switch over to crisp air, many get set to leap into their new exercise routine.

While getting fit is a great idea, the process needs to be approached with caution. Before starting a fitness kick, it's important to get a medical check-up to make sure your body is healthy for the level of activity you have in mind.

Some eager to get out in the cool weather jump right into a fall sports league. Rushing from school or work to practice or a game, many don't warm up properly and end up pulling a muscle. But by approaching your fitness routine carefully, many injuries can be avoided and fall fitness can be fun.

One way to carefully approach your fitness plan is to educate yourself about proper techniques. Some people work with personal trainers who are knowledgeable about fitness safety. Others find great book selections on the topic at their local library.

One excellent source is "Getting in Shape: Workout Programs For Men and Women," by Bob Anderson, Ed Burke and Bill Pearl. This gem, which has great illustrations by Jean Anderson, details workout regimens for adults. It covers the basics of stretching, lifting and moving, offers routines and instructions, and gives helpful information about the body. It also covers health issues, nutrition, exercise during pregnancy and more.

The book even suggests ideas of how to get exercise while working a sedentary job, along with ways to get the most out of other everyday activities like yardwork, housework, and playtime.

So, have some fun getting fit this fall. While you're at it, you can enjoy raking leaves, picking apples, walking the dog, or doing countless other fantastic fall fitness feats.

For additional fitness information, visit the website for the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports at www.fitness.gov. Also, more details can be found on the website for the Center for Young Women's Health at www.youngwomenshealth.org.

Good luck.