04/21/2018
Fall Fitness
The onset of September brings many changes as school and extracurricular activities take their place in family schedules. Children look forward to school athletic programs while adults restart their fitness regimens as the cooler weather and shorter days set in. Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year. Go to local parks or find trails to walk, run or ride a bike and enjoy the colors of changing leaves. Try horseback riding and you'll burn around 235 calories per hour; try racing and burn up to a whopping 470 calories an hour. Even raking leaves or gardening will help you burn 265 calories an hour! Relatively mild days and evenings also make fall the perfect time to focus on endurance work that will open your lungs and burn some serious energy! Try long bicycle rides or runs and add interval training to really build your stamina. Keep in mind, as the days get colder and shorter, it becomes harder to get started on a new program! When possible, work out early in the day. Early fall and winter nights make it easier to curl up on the couch, so get yourself in the habit of daily workouts now. Remember to stay comfortable:- As the weather changes, wear wind-shielding clothes and dress in layers. Choose clothes that cut down on bulk while allowing for warmth as the chill of fall approaches.
- Stay hydrated even when the temperatures cool down. You may feel less thirsty when the weather cools, but staying hydrated is just as important in the fall as it is when temperatures spike. Keeping up with your fluid intake will help with both exercise recovery and appetite control.
- Drink tea to warm up as temperatures cool. Green and black tea both contain antioxidants that help ward off diseases and keep you healthy during flu season.
