So why is Back to School a great time to get back in shape? Web MD has the 10 Top Tips for why fall is a great time to focus on your fitness:
WebMD's Top 10 Tips for Fall Fitness
How many New Year's Eves have you spent sipping champagne and vowing to get more fit in the coming year? And how many times have you failed to follow through? Fall is a great time to start a fitness program, "with the change of seasons comes a renewed time to rethink and restart," says Chris Freytag, a fitness instructor and fitness expert with Prevention magazine. "'What's so special about January?"
Besides, says Freytag, a mother of three, moms with school-aged kids "think of September as the new year." Here are 10 ways to start making the most of the season. And who knows? This year, you might be in great shape before that New Year's Eve party rolls around.
1. Take advantage of the weather. Fall can be a treat for the senses: the crisp air, apple picking, pumpkin carving, a gorgeous canopy of fall foliage, and the crunch of leaves underfoot. These months are a great time to exercise outdoors and enjoy cooler temperatures. If you live near the beach, get out and play volleyball, throw the Frisbee around, or play a vigorous game of fetch with your dog. If you're near a lake, try kayaking or canoeing, for an excellent whole-body workout and a great change of pace. And remember, it doesn't have to seem like exercise to be a great workout. "Raking leaves or doing some fall outdoor yard work is a great way to get the heart pumping, and it's great calorie-burning," says Freytag.
2. Think outside the box. Always wanted to learn to tap dance? Attempt to box? Master the jump rope? Ask any schoolchild: Fall is a great time to learn something new. Many classes at gyms and elsewhere get started in the fall, so look around and see if something intrigues you. And with the kids in school, parents have more time to check out those classes, Freytag says.
3. Be an active TV watcher. Many people get geared up for fall premieres of their favorite television shows, says Freytag. "If you're going to sit down and watch hours of TV, get moving," she suggests. "Make a date with exercise and TV." While you watch, you can walk or run in place, do standing lunges, do tricep dips off the couch, or lift weights. During commercials, do push-ups or sit-ups. In a one-hour show, you probably have close to 20 minutes worth of commercial interruption.
For all Top 10 Tips, click
here.
HealthyAging.net recommends you keep your mind sharp. This month, choose a new activity that will sharpen your mental skills. What about taking piano lessons? It's never too late! Check out your local continuing education at schools, community centers, or YMCA's for opportunities. There are many one-day, or one-evening courses to spark not only your imagination, but your mind as well!