The End of Summer Doesn't Mean the End of Healthy Habits!September and October are perfect months to start a new diet, a new workout routine, or just get in shape. Since the seasons are changing now, why not get a fresh start with your health? Don't put off working on a better body when you can do so now and create good eating and exercise habits long before the temptation and insanity of the holiday season.
During the summer months, when we had less of a formal schedule it seemed like it was easier to build physical exercise, outdoor activities and healthy eating into our days. And fresh vegetables and fruits are plentiful during the summer season. Plus the heat seems to lend itself to healthy habits like grilling out and family walks after dinner when the day finally cools down.
As we move into the cooler months of fall and winter let's make a commitment to stay active, exercise, and eat right. Let's be invigorated by the change in weather and motivated to be better managers of our time now that the days are fuller and more regimented. As I've said many times before-we must be deliberate about the decisions we make for our lives. And this time of year is no exception. No excuses. Let's maintain the healthy habits we established this summer!
Here are some back to school nutrition tips:
Plan out your exercise - with a busier schedule you may be more likely to let exercise go by the wayside. Schedule exercise like a meeting, you will be more likely to do it. As much as I used to hate my alarm going off at 5:30 am I found that morning workouts were the best during the school year - I had a better day because of it and at 4:30pm when I got home I knew my workout was done and being tired would not be an excuse to skip it.
Eat breakfast - you may not have the leisure time of making breakfast, but there are so many great grab-and-go things to take to eat in the morning. Try a hard boiled egg with some berries, or almond butter on a piece of fruit or a fast breakfast smoothie with protein powder and ground flax seeds.
Pack lunch - don't count on cafeteria food being weight loss friendly and heading out to the local deli or pizza shop can also derail your diet. While you are making dinner also make your lunch for the following day so you always have it ready to go. Don't forget you can make extra of your dinner so you have leftovers for lunch.
Plan your snacks - keep healthy snacks handy, think of them a mini meals- balanced with protein and healthy fats. Hard boiled eggs, raw nuts, protein shake, or trail mix can be great snacks to have at that 3 o'clock hour when hunger strikes. If you know that when you get home you are starving and will eat everything in sight have some nuts, fruit and nut bar, or even half a sandwich before you drive home to suppress your hunger until dinner time.
Limit the purchase of processed, packaged foods - begin to read labels; you may be surprised by the sugar, sodium and other additives in the most common foods we bring into the kitchen.
