Tweaking Your Autumn Workout

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As autumn arrives, workout plans may change. You may see the seasonal change as a blessing. Children return to school, freeing up more time to exercise. A drop in heat and humidity levels also may renew your commitment to stay fit.

By contrast, you may find that the shorter, cooler days actually put your motivation to exercise into the deep freeze.

However you feel about fall, making proper adjustments is crucial to keeping your workout plan on track. Following are some tips for staying fit this autumn, whether you exercise outside or inside.

Get outdoors

Invigorated by crisp air? If so, take your workout outside.

Bicycling, jogging and hiking are a few activities you can enjoy al fresco. Fall yard work, such as raking leaves, also provides a cardiovascular boost. By exercising outdoors, you get the bonus of a front-row seat to nature's annual display of color.

If you exercise outdoors, keep the following in mind:

• Dress in layers. When exercising in cooler temperatures, it is important not to overdress or under-dress. By wearing layers, you can remove clothes when you heat up, and put them back on when you cool down. Don't forget your hat and gloves!
  
  
• Avoid cotton. Do not wear cotton or other materials that trap perspiration. Instead, look for materials specifically designed to wick perspiration away from the skin. Visit a sporting goods store to learn more about these clothing products.
  
  
• Beware the dark. As the days get shorter, you are more likely to find yourself exercising after nightfall. Avoid this if possible and exercise during the day, when the sun is out and it's warmer. If you must exercise after dark, try to wear reflective clothing that drivers can easily spot. Also, use extra caution to work out in safe places after dark. Also, be careful of any icy conditions.  

Even people who love autumn may find that cold air and inclement weather occasionally make it difficult to exercise. You many need to skip a workout from time to time until the weather improves. However, you'll rarely need to wait for more than a day or two before you can get back on track. 

Go indoors

Do you find cooler weather and less daylight discouraging? People used to swimming or running outdoors in warm weather may find that the arrival of fall tempts them to temporarily pull the plug on exercise.

Even if you hate that nip in the air, don't put your workout plans into hibernation. Instead, take your exercise routine to the gym. There, you'll find a substitute exercise for nearly every outdoor activity.

If you love to swim outdoors during the summer, move your laps into an indoor pool. Do you treasure summer afternoons biking around the lake? During the fall, you can keep yourself in shape on a stationary bike until the weather heats up again.

If there is no gym close to you, consider investing in a treadmill and some free weights. That way, you can keep active in the comfort of your home. Many books are available that can help you learn how to lift free weights properly. Almost any exercise that can be performed on a gym machine also can be performed with a couple of dumbbells or a barbell.

Remember, moving your workout inside is only temporary. When spring returns, you can begin to enjoy sunny days outdoors once again.