Don’t labor after labor day

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, it is time to put away that bikini for another summer. Unfortunately for most ladies, it also signifies the time of year when workouts and diets fall by the wayside until it's time to make those New Year’s resolutions again. However, by staying focused, you can maintain your beach body without having to put in too much effort.

Fall is in the air and before you know it the festive holidays will be in a full swing. This tends to be the time of year when a lot of women lose track of their fitness goals, as work ramps up and Halloween candy, Thanksgiving favorites and Christmas goodies tempt us towards the year's end. But here are a few things you can do to stay in shape over the next few months and keep the belly at bay.

Find a new activity

You’ve spent months working out at the gym, running, and participating in fitness classes to achieve your bikini body. Of course, now that bikini season is over, most women lose the motivation to maintain these exercise regimes. That’s why finding a new fitness activity can keep you motivated during the fall and winter months. Something different and exciting can break up the monotony of the past few months.

Why not sign up for the class or activity you have always wanted to try, but have been afraid to? It will be easier than ever to find space in Zumba or step classes as attendances start to decline. You could also reconnect with a sport you played when you were younger. Adult or co-rec volleyball and soccer leagues offer a great way to play the sports in a friendly environment.

Diet in moderation

One of the biggest problems with dieting during the fall and winter months is how you approach it. There is no need to go in with the all-or-nothing mindset that derails diets during this time. A lot of us will end up snacking on candy or one of the other countless unhealthy temptations on offer, and think that our diets are ruined because of it. This may lead to an snowball effect of snacking when we let ourselves eat whatever we want - until it’s too late, and we’ve gained a bunch of unwanted weight.

To avoid this scenario, all you need to do is keep the framework of your diet in place. This will provide a base for you to fall back on. Sure, there will be days when you go off script and each a bunch of junk, but the next day you can go right back to your diet. This should help you combat the significant weight gain that tends to occur after Labor Day.

Don’t get down

It can be easy to feel down if you miss a workout, or slip up on your diet. These feelings end up growing if you continually mess up, and eventually bad habits form. However, by scaling back your diet and fitness goals over the next few months, you can still feel good about yourself and stay in shape.

If you have been going to the gym five days a week, reduce that number to three if you know you will be busy. Instead of counting calories, just focus on making sure your breakfast and lunch are healthy, and not worrying too much about the rest of day. The more realistic the goal, the more likely you are to reach it and continue on with the program.

Don’t let your fitness and diet falter now that fall is here. We can help you look great all year long - give us a call to find out how.