FIT Fridays: Fall! Or Autumn, if you prefer. :)

Hello my Fit Friday friends,

We got through summer and now... FALL! Typically this time of year means sweater weather which can lead to less motivation to exercise. After all, those bikinis (NO -- I don't actually wear one) are tucked safely away until next summer. Why worry about it?

The end of summer often signals an end to exercise. We hibernate in front of the TV and well... we eat. Tailgate parties. Halloween candy. All those yummy harvest foods like apple pie, pumpkin pie, cobbler... Ohhhhh, I could go on, but I'm making myself hungry!

What's a woman to do? Let twelve hard weeks of healthy eating and exercise just slide away? Do we really want to "stock up for winter," packing on the extra pounds like a chipmunk or a squirrel? I don't think so!

To prepare for the new season... let's make a plan!

First, let's thank God! Let's thank Him for health. For bodies that work. For wisdom! Since "actions speak louder than words," let's not just thank Him with our mouths. Let's live healthy and actually apply all we have learned this summer. Show God your thanks!

Second, let's discover the joy of healthy eating during this season. The farmers' markets overflow with incredibly wonderful food. Discover the flavors of fresh-picked local produce... Don't drown those veggies in butter or saute them to death. Enjoy them, fresh or lightly steamed. Spritz with lemon juice and savor the flavor!

In the kitchen, make zucchini bread (you can substitute whole wheat flour or oat flour for some of the white flour for  a health boost and cut the sugar by half. You'll never miss it!). Enjoy pumpkin pancakes. Bite into a crisp apple and remember your childhood. Delicious!

Finally, enjoy the cooler air. Get out there and keep moving. If your family loves football like ours does, why not toss a football in the back yard before the games come on? Or head outside for a half-time football game with the kids... Lots of people do that on Thanksgiving, but you can play other days of the year! :) Hike in the woods and appreciate the smells of fall, the feel of the cool air on your cheek, the color of the world as it prepares for winter.

God gave us seasons. Let's embrace this one in a new way. Enjoy and God bless!