Here we go, it is back to school time already. While part of me is sorry to see that summer is already coming to an end, another part is looking forward to getting back into a routine that September brings.
So what does fitness have to do with back to school anyway? September is quite a bit like starting a new year. As a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor, September and January are my busiest times of the year.
Planned or not, summer quite often is a bit of a break from our regular fitness and diet plans. With it being the end of summer holidays, warm late nights, drinking on patios, and impromptu barbecue dinners with friends, most of us get back into a schedule.
Whether you have kids heading back to school and extra-curricular activities filling up the calendar or you are settling back from time away, the Fall is all about setting a schedule and building a routine. It is important to remember to schedule time and making fitness and good nutrition part of your routine.
While building your schedule for exercise and diet, the Fall is also a good time to review and possibly re-evaluate your fitness goals and your nutrition habits.
So what are your goals anyway? Did you make some goals earlier in the year? Are they still valid or should you look at tweaking your goals a bit or changing them altogether?
For me, my goals have changed slightly since January. While I refuse to believe I failed at meeting them for this year, I have to admit I haven’t been as dedicated to my fitness as I usually am. My target for September is to regain focus and commit myself to consistency so I have a chance to reach my goals for the year.
Over the next few days or weeks spend some time reviewing your goals. Once you have validated or adjusted them, focus on how you plan to achieve them and set your plan into action.
Don’t be afraid to look beyond yourself to get going. There are a number of resources available to help you get started, identify your goals, build a plan keep you motivated, or just get you moving. There are many amazing Personal Trainers in our town eager to help you, support groups that focus on weight loss to proper eating, a group fitness class will help you find like-minded individuals focused on physical activity or perhaps you have a supportive friend that is just waiting for an invite to join you in building a more active, healthy lifestyle.
As the kids head back to school, the weather cools and the leaves start to fall, take advantage of the time to focus on yourself and what you need to do to be the best you can be.
