After the summer, it is very easy to fall back into poor eating habits. When the weather cools, most people assume they can hide unwanted bulges beneath sweaters. Also, fall holidays include Halloween and Thanksgiving—two of the worst diet days of the year. Instead of waiting for your New Year resolutions to roll around, make a plan now to lose weight before winter arrives.
Fall Activities for Losing Weight
Motivation to start working out will be higher in the fall. Once summer ends, the vacation mindset stops too. You’ll be primed to get moving again and your schedule may make it possible to fit in more time for exercise. Children go back to school and fewer activities are scheduled in the evenings due to daylight savings time ending. Summer schedules are hectic, but the fall allows you to follow a more structured routine with built-in times for exercise. Schedule workouts daily in your calendar to improve accountability.
Getting active doesn’t mean spending hours at the local gym. Enjoy the fall weather by getting physical outdoors. The fall is the best time for hiking, cycling, swimming, and jogging because you’ll avoid feeling overheated quickly. The Centers for Disease Control recommend 60 to 90 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. Activities like walking the dog can even count towards your daily exercise goal. However, if you do decide to workout at the gym, you can enjoy fewer crowds with many people waiting until after the holidays to get back in shape.
Healthy Fall Eating
Seasonal fall fruits and vegetables will not only help you lose weight, the produce is also delicious. Top fall foods to support healthy and fast weight loss include:
- Pumpkin
- Pomegranate
- Zucchini
- Squash
- Pears
- Apples
- Brussels sprouts
- Sweet potatoes
These foods are low in calories, but high in nutritional value. Many fall foods are high in fiber, which allows you to feel full longer while also regulating your blood sugar. Fall produce can also be used as stand-ins for your high-carbohydrate favorites. For instance, zucchini is cut into spirals and used to replace spaghetti while spaghetti squash can be roasted and shredded to act as a pasta alternative.
Relying on your slow cooker in the fall can also aid you in reaching your weight loss goals. Slow cookers create heat inside the pot as a way to cook food, so you’re not frying with oils to prepare your meals. Also, slow cookers allow you to plan out your meals ahead of time, making you less likely to rely on takeout or fast food. Takeout meals add hundreds of extra calories to your daily intake when compared to eating at home. Although some slow cooker recipes are high in fat and calories, you can find dozens online and in recipe books that are healthy. Recipes with ingredients such as lean proteins and vegetables are perfect for when you’re on a weight loss program.
Barriers to Fast Weight Loss
Making a plan is one step of the process for losing weight. It is critical that you stick to your weight loss plan and remain accountable. Successful habits for weight loss include regularly weighing yourself. Although you shouldn’t obsess about the numbers on the scale, aim to weigh yourself at least once a week. Also, don’t let small slipups make you lose track of your long-term goals. Eating too much candy on Halloween or indulging on Thanksgiving pie doesn’t have to turn into a large weight regain. In fact, if you watch your calorie intake closely in the days following a slipup and make time for workouts, fast weight loss will likely occur.
Weight Loss Programs for Sustainable Results
Losing weight on your own is a challenge. Most people who lose weight and keep it off follow a weight loss program. A medically supervised weight loss program is the safest and most effective way to drop pounds this fall. Programs are customized based on your goal weight, body composition, and current lifestyle. A medical weight loss program will also look at any underlying issues such as thyroid disorders, adrenal fatigue, and hormonal disruptions that could be stopping you from losing the weight. Medical research has shown that losing as little as 5 percent of your total body weight is beneficial to your health. Not only will you look better after successfully completing a weight loss program, you will feel better too!
Want to learn more about fast weight loss options? If you’re looking for a weight loss program, contact the Dr. Urshan Health and Weight Loss Center to get started on your journey to better health.
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