September Fitness

Life is busy and moves very fast. As seasons change, so can our motivation to exercise. In spring, before summer comes, some people get more motivated to get healthy and lose weight to look good for the beach. The new year has a similar motivation – new year, new you!  However, you should not be discouraged to start any exercise and weight loss program in the fall.

Even though the weather is getting cooler, it may be easier to go for a walk or a run. There is no heat to bear and no need to hide as much from harmful sun. Beautiful fall foliage creates picturesque views around us. If you have a family with children, they are back at school. Our routines take over, which is great for setting up your workout schedule.

Exercise has many benefits for physical and mental health. Walking is great for weight loss and mental state. Many studies cite improvements in both. If you add 30 min of a brisk walk to your daily routine, you can burn about 150 calories a day! One of the studies found that walking reduces belly fat, which is associated with negative effects on your overall health.

Losing weight can relieve the stress your body has on your knee joints. A study done with overweight and obese adults with knee osteoarthritis found that losing one pound of weight resulted in four pounds of pressure being removed from the knees. Yet another study showed that losing 10–20 percent of starting body weight improved pain, function, and quality of life better than losing just five percent of body weight.

Don’t wait another day! Go out there and enjoy our beautiful Canadian autumn!