• Live the autumn: whether you like it or not, the season is here so you might as well enjoy it. Even if you are not a big fan of days getting shorter and colder, there are so many things you can enjoy in the fall: from the changing colour of the leaves in the tree, to the fresh breezes to the smell of the new crisp air. Find what motivates you the most and schedule in a trip or two to an outdoor place you can fall in love with.
• Start something new: we are never too old to learn something new. So many new things start in the fall apart from school: take advantage of the time, find out what your neighbourhood can offer and sign up for exercise classes, dancing classes or any other activity that keeps you moving!
• If not…hobbies, hobbies, hobbies: remember to give yourself proper breaks throughout the month so schedule in your favourite activities. If classes are not for you, remember that there are always other activities you can do. For example, if you like photography but do not want to commit to lessons, take a long walk and take this time to shoot beautiful sceneries. If you like to play the piano, opt for playing it somewhere public rather than at home: this might not apply to all the UK but in London, for example, there is a piano inside the station of St. Pancras that can be played by anyone. Lastly, another thing you might like to do to relax is to get away. So if you like to travel, organise a day-trip in a place close to home that you have not seen yet and start wondering around. All these activities will help you keep busy without spending too much or committing to a class.
• Go back to the gym: if you are a gym person, start again the routine that you might have stopped whilst on holiday. This is the time to get organised again and a steady visit to the gym, along with a new routine, can help!
• Motivate yourself: the end of summer and the beginning of autumn can be a daunting period. Try to find short-term goals (they could be birthdays, holidays, fun activities with friends, etc…) that would keep you going and happy to continue to live healthily. If it is hard for you to find something to be motivated about, try setting up your own motivational goals: maybe buy a new pair of trainers when you reach a particular goal or reward yourself with a hot bath or a nice haircut. Remember to make the goals achievable, neither too easy or too hard, and at the right time, neither too close to one another nor too spread out. You could also motivate yourself by doing something nice to another person. Whatever it is, there is always something to be looking forward to so do not despair.
• Eat well: About.com has a list of wonderful low-fat dishes, using ingredients that are in season, that you will almost certainly enjoy making. The three foods listed as autumn foods are: pumpkin, apples and pecans. These are also foods that are not too expensive, and can be prepared in a wide variety of ways.

Take the time to enjoy the taste and feel of autumn without hibernating! You can find more tips on Webmd.com.

A diet comprising proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins and minerals ensures your body receives the nutrition it needs for a healthy and active life. Maintaining the proper body weight is achieved by keeping a balance between your food intake and energy (calories) used. Being either overweight or underweight is unhealthy and makes it difficult to achieve an appropriate level of fitness. Being overweight places extra strain on body processes and on the joints. Many serious diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and back and joint problems are associated with being overweight or obese. On the other hand, lack of energy, fatigue and loss of muscle tone are characteristics of an underweight person.

Exercise

Frequently undertaken with the aim of weight loss, exercise should be viewed as an all-round health and fitness enhancer. Your level of fitness is reflected by your heart and lung functioning, muscle strength, flexibility, and body structure. Lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle, usually lead to weight gain. They are also associated with an increased risk of serious diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes, which may be prevented by taking regular exercise. Moreover, problems with muscles and joints that are part of the natural ageing process, such as arthritis, osteoporosis (loss of bone) and muscle wasting, can be delayed by strengthening exercises.

Physical exercise works the muscles to help us attain a healthy body shape and improve our physical performance. Importantly, exercise strengthens the heart muscle, enabling it to pump blood more efficiently. While exercise may be difficult at first, causing breathlessness, aches and fatigue, your body soon gets used to it. Both exercising and daily activities become easier as your physical health and fitness improve. The benefits of exercise are reflected not only in your physique but in your mental functioning. Physical activity stimulates chemicals in the brain, which ‘lift’ the mood and reduce stress levels and, in turn, may work to increase your ability and motivation to do more exercise.

What should I do?

The key to good health and fitness is to maintain a healthy weight. A healthy diet is achieved through eating sensibly; it does not necessarily have to exclude those ‘guilty’ foods, provided they are eaten in moderation and you are taking regular exercise. Physical activity should be part of your lifestyle whatever your age, and is easily incorporated into a daily routine (e.g. taking the stairs not the lift; getting off the bus a stop earlier, etc.) or as part of your social life (e.g. walking with a friend, going to a gym).

Before embarking on a health and fitness programme or dieting, it is advisable to consult your doctor particularly if you have any illnesses or problems with your health. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the best course of action. If you cannot get to see your own doctor then there are doctors online. we recommend The Online Clinic in the UK as they have a great reputation and they are properly licensed so you know that they are to be trusted. Here is their weight loss programme page - http://www.theonlineclinic.co.uk/weight-loss-program.asp

Here are some tips that can help you understand what the best workout might be for you:

• When do you want to work out? Whether you are a shift worker or you are in the office from 9 to 5 Monday to Friday, you have to set up some time during the week for your workouts. Improvised workouts are great, but they should only really be an addition to your scheduled workouts. This is because if you plan, you are more likely to do it even if you don’t feel like it.

• Do you like company? Answering this question will help you narrow down the different things you can do for you workouts. For example, if working out with someone motivates you or you do not mind having company, you should consider team workouts like doing sports or even just running together. If working out with someone gives you the chills and you’d rather not share your sweat, at least you know to skip the salsa-dancing or the zumba class.

• What do you like to do? Whether it’s dancing, being outdoors or doing cardio in the gym, consider doing something you truly enjoy. Life is too short to spend your workout time doing something you do not enjoy. There must be something you like, as there are countless possibilities. If you like being indoors with company, consider gym classes. In the summer time swimming, hiking or taking long walks might also be put into your workout routine. Know what you want out of it (i.e. lose weight, just stay healthy or work out some particular muscles) and go for it. If your aims do not fit with what you enjoy, compromise by alternating exercises you enjoy to exercises that help you achieve your goal.

• What CAN you do? Unfortunately for different reasons we all have types of exercise we can do and types of exercises we cannot do. This could be due to injuries or any other medical condition. For example, if you have heart disease, it might be best to consult your doctor before scheduling your exercise routine. This is because you might need to monitor your exercise very carefully. For more information on this you can read this article.

• What’s convenient? We all want to be superheroes and aim to go to the best workout place ever –whether that is a park we really like, or a gym we adore. However, let’s face it: we are constrained by our home and work locations. Instead of aiming to go to the faraway marvellous place and then ending up cancelling for different reasons, find a place that is nearer your house. You’ll be able to stick to your workout plan more easily and you will go more regularly as the lazy person inside you will not be able to stop you from going so close.

• And….change! Or not. Whatever you choose, stick to it. However, do so until you are bored of it. Stick to your workout for at least two weeks and then if you get bored of it after that, switch to something else. If you then like your second workout much more and you want to keep it going for a while, do so. As long as you keep yourself interested, you work out regularly and you feel good, nothing should stop you from changing your workout around or keeping it the same.