It seems as though overnight the evenings have already turned cooler here in Oakville, signifying the return of Fall. Fall has always been my favorite time of year. There is something about the leaves changing colour, shorter days, a need for boots and a sweater, that gives me a feeling of peace and homecoming. I am sure it goes back to my childhood and return to school, with the opportunity to see friends who were absent over the summer due to travel, family obligations, work and the multitude of activities that occur in July and August.
September is a time to assess the first three quarters of the year, an opportunity to look back and gently grade ourselves on how we have grown, what we have experienced and where we need to step up before 2012 comes to an end, so that we can reach the end of the year with a feeling of accomplishment.
September and the next three months will provide many occasions to indulge. It starts with Labour Day, moves into Thanksgiving, Halloween, and the array of pre-Christmas parties, lunches, get-togethers and celebrations. All of these typically will include foods we may not normally indulge in, alcohol or artificial drinks, lack of sleep and the pattern of dropping our fitness plan for more “festive activities”. Unless you are focused on your big picture goals each day, you can get sucked into the hoopla of the season. Although it may seem like what is best and most fun at the time, I caution you on taking this mindset. The time and energy required to undo the added fat, pounds, lack of energy, poor sleep and feeling like sludge simply is not worth it. Strutting yourself with confidence and ideal health on New Year’s Eve is a fabulous way to start any year.
To help you flow through the next few months, here are a few ideas to implement to avoid the average five to ten pounds gain that can happen in the fall:
1. Always move for a minimum of ten minutes daily. At least three times a week make it for twenty minutes. You must sweat in order to get maximum physical benefit. This can take the form of any activity you enjoy. If you enjoy it, you are more likely to make it a habit and do it often.
2. Drink a minimum of three litres of clean water daily. Always drink a glass or two of water when you feel hungry. Most of the time what you deem as hunger pain is actually a signal from your body it is dehydrated. If after 30 minutes you are still hungry and it is not meal time, enjoy a serving of raw veggies or lean protein.
3. Always eat before attending a party where there may be an abundance of foods that will give you no nutritional value and only pack on the fat pounds. Eating a protein/fat combo will take longer to digest and keep you full, and less likely to indulge in sugary garbage.
4. Attend all events with the mindset that you already have your ideal health and body. Assume you will eat at the event to support and maintain this beautiful, healthy meat suit. Giving yourself small, or for that matter, large indulgences on occasion will not do any major harm assuming you live your life in a more healthy manner the other 90% of the time.
Know you are amazing, love yourself deeply and live a life that supports you feeling and looking your best, so you can share your love and serve to your best ability daily. Have an awesome month!
Namaste,
Sandra
Sandra O’Brien is mother to the world’s three most fabulous children. She is also a Law of Attraction Life Coach, Personal Trainer, and Reiki healer. She is creator of the Bootcamp Goddess system, a female fitness program to blowtorch body fat, sculpt sexy lean muscle and empower women everywhere to be the best version of themselves, inside and out. She enjoys the ocean, fire walking, reading, long walks, meditation, men in linen shirts and a full moon.