You can feel a growing sense of excitement intensify as summer fades, leaving the crisp fall breeze in its wake. It’s that time of year again – apple cider, raspberry pie, and pumpkin spice lattes. We begin to abandon our sun- soaked spots at the beach and begin wrapping ourselves in layers of blankets while binge -watching full seasons of Netflix (we’ve all been there).
A lot of things can be said about fall – it’s comfy, nostalgic, and most importantly, there’s a lot of food. Often, people use fall as a get-out-of-jail-free card when it comes to health. With so many holidays around the corner, (Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, to name a few), it becomes easy to stray off the path of fitness we set for ourselves the season prior. We become less active, indulge in more food, and lose the spark that motivated us to stay in shape during the summer.
It’s important to enjoy the fall in all of its sugar-fueled, food-induced glory. Indulging in the occasional apple tart or pumpkin pie is all well and good, but balance is key. Now, people prescribe to the most far-fetched ways to stay healthy. Crash diets and ridiculous workout fads plague our perception of what it means to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Jen Gotshall, adjunct professor of Health and Physical Education, likes to keep things simple. She says it comes down to eating healthy and staying active. “Preparing meals beforehand is a great way to resist the temptation to eat junk food,” Gotshall said. According to Gotshall, who received her master’s degree in Public Health, and was awarded a certificate in Health Education and Promotion, planning ahead is a massive part of successfully maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Gotshall went on to emphasize its importance, stating, “Scheduled exercise and workout routines are key- they allow you to remain active in the fall season.”
Like Gotshall, sophomore business student Bradley Regina said, “Activities like walking rather than driving are great ways for me to stay healthy and active. Eating healthy is important too – less sugar in your diet goes a long way.”
For the average student swamped with class course loads and other obligations, staying active can be challenging. Regina said, “You don’t have to lift crazy weights in the gym; as long as you stay active by walking or running, and eating balanced meals, staying in shape for the fall becomes less stressful.”
For junior health studies student Casey LaBarre, the single best thing a student can do to stay healthy is to drink more water. She said, “Staying hydrated is really important, and people often forget to do it because it’s fall.” LaBarre went on to point out that most of the weight we gain during the fall and winter is actually water weight. She added, “By drinking water throughout the day, your body flushes out substances that retain water. Sugar and sodium often cause water retention and bloating. By drinking water, you can negate many of the negatives from indulging in Halloween candy or Thanksgiving pie.”
There is a plethora of different ways for students to stay healthy in the fall. For some people, it’s working out, while for others it’s simply maintaining a balanced lifestyle. You have people who run to stay active, strength train to maintain a healthy aesthetic, and eat a balanced diet to stay fit. What’s most important is to realize health is subjective, meaning being healthy entails different things to different people. You don’t need six pack abs to feel happy and fit. You don’t need a chiseled body to feel sexy. All that matters is you feel healthy and more importantly, happy, by finding a routine that empowers you to feel great. Eat that pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving but remember; drink water afterwards.
PHOTO TAKEN by Campbell Lee
