Fall is one of the most beloved times of year thanks to the beautiful weather, holiday festivities, coffee shop lounging, and gorgeous autumn colors (which you probably don’t get to enjoy if you live in Southern California).

But fall is also one of the most difficult times of year to stay fit. After all, summer is over so there’s less motivation to keep your “summer beach bod.” And thanks to festivities like Halloween, Oktoberfest, Diwali, Bonfire Night, and St. Andrew’s Day. All these events afford you the opportunity to indulge yourself in delicious, albeit unhealthy food, and alcohol.

However, with the right discipline and by making appropriate changes to your fitness schedule, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle through all the sweets and celebrations. Here are 5 ways that you can stay fit this fall.

 1. Do Calisthenics

While the weather is usually pretty great in the fall, it may sometimes get a little too cool to spend time outdoors. Those are the days that can very detrimental to our fitness. When it’s too cold out, we might feel less compelled to go to the gym or go running, and more inclined to lounge by the fireside. That’s why it’s important to learn how to workout from home.

Calisthenics exercises are one of the best ways to stay fit if you don’t have time for the gym or if the weather has you cooped up inside. Some popular calisthenics exercises you can do at home include:

You’d be amazed at how much muscle you can build and how many calories you can burn all by doing these simple at-home workouts.

2. Exercise Outdoors

Since the weather is so nice outside, get in the habit of doing exercises outdoors! You can do calisthenics practically anywhere, and now’s the time of year to go on lovely autumn runs.

Just be aware of a couple of things: in the fall, it gets dark earlier in the day. If you’re going to be running at night, be sure you wear bright colors (like orange, yellow, or neon) so you can be more visible to passing cars. If you wear exercise earphones, try and use one that has a reflective band.

If it’s rainy, you might not want to run on the street since it might be flooded by puddles. Don your RRS track and field shoes, instead, and run on a clean track at the park. And remember that exercise can come in the form of walking, too. Go to the park and enjoy all the warm-colored trees, or take a city walking tour. There’s no better time of year to get out and about.

3. Do Yoga

Your mental health is just as important—if not more important—than your physical health. Don’t forget to exercise your spirit this fall season. Yoga is one of the most popular mental health activities because it helps you relax your muscles, enhance your circulation, control your breathing, and boost your mental clarity.

Buy a Maduka yoga mat and learn the art form by reading books, watching online tutorials, or, better yet, taking a yoga class. Most yoga classes take place in a gym or outdoors—the ideal yoga setting during the autumn months.


4. Portion Your Holiday Sweets and Alcohol

All the holidays that take place in the fall may tempt you with sweets and a copious amount of alcohol. There’s nothing wrong with indulging yourself here and there—after all, you want to be able to enjoy the holidays, and part of that enjoyment comes from partaking in good food and adult beverages. Just learn how to portion your sweets and alcohol intake so you can enjoy yourself without going overboard and re-gaining all the calories you’ve worked so hard to burn off.

If you have to, use a diet chart to track your calorie intake and what you’re eating. If you get in the habit of using one, you’ll have a better idea of how much you can eat and drink without setting yourself back too much on the fitness front.

5. Adjust Your Workout Routine

During the summer, many people prefer to work out in the morning before it gets too hot outside. But in the fall, many people prefer to move their workouts to the evening. Some people, regardless of the season, like to work out in the middle of the day or late at night.

Think carefully about what the best fitness routine for you will be, and take into consideration all the fall events that you have on your plate—will those make it easier for you to work out in the morning or at night? Adjust your schedule accordingly and you’ll be more likely to maintain your exercise routine through thick and thin.

It doesn’t seem too hard does it? With just a few minor tweaks to your workout habits, you can stay fit this fall and love doing it.