Do not wait for New Years Day. The beginning of autumn is the ideal time to embark on a fresh, cool journey to success in weight loss.
Why? The unpredictability of summer barbecues is over, as is the luxury of summer vacation. It’s time to focus on yourself, your food choices, and your health. We have compiled a list of reasons to use the refreshing cold of autumn as the start of your weight loss victory.
Here are six reasons why fall is the best time to shed pounds:
1. Fall is all about routine.
The children are back in school, which means they are back to normal. Getting up for the bus, packed lunches, extracurricular activities and planned bedtime.
This also makes fall a great time to develop new routines and establish new, healthy habits. According to Jamesclear.com, one way to solidify these new routines is to do something called “habit stacking,” which involves pairing a new habit with an existing one. This creates an indication of a new, healthy task to be done when you are already doing a task that is a habit.
If you’re already making lunch for the kids every morning and are hoping to eat more non-starchy vegetables as part of a weight loss program, pile them up! When making lunch for the kids, chop up a container of carrots, cucumber, or any other vegetable to eat later in the day. If you’re trying to drink more water and are already brushing your teeth every morning, pile them up! After you brush, drink an 8-ounce glass of water.
Losing weight is all about finding routines that you can stick to. Fall is the ideal time to create and consolidate these routines.
2. It’s not that scorching hot!
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 2021 was the world’s hottest month ever recorded. So hot that it was often unbearable to exercise outside. Fall brings a gracious end to these breathtaking temperatures, meaning it’s a great time to enjoy the great outdoors.
A morning walk in the fresh air could help control your appetite for the rest of the day. In a study published by the American Physiological Society, scientists found that those who did aerobics had lower levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite. If you take your steps at sunrise, you can take advantage of this appetite suppressing hormone benefit throughout the day.
If you’re not a morning person, you know that a walk doesn’t have to be at dawn. Making a habit of getting your dog moving on weekend hikes, bike rides, or just long walks can help you feel healthier and contribute to your weight loss success. It’s finally cool enough outside!
Fall is also a great time of year to start at the gym as it isn’t as busy as January. This gives you the space to get the weights and equipment you need for your workout. Gyms often have sales and free workouts when the tide starts to turn.
3. It is harvest time.
Nutritious and high-fiber favorites are in season, which can be good for your wallet and health. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), some of the delicious products in season this fall include:
- Fruit: Apples, cranberries and pears.
- Root vegetable: Beets, carrots, sweet potatoes and radishes.
- Leafy vegetables: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and Swiss chard.
- To squeeze: Pumpkin, butternut and acorn.
- Other vegetables: Cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, mushrooms, peas and onions.
Get creative with your favorite autumn products and incorporate them into your weight loss menu. Add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, rosemary, or ginger to add some fall flavor. If you need inspiration, try our recipes for Maple, cinnamon and butternut squash, Roasted rosemary beets and carrots or Pumpkin pie applesauce!
4. It’s soup time!
Another reason to love the cooler temperature is heating up a bowl of hot, comforting soup. Whether it’s Nutrisystem’s fan favorite Chicken noodle soup, classic pasta fagioli or something homemade, warm dishes like these are perfect for autumn. There are many soup recipes that are healthy and diet friendly. It’s a versatile meal that you can make with your favorite ingredients. Have fun and experiment with different proteins, vegetables, grains and broths. Click the link below for some ideas!
5. Hearty desserts are on the menu.
Wait what Sure, autumn is full of savory favorites like apple pie and pumpkin spice. But how can savory desserts help you lose weight?
If they are Nutrisystem approved, so be it! Whether Nutrisystem’s Carrot Cake Cupcake or one of them guilt-free versions of your fall favorites. > Dessert on Nutrisystem is not about depriving yourself, but rather learning how to enjoy your favorite foods (even sweets) with the right servings and ingredients. If you enjoy these dishes in the fall, you will have tools and clever strategies to satisfy your cravings without packing on pounds with all the holidays roaming around.
6. New Year’s resolutions can be a lot more fun.
Since you already have a diet plan in place, you are ready for the high calorie temptations of the holiday season and celebrate weight loss success. You don’t have to make up your mind to “lose weight” when New Years Day is just around the corner. Instead, now that you are closer to your goals, you can make resolutions about what you are going to do. Create resolutions like a vacation or road trip, a dazzling new dress, or fitness goals like a half marathon. This is a great time to plan new experiences and create memories. Make your New Years resolutions even funnier by losing weight now!
