Five BIG Reasons to Love Fall.

It's officially fall and today was the perfect fall day.  It was a comfortable 68 degrees, the sun was shining, there was the slightest breeze, and the bright blue sky was speckled with little white clouds. Finding reasons to love fall is easy...there's festivals, hay rides, candy apples, caramel popcorn, pumpkin spice lattes, trick-or-treating, and let's not forget the big turkey dinner with all the fixings.  Looking at it this way, fall appears to be full of sugar and other junk!  So what's a health-conscious person to do with this season full of temptation? Well first of all..."everything in moderation" right?  As I was sipping my pumpkin iced coffee (I'm ready to give in and switch to hot beverages just yet) I thought there must be some healthier reasons to love fall too. So go ahead and indulge in your favorite autumnal treats just a little bit, and when you're done check out my list of healthier reasons to fall in love with fall all over again. 

Reason 1: The Weather
As I already described, the weather in fall is pretty much ideal.  It's not too hot any more and its not too cold yet.  Therefore, fall is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy some fresh air.  Fun activities that also provide an excellent workout include hiking, biking, raking (and jumping in) leaves, playing football, and not that I am a huge fan of running, but there's nothing like a nice long run down a back road like this one on a crisp fall morning. 

Reason 2: Harvest
This is the time of the year when all of summer's hard work pays off with bushels full of fresh produce.  Whether its from your own garden, a local farm stand, or orchard there is something so good about having fresh fruits and veggies to eat daily.  The process of picking and gathering these gems serves as a bonus workout too!  Making it even better yet is canning and freezing what's leftover to enjoy all winter long.  Some of fall's popular picks include apples, pumpkins, squash, pears, plums, sweet potatoes, green beans and late tomatoes.

Reason 3: Beauty
There's no denying that fall is a beautiful time of year with the trees turning all hues of autumnal colors as their leaves slowly cascade to the ground.  I of course cannot speak for everyone, but looking at beautiful scenery like this makes me feel relaxed and just good old happy.  Happiness and other positive feelings are good for our emotional health which decreases stress and benefits both mental and physical health.

Reason 4: Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is one of the bigger holidays that fall has to offer, making this a great time of year to sit back and reflect on what we are thankful for.  Gratitude is a virtue that when practice can greatly impact out health and wellness.  Gratefulness has been linked with less stress, a boost in immunity, increased feelings of self-worth and social awareness.  Social media has been abuzz lately with all kinds of "thankfulness" challenges where participants have to list something they are grateful for each day for anywhere from 30-100 days.  Just maybe they're on to something.

Reason 5: Classes Resume
Along with schools being back in session, fall is generally the time that many other classes begin as well making it the perfect opportunity to try something new like a fitness class at the gym, a cooking and tasting event, or an intriguing evening course at a community college.  By taking a class you won't just benefit from broadening your education or learning new skills, but from social interaction as well.  

DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt.  It is for entertainment purposes only and not intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.  Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation, complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the guidance of a qualified professional.