October? ...Already?

The blustery winds are kicking in and last week I saw the year's first snow flakes. Hmm, how did that happen? We talk over and over about how busy we are and now is a good time to look back and reflect, realistically. So maybe you didn't do the Denver Marathon like you had hoped back in August. Not to fret. Don't focus on what you didn't accomplish on your to do list, but rather on what you did.  Often those are simple tasks, like I got the grocery shopping AND a nice walk in! That is success my friend. As we're getting ready to settle in for the winter, here are some fitness tips to incorporate into your routine. 1) Since it's getting dark at 6:00 pm, take the family to your local recreation center a couple of evenings a week. Maybe you won't get a 6 mile run in, but shooting hoops with your kids is great on so many levels! Being together and encouraging them to be fit, is invaluable! 2) Make healthy soups to keep your family warm. Soup is always comforting, just keep in mind, creamy rich soups have more fat and calories than a broth based or tomato based soup. 3) Combine fitness with your family games. We play a "family trivia" game and ask questions like "how many times did we fly on a plane this year?"if the person gets it wrong have them do 10 crunches. 4) Cook with your kids! Have them get involved in the planning of a meal, then they become more aware of what is healthy and what isn't. Look for alternatives to usual baking practices, like using applesauce as a sweetener.

Enjoy the season and keep moving forward! Your health deserves your attention and your family deserves your health!