fresh start

Our panel of experts explains why now is the perfect time to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Many people think of January 1 as the day of renewal, but October offers an ideal time to get a head start. After all, the weather is nice, the scenery is beautiful - and wouldn't it be great to know you've already been living a healthy lifestyle by the time the holidays roll around? We decided to see what a few experts have to say about the benefits of starting a new wellness routine in the fall. Here's what we learned.

say goodbye to holiday binges

The six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day are when people are most vulnerable to weight gain. Improve your eating habits before you enter the holiday season by setting an exercise routine and establishing a regular schedule for meals and snacks.

Once the holidays arrive, it will be easier to maintain this eating pattern. Check out The Beck Diet Solution (Oxmoor House, $24.95) by Judith S. Beck, Ph.D. to get the tools and techniques you need to succeed in your weight loss goals and maintain through the hectic holiday season.

- HOLLEY JOHNSON, M.S., R.D.

rain or shine, get outside!

Research shows that exposure to the outdoors (whether it's rainy or sunny) influences your mood and emotions, often without your knowing it. Emotions, through your sympathetic nervous system, affect things such as your heart rate, breathing, and stress hormones. Exposure to the sunny, mild weather of autumn should be very good for your health.

-COREY LEE M. KEYES, PH.D.

fall food tastes great

Keep two colors in mind when purchasing fresh produce this fall: orange and green. Try roasting pumpkin, sweet potatoes, or winter squash for a filling, fiber-rich dish, or sauté greens such as kale and mustard for a vitamin-packed side. Fresh apples, pears, and citrus also taste delicious and are loaded with nutrients. -HOLLEY JOHNSON, M.S., R.D.

starting now brings benefits later

Does the expression "pay it forward" mean anythingto you? Getting back into a regular habit of being active outdoors will help burn calories and can promote a little weight loss before the holidays. It would be nice to arrive at January 1 weighing the same or less than you did last year.

-CONNIE TYNE, L.M.S.W.

keeping it up when old man winter arrives

When you engage in an outdoor activity during cold months, it's important to maintain a regularly scheduled time for the activity. Also remember to set goals, from longterm goals such as "I want to be able to walk 5 miles by the end of this year" to short-term goals such as "I want to try a new route for my walk this week." -COREY LEE M. KEYES, PH.D.

about our experts

* Holley Johnson, M.S., R.D., is a registered dietitian who works as foods editor at myrecipes.com.

* Corey Lee M. Keyes, Ph.D., is professor of sociology and public health at Emory University in Atlanta.

* Connie Tyne, LM.S.W. (Licensed Master Social Worker), is the executive director for the Cooper Wellness Program in Dallas.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Oct 2007
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