The last few days of autumn is a good time to reassess your health.
Take some time to reset and redefine your fitness goals.
Where do you want to be come spring?
As the mornings and evenings turn colder it is easy to abandon exercise and instead move into hibernation mode until the weather warms up.
But anything you can do through June, July and August will put you in good stead come spring and summer.
Here are some suggestions to ensure you avoid having a winter of discontent:
Sign up. This could be a gym membership, entering an upcoming event that you will need to train for or playing an indoor or outdoor sport.
Buddy up. Cost could be a hurdle to the above, so find a reliable friend or family member and make yourselves accountable to meeting up a few times each week for a walk, run, ride or a bodyweight strength session.
Plan a mini-break. Doing an out-of-area event is the perfect excuse to have a holiday or mini break while also remaining active. The Gold Coast Marathon is on July 3-4 and also has 5km, 10km and 21.1km options in addition to the 42.2km. You can also choose to do the race virtually. The Winery Run is on in the Hunter Valley on July 18 and offers 5km, 10.5km and 21.1km events as well as a kids 2km. On August 29, the Husky Half Marathon will be staged on the shores of Jervis Bay then on September 19, Trail Run Australia Tomaree will be held in Port Stephens.
Month by month. Set small goals. This could be as simple as walking, running, swimming, cycling or rowing (or something else) a set distance over each month, increasing the distance from June to July then August. It might be committing to 10 minutes of exercise each day in June, 20 minutes in July then 30 minutes in August.
If you are unsure of where to start, Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) are using the final week of May to encourage Australians of all ages to remain active and healthy and to seek guidance from accredited exercise professionals.
"Each year in the final week of May, Exercise Right Week aims to remind Australians about the benefits of exercise and physical activity, and the importance of seeking out the right professional for individualised advice," ESSA chief Anita Hobson-Powell said.
This year's theme is Exercise Changes Lives and the key message is to use the power of exercise to take charge of your health, take charge of your well-being, and take charge of your life.
There will be free events across the country, including exercise screening assessments and health consults, in-person and virtual group classes, as well as educational Q&A sessions hosted by exercise experts.
Ms Hobson-Powell said an important aspect of Exercise Right Week was to remind Australians that exercise can help to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers, can help manage disabilities, and can protect against mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
To learn more about the campaign, visit exerciseright.com.au/.
Send your health and fitness news to r.valentine@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Renee Valentine is a journalist, qualified personal trainer and mother of three.
