Crisp autumn air has us pulling our sweaters out of the back of the closet. And while we may be bundling up in bulky layers, that doesn’t mean it’s a green light for all those carb-y delights since those pounds you’ll be (ahem) accumulating won’t show under your clothes.

We know, it can seem like WORK to stay on the straight and narrow with your healthy habits but that doesn’t mean the effort isn’t worth the reward.

Plus, slacking off will quickly begin to have negative effects on your health and fitness. In just two weeks away from the gym, you’ll begin to lose cardiovascular fitness and muscle mass. You might also begin to experience some brain fog without your workout to blow away the cobwebs. Add in a couple of pumpkin scones, and you’re setting yourself up for a roller coaster ride of sugar highs and crashes.

And the longer you extend your “vacation” from healthy habits, the harder it will be to get back to where you were before. Isn’t that a lot more WORK than just sticking with the program?

Not to mention that your immune system will need all the help it can get during cold and flu season. Did you know sugar temporarily depresses the function of your white blood cells? When you consume sugar multiple times over the course of a day, it may hinder your immune system from fighting off bacteria, which is the last thing you want this time of year.

Perhaps more importantly, what healthy foods are you not eating when you choose a sugary snack? A once-a-week treat won’t sabotage your overall health, but neglecting to make healthy choices the rest of the week will.

Even if you love to hang out in cozy sweats and boxy sweaters all winter, there are a few occasions where you might want to uncover from your rooomy gard. Thanksgiving on a tropical beach? Holiday parties? New Year’s Eve? You get the point.

A major study found that Americans do gain about a pound or a little more over the winter holiday season. While it’s not the 5-10 pounds of urban legend, the problem with this pesky little pound is that it doesn’t come off. Over the years, that adds up. So why not worry about having to lose that pound because you never gain it?

Want to start off sweater season on a positive note? Join our six-week Challenge, starting Oct. 1. Get more info here, and hope to see you in October!

Sources:
https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/your-body-2-weeks-no-exercise/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-sugar-really-suppress-the-immune-system/
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/22/the-skinny-on-holiday-weight-gain/

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