It’s that time of year again, when there is supposedly magic in the air, and ghosts and ghouls walk the Earth, looking for trouble. Some might say that we have come a long way from the ancient Celtic traditions of Samhain that marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter by lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off ghosts. But are we really all that different?

The nights are longer now, the days shorter and noticeably colder. Our human, and possibly, mammalian, instinct is to slow down and eat more, in readiness of the tougher and leaner times of winter ahead. Who doesn’t love watching a good box set on TV on a cold and wet Sunday afternoon?

There are an abundance of treats, Halloween and Christmas, on the shop shelves at this time of year. It is very easy to “go with tradition” and have one, two, a few, the whole bag/bar/tin.

If you do, it’s not a problem, but be mindful of what you are eating, and get back on the ‘healthy wagon’ as soon as you can. Don’t beat yourself up about lack of willpower or feel guilty that you might have slipped from healthy eating habits. 

You are human. 

It is part of our culture. 

Acknowledge it for what it is, and move on.

The same goes for your workouts. It may be easy for you to duck out of your usual exercise routines at this time of year, especially with the round of social functions that happens. This too is not a problem. As with eating, be mindful of what you are doing and not doing when it comes to exercise, and try to do what you can, when you can.

As the quote at the top of this newsletter intimates, any magic of moving towards your health and fitness goals, is to be found in the work that you do.

And doing anything is better than doing nothing. Doing more is better than doing some. But as with anything to do with exercise, it all counts and the compound effect is very real. 

Getting to the gym might prove tricky if you are pushed for time. So perhaps a quick fifteen minute bodyweight workout might be in order? Or maybe you’d prefer to dance the night away at that party you have been invited to? Even if it is just what the Italians call “passeggiata”, which is the act of taking a stroll after a meal, it will help you and your body. 

Doing what you can, when you can, is an important thing to remember in our increasingly all-or-nothing world. Your body will keep score and the magic will continue to happen.

And if you are stuck for ideas about what exercises would be best for your specific goals, or would like some affirmation that you are on the right track, please do get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.