Anyone can exercise, lethargy takes discipline …

— Unknown

October, at least for me, is the foreshadowing of what is to come. From Halloween to New Year’s Eve is the time of year that it is easiest to forget to work out and eat well. With that in mind, I thought I would give us all a pre-holiday plan to help make sure there is not a lot more of us to love come January 2013.

With the weather starting to get cooler and the kids back in school, it is time to start falling back into your fitness routine. Here are some ideas to get you back on track:

n Take time to make time: The hardest part of getting in your workout is finding the time, so put it on your calendar or, if you are really high tech, your Blackberry. Schedule at least one hour a day to do some sort of exercise. If you have small children, find a gym with a daycare or alternate workout nights with your spouse. If all else fails, get up early while everyone is in bed and start your day off with exercise.

n Get back in the habit: Experts say it takes at least 30 days to make something a habit. If you have been out of your routine for a while, grab your calendar, get back at it and count the days. If you have been out of the loop for a really long time and are not sure what you want to do, consult with a personal trainer or other fitness professional to get a workout plan.

n Mix it up: Exercise can get plain boring if you don’t add some variety to your workout. If you are a swimmer, try jogging. If classes are more your speed, try a new type of fitness class. Adding variety can make it easier to get motivated.

n You are what you eat: Many times we forget what we are supposed to be eating and why. For the latest information, log onto the USDA website at USDA.org. Also, do an inventory of your fridge and pantry and see what you have that is good and throw the rest out. Remember that the fall is a great time to get some more color in your diet by eating fall fruits and vegetables like squash, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and all varieties of fall apples.

n Everybody in the club: If you have a fitness center membership, use it. Fitness centers offer the staff, classes and equipment to help get you back into your routine. If you are not a gym member, there are some really cool workout programs you can do at home. This is also the time to call that long lost workout partner up and get them back to it.

October is the perfect time to fall back into your exercise routine. Put down the candy corn, pick up your gym shoes and get going. If you keep your fitness routine going, I guarantee it will give you one less resolution to make come 2013.

Kathy Hansen has more one 20 years of experience in the health and fitness field. She can be reached via e-mail at hansen02@srmc.org