Fall has arrived! Wilting trees lining the streets introduce their reds, oranges and golds to the world and the smell of snow becomes all too familiar through out the short-lived days.
Fall also means cold and flu season. No matter what I do, I always get a cold at the beginning of the season. Luckily, I have been able to avoid the flu, but with many concerns around us this year, I don’t want to take the chance of getting something worse than the common head cold. And with avoiding catching anything greater than a head cold, it means staying out of the public eye.
When the general public gains at least 5 pounds or more during the fall/winter months, it would be nice to go to the gym and work off some of that comfort food.
Not wanting to be scared out of going to the gym and hanging out with sweaty-folk and alike, I have found some tips to hopefully prevent those pesky germs from infiltrating my body.
1. Seriously, if you aren’t feeling all that great, STAY HOME! I know it might not be as intense as going to the gym, but you can work out at home and still feel good about yourself. Even if yourself isn’t feeling to great.
2. Clean everything you touch, before and after using. This way, you wipe off access germs from the person who used it before you, and, common courtesy, clean the germs off from your body for the next person. And hey, do you really think everyone cleans the machines and weights after each use?
3. Don’t forget to wipe down the mats and exercise balls! Sweaty bottoms touch those things every day!
4. Wash your hands frequently and if you can help it, keep them away from your face. Germs can’t jump, so as long as your hands aren’t near your eyes, nose, mouth and ears, you should be one step further from catching something nasty.
5. Sweaty clothes are a hot house for bacteria. Change out of them as soon as possible and get into that hot shower for a relaxing cool down. Also a good idea to keep your gym bag clean and wear shoes while walking around the locker room to avoid fungus and more bacteria crawling on the locker room floor.
6. Drink lots of water.
Sometimes it’s just inevitable. You are going to get sick and that’s final. But hopefully taking these small steps and being a bit of a germaphobe this season will help to avoid getting sick. Also a good idea to carry a small bottle of Purel with you in your purse or pocket/jacket. Even having a larger Purel dispenser on your desk at work will help.
Good luck staying healthy!