Good morning! Hope your week is off to a great start. This week we welcome the season of fall, which can be bothat once awesome and anxiety-provoking, depending on how you feel about this time of year.

Saying goodbye to summer produce also means saying hello to the abundance of fall fruits and veggies. However, the decrease in sunlight finds many of us grappling with carb cravings—not a great pairing for the desire to hide under the covers instead of lace up our sneakers on cold, dark mornings.

Maintaining some kind of workout routine as we transition into the the colder months can help avoid winter weight-gain, but perhaps more importantly, it can help you feel more emotionally balanced and promote overall health—important stuff when you’re surrounded by sad, sick people.

One of my favorite ways to start the morning is with a workout. It helps me wake up, and the endorphin boost is great for dealing with whatever bulls*** the day may bring. Regardless of what time of day you want to work out, though, it’s important to feed your body what it needs to repair, recover, and build muscle. Earlier this month, I wrote an article for women’s career and lifestyle blog Elana Lyn about what to eat after your workout. Enjoy!

What’s your favorite cold-weather workout? Any favorite post-workout snacks?