The switch from daylight savings time back to standard time in the Fall means an extra hour of sleep for us -- and an extra hour of light in the morning. The drawback? It gets dark much earlier in the evenings. I tend to work out in the mornings, so the extra hour of sunlight usually motivates me to get my butt to the gym but for those of you who head to the gym in the early evening, the darkness might be another reason to skip the workout.

So last week, I asked you if the time change had an effect on your healthy habits. Here's what you said:

• 43% of you said no, it didn't have any effect on your fitness routine.
  
• 31% of you said yes, it helped motivate you to work out.
  
• 17% of you said you didn't notice a difference ... yet.
  

Here at That's Fit, we're constantly telling you what we think about things, but sometimes it's nice to know what you think. So from time to time, we'll ask you a question. Don't be afraid to speak up -- we love feedback.

How nice was it to get an extra hour of sleep on Sunday? Over in my neck of the woods, it was fantastic. I was even able to make it to the 9 AM drop-in fitness class at my gym -- on a normal Sunday, I wouldn't move a muscle until the 11 AM class. And this morning, I was early getting to work -- that almost never happens -- so I got off the train a stop early and had a brisk early morning walk.

What about you?

The switch to and from daylight savings time can affect your health -- specifically, your heart. But that's not all -- disrupting your sleep by a mere hour can have significant effects on your sleep patterns, your mood and even your social life. Eek!

Now that we're switching back over to standard time, let's not let this change our healthy habits. Here are some tips:

• An extra hour of sleep means you're sure to be well-rested. Which means you have no excuse not to hit the gym. Come on, get moving.
  
• Bear in mind that it's going to get dark sooner, but don't let that affect your fitness routine. Running in the dark may not be ideal, but the gym has indoor lighting.
  
• Sleep affects mood, and mood affects eating habits. So if you find yourself craving comfort foods after the time change, be aware that this is probably why, and don't give in.
  
  

How do you handle the time change?

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