Fitness doesn't have to be difficult, time consuming, or boring. Check out these tips and get fit the easy way.

1. Incorporate Quick Fitness
Lifting weights for more than 45 minutes or doing cardio for longer than 60 minutes can actually cause you to gain weight, lead to injuries, and set you up for failure. Start thinking of fitness as a cumulative effort. Try to fit in short bursts of exercise whenever it's convenient and you'll boost your metabolism more than you would during a two hour session.
Sample Schedule
Monday 6am 20 minute walk
Tuesday 6am 30 minutes yoga 12pm 10 minute walk 7pm 10 minutes abs
Wednesday 6am 20 minutes upper body weights 7pm 10 minutes stretching/yoga
Thursday 6am 10 minutes pilates 12pm 10 minute walk
Friday 6am 10 minutes lower body weights 6pm 10 minutes glutes and abs
Saturday 10am 40 minutes cycling or walking
Sunday 20 minutes jungle gym with your kids or pets

2. Workout with Family and Friends
Working out with a partner can be great motivation and lots of fun if you keep it simple. Challenge your child to a pushup contest, jog with your best friends and take turns sprinting, or have your husband or boyfriend add manual resistance to any bodyweight exercise like squats, lunges, or overhead presses. Even a short 10-20 minute session burns calories, relieves stress (a huge factor with weight loss), and builds a strong bond with your partner.

3. Try Something New
A tai chi class, day hike, swimming, or bootcamp class adds variety and keeps it from getting boring. It also burns more calories because you're incorporating a new activity that your body is not accustomed to. If you're too intimidated take a friend or get a new video/dvd. Great dvd's to try: Karen Voight - Ultimate Circuit Training

4. Take a Break
Rest is often an overlooked part of a fitness program. If you've been working out often for long periods of time your body may need some pampering rather than more working out. Get a full body massage, take a hot bubble bath, or get your favorite starbucks drink and read a magazine. Remember that your muscles and your nervous system are under stress when you exercise so giving them time to heal is important in order to make progress with your strength, endurance, and flexibility.

5. Get Involved
Sign up for a charity run or walk. Some groups offer free training to prepare you for the event while others have fundraising clinics and send you off to exotic locations if you raise a certain amount of money. People often think marathons are strictly reserved for athletes but most participants are regular exercisers just like you and me. The best part of signing up is you'll make new friends and stay motivated.

Get Fit The Easy Way: Part II

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