Sneak exercise into your day

Don’t wait until you have a solid 30 minutes. Work a surprisingly substantial amount of exercise into your daily routine

Creative ways you can get in a mini work out

7AM BRUSH AND LIFT

While brushing your teeth, improve posture and balance with leg lifts. Standing with abs engaged, lift one leg out to the side and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat, alternating legs.

2PM TAKE A STAND

On a conference call or on the phone with a friend, stand with your core engaged and lift right knee to waist height. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat with left knee. Alternate legs until you hang up.

10AM SIT STRONG

While sitting, build strength by doing isometric holds — clenching a muscle, then holding it. Contract abs for 3 seconds, then relax. Repeat five times. Do the same with your glutes.

6:15PM COOK AND PLIÉ

While you wait for water to boil, rest one hand on the counter, stand with your heels together and toes turned out, and bend knees, keeping the torso upright. Then do five to 10 push-ups with hands on edge of counter.

6AM SWEAT FOR SEVEN

Do each move for 45 seconds, resting for 10: jumping jacks, high knees (jog in place lifting knees as high as you can), push-ups, squats and heel lifts (lift out of the squat onto toes). Repeat the circuit.

NOON GO FOR A WALK

Whether you’re at work or home, get up and about at lunchtime. Walk briskly around the block. Running errands? Walk as if you’re late to an appointment.

10PM STRETCH FOR SLEEP

Lying on your back on a bed, bring right knee to your chest. Switch to left knee. Then do child’s pose: sit on heels, bring chest down to rest on thighs, with forehead touching bed, and arms by your sides.