by Jennifer Walker

Created on: November 17, 2010

If you have ever used the excuse that you are too busy to exercise, it is time to come up with a new excuse! Here are some quick things to fit into your schedule to keep you fit. Sneak them in throughout your day, every  day, and you will soon feel lean and strong.

1. Put TV time to use

If you take any time at all to watch television or DVDs, put that time to good use with a Pilates ball alone is great for your back and abdomen, because you are constantly making small corrections to keep your balance. While you sit and watch, lie back (carefully!) and do some crunches. You will feel the burn in your obliques as well as your abdominal muscles. Get a stretch band and use it to tone your arms by doing some curls. Step on the middle of the band and hold the ends in one hand, brace your elbow on your knee, and draw your fist up to your shoulder. Be sure to do the same number of repetitions on both arms. To work your triceps, hold your hands just above your head with your upper arms level to the floor. Keep your elbows still while you straighten your arms, pulling your hands apart.

2. Tone your legs with dolphin kicks

Lie face down on the floor, supporting your upper body on your elbows (make sure to keep them directly under your shoulders) and bending your knees. To relieve the stress on your shoulders from lying in this position, pull your shoulder blades down. The natural tendency is for your spine to sink toward the floor, so pull your abs up to support it and keep it flat. Keep your hips facing forward throughout the exercise—don't let them rotate. Inhale, and then contract your glutes and hamstrings as you exhale and extend your left leg straight out to hip height. Hold it for a few seconds, and then bend your knee and lower it back to the floor.

3. Multitask! Do leg lifts in your office chair

While you work away at your computer, you can put your body to work to tone up. Try some leg lifts to work on your quads: sitting in your chair with your feet directly under your knees, slowly straighten your left leg  until it is straight out in front of you. Hold it for a few seconds, and then slowly lower it. Do a total of 10, and then switch to the other leg and work your way up to more. If you can not count and work at the same time, keep going until you feel the burn and can not lift your leg any more.

4. Tighten up those flabby arms with free weights

Sit on a chair or Pilates ball (the ball is good for adding intensity, but you might want to start with

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