Quick gym workouts: they're worth it!

QUICK GYM WORKOUTS: THEY'RE WORTH IT!

With 2008 in full view, most of us are making that infamous resolution - to spend more time in the gym. But all too often, it's the weight of 'more time' that keeps us from those great workouts in the first place.

If you want to keep fit, but don't want to spend hours on end in the gym, there is hope - and part of it is found in consistency. Establish a workout routine and stick to it; no matter how short the workouts, you're sure to notice a difference in your fitness and energy levels. The idea is to integrate fitness and exercise into your lifestyle so that it's not something you constantly have to 'find' time for.

All you really need is about 20 minutes of cardio three times a week to maintain a decent level of cardiovascular fitness - and about 30 minutes of cardio 4-5 times a week to lose fat. To find time, consider fragments of your average day that could be traded in for a short workout. Forgo that TV show or magazine session for a feel-good workout, and discover that you actually do have the time - if you put your mind to it.

For optimal results, you'll want to combine cardio with weight training. Pair a 20-minutes cardio session with a 15-minute weight session; or alternate your days, committing to cardio on one day and weights the next. It doesn't matter what you do during your workout, as long as you get your heart going and feel your muscles working. But high-intensity activities - such as running on the treadmill - will optimise calorie-burning if you only have a short amount of time to workout.

Think machine workouts are boring? Enquire about fitness classes at your gym. Whether you're into step, Pilates, yoga or spinning, time is sure to fly with that extra bit of fitness instruction and motivation. What's more, studies show that keeping up with a regular workout regime also influences our dietary choices - so you're less likely to eat that slice of chocolate cake after a feel-good workout.

Finding a suitable workout to fit into your schedule is simple. However, if you're new to - or afraid of - the gym, arrange for an induction. A fitness trainer can familiarise you with the different machines, as well as help devise a workout that's right for you. If you're a busy mum, your workout won't be the same as that of someone with a bit more time on their hands. So let your trainer know that short, effective workouts are what you're after.

Sure - workouts require time and commitment. After all, discipline - not to mention sweat - goes into a fitness regime. But it's also not the gruelling and time-consuming task it's often made out to be. Don't build up the idea of fitness to an extent which intimidates you from working out in the first place - because in the end, fitness is an investment in your health, which is worth the effort alone.