Fitness in Five
I went to the gym to visit my trainer and good friend Geri Zatcoff, M.S.Ed, M.S., Nutrition & Fitness expert for the Mar Jennings Home & Garden Show. I wanted her to give me some ideas and fitness tips for people who are on the go and may only have a few minutes to work out. This is what she shared with me.

If you have a limited amount of time to work out, you need the maximum amount of effectiveness for your effort. Multi-joint exercises give you more bang for your buck because they require the interaction of several different muscles at the same time. My favorite examples of these types of exercises are stationary step-ups and push-ups because they can be done almost anywhere. Stepping up and down on a box, step or bench uses all the muscles in the legs; the higher the step, the greater the intensity. However, stepping too high can cause injury so never let the knee go higher than the hip. Push-ups utilize most of the muscles in the upper body including the chest, back and arms. A wide grip maximizes the use of the larger chest and back muscles. They can be done against a picnic table, a railing, or even a desk; the more vertical your body, the lower the intensity.

Both of these exercises are great ways to tighten, tone, and strengthen. And, they can be done almost anywhere; in your home, your office, on a boat or on a walk.

And there you have it.