Work it girl!

Think you're too busy to exercise? If your workout plans keep going by the wayside, you're missing out on the heart-healthy and body benefits gained by staying in shape. The good news: you don't need a lot of time to make exercise a part of your daily routine, says Krista Popowych, a personal trainer and program director at The Fitness Group in Vancouver. You just need to get smart about fitting exercise into your busy schedule. Follow Krista's three steps and enjoy a fitter and healthier body in no time. If you plan to go from zero to 60 minutes of exercise seven days a week, you're bound to feel overwhelmed. The small-step approach is proven to be the best method of making health goals stick. So set realistic goals and ensure your success. Chances are, if you plan to walk for 10 minutes a day, you'll eventually end up exercising for 20.

If you want to reap the benefits of exercise, you need to commit to your goal and make it a priority. Make an appointment with yourself to exercise and write it down—in ink—in your daybook. If you treat your workout like a doctor's appointment or an important meeting, you'll be less likely to miss it. Keep in mind that by scheduling your workout before your work day begins, you'll be more likely to stick to it.

Combining exercise with other activities on your to-do list will help ensure that you stick to your workout plan. Try exercising with a friend so you can combine socializing with activity, or do double-duty: read while on a stationary recumbent bike or exercise your upper and lower body at the same time. And keep in mind that every little bit you do will add up over the course of the day. So, while walking to work converts your commute into training, strolling over to a coworker's office instead emailing is also a positive habit.

The possibilities of doubly beneficial activities are endless—try isolating biceps while cleaning, or if you love to garden, get fit while digging.