Sticking with your fitness routine can be a challenge when work-related stress, an overbooked schedule and a never-ending to-do list take over your daily routine. A trip to the gym or Pilates class can take a backseat when you're just too busy, but there are some ways to get back on track. Having someone hold you accountable is an easy way to keep pressing on and keeping up with your fitness resolutions. Buddying up with a friend, coworker or a family member is a great way to keep up with your commitment to get in shape, and motivate yourself and the other person in the process!

All you need to do is find a friend, coworker or relative who is ready to make or renew their fitness commitment. Ask around, find out who wants to lose weight or get buff this season. Then, set up a schedule where you are required to meet each other for a pep talk and workout session.

Some of the best exercises to do with a partner or in a group are walking, jogging, circuit training at an indoor gym, sports such as tennis or racquetball, yoga, Pilates, kickboxing routines, and swimming. Just pack your gym bag the night before so you can save some time and head straight to your meetup.

Exercising with a friend not only makes it easier to stick with your commitment, but also gives you a chance to take your mind off the routine. The once-intimidating weight bench and treadmill are easier to tackle when you have a friend by your side. It's much easier to finish your running routine when you have a friend running right next to you. Plus, working out with someone will give you a chance to chat, vent about your day, or just catch up on the latest gossip!

If you can't find a friend or relative to join you on your fitness routine, consider joining a fitness group in your area. These can be just as motivating, and you have the chance to make some new friends while you workout. Group fitness classes may be available at your neighborhood community center, or at the local gym. Sign up, get out there and buddy up for some fun and effective fitness sessions!

When it's time to hit the gym, most of us are in a serious time crunch. If your idea of a gym workout involves walking on the treadmill, riding the stationary bike or just doing laps around the track, you could be wasting your time. Sweating up a storm with basic cardio feels good in the moment, but you won't be doing your muscles any favors with that routine.

The best way to maximize your time is to do resistance training; you can burn up to four times as many calories by adding weights to your routine in the form of power squats, lunges and other weight-bearing sequences. Here are a few ideas to ramp up your usual cardio routine and blast off extra calories in no time:

1. Wear ankle weights. If you insist on strapping on those running shoes and doing laps around the track, bump up the resistance by wearing some ankle weights. These will make your usual jog that much more challenging and will give your lower legs a serious workout.

2. Play with resistance bands. Resistance bands use your own weight for resistance and help you strengthen and tone up muscles in a flash. You can do simple lunges, squats and pull ups with a set of bands by your side; they're perfect for that midday training session at the office or anytime you need to squeeze some training into your day.

3. Wear weighted hand gloves. Can't get away from the treadmill or elliptical machine? Pull on a pair of weighted hand gloves that add some resistance to your lower arms and help you tone up.

4. Do your crunches with a medicine ball. A 5 lb. medicine ball is all you need to add some power to your crunches. Just hold the ball with both hands above your head as you perform your oblique twists and ab crunches on the yoga mat. You'll feel the burn much faster and may finally see some results from your hard work.

5. Jump into the pool. Those ladies in the water aerobics class know a thing or two about resistance training. Performing simple walking or stretching routines in the water is a great way to burn calories and get those muscles in great shape.

Are you addicted to the treadmill? Logging in hours on the machine but seeing little or no results? The treadmill can be a friend or foe when it comes to getting in shape because it will give you a great cardio workout, but doesn't do much for muscle training. You can spend hours walking, jogging and running on the treadmill, but your body will soon adapt to the routine - which means you won't be able to burn nearly as many calories as you want to.

Cardio training on the treadmill is great for your heart, but if your goal is to burn fat and get in shape fast, you'll need to add some resistance to the mix. Here are some easy ways to make your treadmill workout count:

1. Walk with ankle weights. Strap on some ankle weights to add some instant resistance to your workout. They will feel strange at first, but you'll get used to them within a few sessions. The extra weights will give your lower legs a better workout, and this will also help you become stronger in the long-run.

2. Walk with dumbbells. Turn your treadmill routine into an upper body workout by adding 3 to 5 lb.
dumbbells to the mix. Just hold them by your side as you walk, or do short bicep curls for some extra resistance.

3. Wear a weighted belt. You can strap on a few extra pounds of weight around your waistline if you prefer not to carry dumbbells or use ankle weights. These belts will help to balance out your weight and turn your usual routine into a total body conditioning program.

Don't forget to stay well-hydrated throughout the workout, and eat the right types of foods before and after your session. Keep a water bottle by your side during the routine, and make sure you're drinking at least 10 - 12 cups of water to avoid dehydration. For food, eat a small serving of protein right before the workout and a mix of protein and carbs right after to keep your energy levels in check.

Crunches are one of the most popular exercises to tighten and tone abdominal muscles. It is sometimes also referred to as a curl-up. Many people prefer to do crunches over actual sit ups since crunches put less of a strain on your back and are considered safer.

Here is how you can do a basic crunch:

1. Lie on your back on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. If you are not on a carpeted surface, you may want to use an exercise mat.

2. Fold your arms behind your head and place them on your neck for support.

3. Lift your upper body, including your shoulders off the floor using only your abdominal muscles.

4. Lower your body back down to the floor, making sure to keep your abdominal muscles contracted and tight.

5. Return to starting position and repeat.

There are several variations of the crunch that you can do. There are ones that will work your obliques (side of your stomach) and other ones that will focus on either the upper or lower part of the stomach. Here are just some of the different variations of crunches that you can do.

Twisting crunch
This is done by lifting the shoulders to the opposite knee. It focuses on slimming the obliques.

Bicycle Crunch
This is another variation done to work your obliques. Instead of just lifting the shoulders towards the opposite knee you are alternating your knees in and out like riding a bicycle in the air.

Reverse Crunch
This exercise can be done different ways. You can extend your legs straight out and lift them straight up in the air. The other way is to bend your knees into your chest and pull them in and out towards your chest while your upper body is flat on the ground.

You can also make your crunches harder by adding weights to your exercise. Place a weight on your stomach or hold weights over your chest as you perform the exercise.

Crunches can be added into strength training workouts, interval workouts, or at the end of a cardiovascular workout. Crunches must be done properly for them to be effective. This means that you should go on quality not so quantity when it comes to doing crunches.

Living a healthier lifestyle doesn't only mean you need to work out regularly and eat right. You can get in shape and conserve the planet's resources by 'greenifying' your routine! Here are some easy ways to make your workouts more eco-friendly:

1. Use a sports bottle, not a water bottle. Skip the convenience of plastic water bottles and fill your own sports bottle instead. All that extra plastic is just going to a landfill, so you can take a greener approach simply by using a flask or portable bottle throughout your workout and busy day.

2. Walk to the gym. If you live just a couple of miles from the gym, consider walking or jogging there as part of your workout. You'll be saving emissions from the car, and it's a great way to get outdoors for some fresh air before your gym routine.

3. Wear vegetarian shoes. Vegan and vegetarian shoes are made without leather, but are just as sturdy and strong as regular styles. Vegan shoes are typically made with recycled materials and natural fibers such as hemp, natural cotton and bamboo. Narrow down your search for green shoes as you walk the walk with your eco-friendly lifestyle.

4. Use organic towels. Do you need to carry around an extra towel or two when you hit the gym? Wick away sweat and moisture with organic towels that will show your support for the planet and get the job done. Organic towels are made with supersoft bamboo cotton and natural fibers, and can easily be stashed in your gym bag or tote for your workout routine.

5. Snack on organic foods. From organic energy bars, to trail mix, to granola, make sure your diet is healthy by snacking on organic foods between meals, or before a workout. Organic, unprocessed snacks can give you that much-needed energy boost you need and support your healthy, and green, lifestyle.

There are dozens of ways to 'go green' and enjoy a healthier lifestyle, and you can use any of these strategies to ensure your workout routine not only helps you achieve your health goals, but also supports the planet!

As much as we want to believe that losing ten pounds in ten days is possible, the reality is that those pounds aren't going to budge without some hard work and a plan. Fitness gurus have been telling us for years that extreme diets and fast-track fitness plans are nothing short of a fad. Still, thousands of people still jump onto the latest diet trend in hopes of shaving off extra pounds in a flash.

Not so fast, grasshopper.

Whether you're hoping to compete in a marathon this year or want to get yourself in summer-ready shape, the 'slow and steady' mantra will probably get you further. The American Council on Exercise points out that strength training, interval training and cardio exercise are the most important elements of a get-in-shape routine. Create and follow a plan that works for you; for weeks, months and even years. You can start by breaking up your training into different types throughout the course of the week; focus on cardio one day and strength training the next to make the most of your workout.

Some other ways to take the slow and steady route:

1. Don't do crash diets. Focus instead on leaning out your meals and cutting back on portions of foods you actually enjoy. This will take the pressure of eating 'diet food' off your shoulders, and will let you enjoy all foods in moderation.

2. Schedule your workouts. Get into the exercise habit by scheduling exercise into your appointment book or calendar. Sticking with your commitment is much easier when you make an appointment to just do it.

3. Clean up your eating habits. Eat more water-based and natural foods, increase your fiber intake and drink more water to keep your metabolism running at peak efficiency. Get into the habit of drinking more water by carrying around a sports bottle.

4. Be realistic. Don't set unachievable goals that will leave you frustrated and less likely to stick with your plans. Focus on making small, healthy changes to your lifestyle instead.

5. Log your time. Keep track of your workouts by logging in hours or exercises into a journal or calendar.

Long days at the office where you're stuck behind the desk all day can make it impossible to stay in shape. When you're dealing with looming deadlines and high stress levels, hauling the gym bag to the fitness center over the lunch hour, or even after work, may not make it to the top your priority list.

If you know your chances of getting out to enjoy the fresh air over lunch hour are slim to none, you need to take a more creative approach to getting fit. Just close that door or find a quiet room where you can escape for 10 to 15 minutes, and give your metabolism a boost with these quick and easy exercises:

1. The Power Lunge. Grab a couple of water bottles and do 10-12 lunges with each leg. This will give your lower body a mini-workout, and is especially effective if you've been sitting through meetings or at a computer for most of the morning.

2. The Hoop Shot Squat. Stand up straight with feet hip-width apart and your elbows slightly bent. Bend at the knees to do a half squat, then jump straight up as if you were throwing a basketball into the hoop. Repeat 10-15 times until you feel a slight burn in the thighs and glutes.

3. Boxing Jab. Give your upper body a workout and put your reflexes to the test with a mini shadowboxing session. Stand with your feet hip width apart and slightly twist at the waist as you perform a strong punch. Do this 5 to 8 times on each side, and keep your eyes fixed on a certain point ahead of you.

4. Side Squat. Grab those water bottles or hand weights again and stand with our feet shoulder-width apart. Bend at the knees, then slowly raise your right leg up towards your hips (as far as you can go), then squat, and perform the same maneuver with your left leg. Keep alternating this movement 8 -10 times until you feel the burn in your quads and glutes.

5. Torso stretch. Sitting at the desk can take its toll on your posture, so give your upper body a boost with a long torso stretch. Hold your arms up above your head as far as you can reach and bend forward to touch the ground. Inhale deeply for two counts as you bend, and exhale deeply for four counts as you rise up. Repeat 3-5 times.

When the workday feels like a drag and hitting the gym after work feels like Mission Impossible, consider breaking up your day for a mid-day fitness circuit. A quick, high-intensity lunch time workout can give your metabolism a boost and help you log in that much needed gym time. If you have just 20 to 30 minutes to spare on your lunch break, consider jumping into any of these mini-workouts to keep up with your fitness resolutions this season:

Chair Squats
You won't even need to leave the office for this simple routine; just pull a chair away from your desk and do a series of squats by standing up and hovering over the chair base for 15-20 reps. Use a pair of water bottles as weights for extra resistance.

Speed Walking
Put on a pair of walking or running shoes and head outside for a brisk 20-minute walk. Head on over to your favorite smoothie place, coffee shop or just go on a window-shopping hike across town to log in those miles; just make sure your pace is fast enough to increase your heart rate.

Yoga Poses
An empty employee lounge or conference room is the perfect place to de-stress and stretch with a few yoga poses. Find a quiet space where you can center yourself and enjoy a few minutes of bliss; a few focused, intense stretches will get the blood circulation going and help you re-energize in the middle of an otherwise stressful day.

Wall Push-Ups
Another in-office maneuver, this exercise will tone up those biceps, shoulder muscles and upper back. Stand facing a wall about 2 feet away from the base. Push your palms against the wall and lean into the movement to do a standing push-up. Repeat for 15-20 reps or until you feel a burn.

The best time to do undertake the mini-workout is right before you dig into the lunch pack; you'll get to rev up your metabolism before noshing on that meal and may even burn it off faster. A brief, high-intensity workout will help build up endurance and stamina and keep you charged up for the rest of the day; follow the energy spike with a light brown bagged lunch for even more health benefits.

It's a well known fact that adding small segments of physical activities to the day will keep your metabolism roaring and ward off a few extra pounds. Experts recommend brief speed walking sessions after lunch and a quick round of weights in the early a.m. If you can't remember to add these activities to your schedule, there's another way to get on the mega calorie burn, and it's as simple as picking up the vacuum cleaner.

Common household chores such as vacuuming, dusting the living room and mopping the kitchen floor give all your major muscle groups a mini workout; as you tighten up those abs to get to those hard-to-reach places and turn yourself into a mean, cleaning machine, you can burn off hundreds of calories per hour. Here are just a few chores and activities that will help you reach your fitness goals - and leave your house or apartment squeaky clean:

Ironing
Guaranteed to make your shoulders and upper back sore but strong, and you'll burn over 115 calories per hour.

Vacuuming
Get the place looking spiffy and burn nearly 200 calories per hour, even more if you add ankle weights to the mix.

Carrying Laundry and Household Items up and down Stairs
Almost 500 calories per hour; just make sure you're maintaining a steady pace to give thighs, glutes and hips a major workout.

Washing Windows
Give biceps, triceps and shoulder muscles a killer workout and burn almost 200 calories per hour. (So that's how those professional window cleaners stay so buff.)

Washing the Car
Grab that wax and practice the 'wax on, wax off' technique; get sudsy and enjoy a real car washing experience to blast off over 230 calories per hour.

Raking Leaves
Clean up that lawn and get your garden in tip-top shape for the season while burning over 350 calories per hour.

Washing Dishes
Give the dishwasher a break and hand wash a load of dishes to burn nearly 200 calories per hour.

Painting
Painting walls or window trim burns 65 to 100 calories per hour - give those biceps a mega-workout!

So what are you waiting for? Strap on a pair of sneakers and hit the cleaning closet for your 'workout equipment' of choice.