When it comes to exercising, doing more with less effort is the way to go, whether you're trying to save time, energy, money or all of the above. You probably already know that you can break up those 30 minutes of exercise that experts recommend you get daily - 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there, another 10 and it's done. Another way to make strength training faster is to work more groups of muscles simultaneously. It's a movement called compound workouts, and it's helping people build strength, burn calories and get toned, tight muscles. Combining a large-muscle movement, like squats, with hand-held weight training, can pay off big fitness dividends. Try walking lunges while doing bicep curls or lifting dumbbells straight above the head as you step forward. Use a medicine ball to complete side-to-side lunges while holding the ball, or as you do a standard squat, bring the ball between your legs as you go down.
Press through your heels as you come up, bringing the ball straight above your head. To save not only time, but also money, look for inexpensive exercise equipment that will allow you to work the most parts of your body, like exercise balls, which can be used to work abs, legs and other muscle groups. Partner it with a set of dumbbells, and you almost have a complete gym at home for much less than the cost of one month of gym membership. If you like to belong to a gym, shop around first before committing to a plan. There's nothing wrong with comparison shopping when looking for a gym. Ask about group discounts and child care if you're trying to make fitness a family affair.