Your Top 5 Exercise Excuses -- Busted!

2. "I Was Swamped So I..."

"I put in long hours, and it can be hard to get to the gym. On days I can't fit in a formal workout, I make sure I walk the 60 minutes to and from work," says Emily Eynon, 26, a financial research analyst in New York City. Even stormy days don't discourage her: "The bad weather actually makes me go faster! And I keep an extra umbrella at the office in case it's raining." If you can't commute on foot, do a fast-paced walk during your lunch hour.

"Once I had kids, my workout schedule became erratic. For six years, I was yo-yo exercising -- on one month, off for two. But switching to morning sessions has helped me stay consistent," says Lisa Cruger, a 35-year-old teacher from Haverstraw, New York. She takes an early-morning Spinning class twice a week and also weight-trains three days a week. "I leave the gym at 6:30, so I can wake the kids, and we're all out the door by 8."

Even though Adrienne Tabo's workdays are long and hectic, she noticed that late in the afternoons she had a pocket of time she could set aside for exercise. "I go hiking in the hills near my office," says the 33-year-old architect from Tustin, California. A bonus: "I often have to work late at night, so the trek serves as an energizing break. I come back mentally sharper when most people are combating an afternoon slump!"