Fit in a Flash: The New 15 Minute Plan

Here's one of life's little ironies: It takes months to whip yourself into lean, mean shape but just a few weeks to get out of it. At least that's how it feels when you miss a few workouts and who hasn't at this time of the year? We've got a news flash: You can stay in shape and avoid gaining weight with just one or two superfast workouts a week. And each session can be as short as 15 minutes. (C'mon, even you have that!) The secret? Pushing the intensity during quickie sessions. FYI: If you stop exercising completely, it takes as long as three months to become unfit. In as few as two weeks, though, you'll notice little changes like less energy and strength. Research shows that as long as you hike up the intensity, shorter, less frequent workouts can hold off the damage indefinitely. We're featuring here the combo plan that combines cardio and strength training. When you're really pressed for time, you can squeak by with one combo session, but make every second count by working hard. Check out the December/January issue for the other two plans and when you can sneak in more time, couple up workouts for a 30 or 45 minute body blast. (Always warm up before and cool down after you exercise.) This holiday, you won't get fat!