Motivating people to stop finding excuses for not exercising is one of the biggest problems health promotion and wellness professionals face. And when it comes to excuses, "I can’t find the time," is sure to be at the top of most people’s lists.

It’s essential for you to convince these individuals they can, in fact, find the time — and staying fit won’t take as much time as they may think.

The key to getting in shape fast is to train smart, using intensity, according to Fred Metheny, senior editor at Asimba.com, a fitness Web site.

"All that is needed is a little advance planning to help you maximize the time you allot for exercise,"suggests Metheny, who offered some easy tips you can provide your clients to help them cheat time and beat the clock.

Four Ways to Cheat Time

Maintain during the week, build on the weekend: Don’t be a weekend warrior who sinks in sloth all week then overdoes exercise on Saturday and Sunday. It’s unhealthy and you won’t improve — what you gain on the weekend vanishes during five days of inactivity. Plan your work week so you can exercise aerobically at least twice, using the other days for short bouts of resistance training and rest — then go harder on the weekends when you have more time.

Intensity is better than distance: If sports science has taught us anything in the last 10 years, it’s the importance of intensity. Studies show that fast running or cycling for short periods of time is far better than slogging it out for hours at a slow pace — great news for time-challenged individuals. It means you can build top fitness without massive time commitments.

Improve while resting: Hard workouts are only part of the fitness equation. It’s during the rest periods the body repairs the damage done during an intense workout like fast running or cycling. The body rebuilds and becomes fit while at rest. Sure, you’re busy during the week, but you can use those days when you’re tied up at work as much-needed rest breaks from exercise. All it takes is a bit of planning.

Resistance exercise defeats time: Weight training is a quick way to stimulate muscles to get stronger. Several sets of leg exercises, like lunges or step-ups, take far less time than 20 miles of cycling but, because you’re using more resistance, they build strength faster.

For more information, visit Asimba on the Web at www.asimba.com.