when I simply cannot pullmyself out of bed in time to sweat before work, or when I’m traveling and my normal routine is completely thrown off track. Instead of completely scrapping my routine, I’ll try and squeeze in a few bodyweight exercises—namely squats, planks, chair dips and pushups—throughout the day. 

Must-Do Move #1 Chair DipsGreat for toning your triceps and coreSit on the edge of a sturdy, stable chair with legs together, knees bent and feet flat on floor a few feet in front of chair. Place your hands about six inches apart, and firmly grip the edges of the chair. Slide your butt just off the front of the chair so that your upper body is pointing straight down. Keep your abdominals pulled in and your head centered between your shoulders. Bend your elbows and lower your body in a straight line. When your upper arms are parallel to the floor, push yourself back up, being careful not to lock elbows. Repeat.Make it easier Keep feet close to the chair and the dip slow, controlled, and shallow.

Add a challenge If you’re intermediate, position feet a little farther from chair, and deepen your dip. If you’re advanced, straighten your legs completely, and place heels on floor, or place one or both feet on another chair, bench or exercise ball. Perform deep but controlled dips.

Must-Do Move #2 Push-upsGreat for toning your chest, shoulders, triceps, back, hips, and absStart in a basic push-up position with hands directly beneath shoulders and body in a straight line. Bend elbows out to sides and lower body almost to floor (or as far as you can). Keep abs tight and body in a line. Hold for 1 second, then push back up. Repeat.Make it easier If you’re a beginner, do push-ups on knees. Keep the movement shallow and controlled. Still too challenging Start with a push-up on the wall, progressing to the floor as you become stronger.Add a challenge If you’re advanced, try lifting one leg off the floor as you do each push-up.

Must-Do Move #3 SquatsGreat for toning your glutes, hamstrings and quadsStand with feet parallel and hip-width apart. Bend your knees and lower your body into a squat position, as if you are sitting back into an imaginary chair, keeping knees behind toes. Stop when your knees are at 90 degrees. 

Slowly press through your heels and squeeze your glutes as you return to standing.Make it easier Don’t bend knees as deeplyAdd a challenge Add weights, do a single-legged squat, or perform squats on an unstablesurface, like a balance disc or Bosu ball. To incorporate cardio, do squat jumps.

Must-Do Move #4 PlankGreat for toning your abs, back, chest, forearms and shouldersTo come into plank pose, hold a push-up position, weight on balls of feet and hands, wrists directly below shoulders, arms straight, and body in line from head to heels. Hold for as long as you can, working up to 1 minute. That’s 1 rep. 

Do 2 or 3 reps.Make it easier Instead of being on hands, lower yourself to your forearms.Add a challenge Raise 1 leg off the floor and hold for 30 seconds. Switch legs and hold for another 30 seconds to complete 1 rep. To add variety, try side plank Lie on your rightside with your legs straight, and feet stacked, right hand directly under right shoulder. Lifthips off floor and raise left arm to sky, keeping left hand directly over left shoulder.