Balancing work and fitness

Lifestyle experts say some simple changes can help you balance work and fitness.

Create new habits: Marta Montenegro, editor in chief of SOBeFiT Magazine, says people often are too ambitious in their fitness goals.

To create a habit of eating a more healthful diet, start with breakfast. Or fill your desk drawer, purse and car with nutritious snacks.

Get moving: Walking and stretching are the easiest ways to cram exercise into a busy schedule.

Take advantage of employer wellness programs: More companies are embracing the wellness trend, realizing it's less expensive to prevent rather than treat most medical conditions.

Learn to relax: David Posen, a stress-management expert, says in his "Little Book of Stress Relief," that unlike the stress reaction, which is involuntary and triggers automatically, the relaxation response has to be brought forth voluntarily and intentionally.

Stop sacrificing sleep: Karen Koffler is a busy working mom. Koffler often gets up early and rides her bike to work. But she also makes sure she goes to bed early, tucking herself in by 9 p.m. Koffler believes adults should get seven to 10 hours of sleep a night.

Consider fitness part of your job description: Exercise helps you take a global view of a situation or conflict. It can spur creativity and even help you find solutions that wouldn't occur to you when you're in front of a computer.

Check out the deals: The upside of recession is that fitness professionals and health clubs are responding to new budgets, offering discounts and showing more willingness to bargain.