One of the main reasons why so many people don’t have a consistent workout plan is that they feel they don’t have the time. With so many confusing statements about how long one should exercise, it becomes difficult to see how much is really enough. Many experts have said that forty-five minutes to an hour of exercise a day is best, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the best plan for your schedule. Finding a big block of free time may not be possible, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get fit anyway. Short spurts of activity work too. Here’s what you need to know.

With the holiday season in full swing, chances are you’ve already dug into your fair share of sweet treats and goodies… and who has time to burn them off? It’s no fun and not easy to pass on the delicious indulgences that beckon and test even the strongest of wills this time of year, but fear not, with an exercise plan in place you can treat yourself and check your guilt at the door. Don’t let the kids become your excuse not to work out. Instead, grab those babies and start burning some calories! Here’s how you can make time for exercise, even with the busiest of holiday schedules:

If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to become one with your stroller. It’s not just for getting your child from Point A to Point B. It’s your ticket to some serious calorie burning. Strap your little one in, keep her content with a snack, a favorite toy, book or an app or video loaded iPhone, and hit the streets, the park, or a local greenway for a run, jog or just a hearty walk. If you’d rather fight crowds than an icy wind, head to the mall for some indoor power walking. If you have an older child who has outgrown the stroller, have her ride alongside on a scooter or her bike. Self magazine offers a handy calculator for determining how many calories you burn while pushing a stroller. Check it out, remembering that you’ll burn more if you increase your intensity and the duration:

We can thank many industrious, entrepreneurial parents before us for creating countless ways to exercise with kids in an organized, structured environment. If you need the discipline, motivation and company that an exercise class provides, but can’t find time away from your kids to attend one, sign up for a parent and child fitness class. There are slews of offerings, especially for urban parents. For instance, in San Francisco you can try out parent and child yoga, such as classes at It’s Yoga Kids, and either take a class together at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco or drop the kids at the JCC childcare while you attend a class on your own. In NYC, try a Kids in Sports class or Karma Kids Yoga. There’s a great round-up of parent-child classes from New York Family, though they are not all fitness related and not all of them aim to provide true exercise for parents. No matter where you live, there’s likely a baby boot camp or Stroller Strides program offering a way for new parents to get together and work out in the company of their little ones.

Get everyone in on the action by inviting another mom and child over to break a sweat. Go for a vigorous game of kickball in the backyard, doubles tennis at the local courts, even a relay race or a DIY obstacle course you create at home. If there’s snow outside, find a hill for sledding, a park for snowshoeing or a rink for skating. Too cold to go outside? Meet at a warm, indoor pool and burn some calories with the kickboard. Think of how thrilled your child will be when you suggest a game of street hockey instead of the usual afternoon video you watch together. And think how nice it will be to share a few Christmas cookies with a little less guilt.

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