Jenn says, "I need it as a stress relief every day and during the holidays because you know you're tempted by food you normally wouldn't eat and so it makes you feel that much better that you're working out to compensate for that."

Jenn and Kristen Wassung squeeze the most into the least amount of time by circuit training. They move through cardio and strength stations -- something that could easily be set up at home. They can make three loops in a half hour, and get a total body workout.

Certified Fitness Trainer Lori Johnson encourages clients to work out smarter, not take weeks off at a time.

She says, "If you're that person who's taking off five to six days multiple times a year it's not going to be beneficial for you. It's just going to make it more challenging to get back to your exercise routine at the same level."

Another option is speed intervals on cardio equipment. Jenn and Kristen vary the intensity of the stair-stepper. They get a better cardio workout and burn more calories than if they worked out at a constant pace.

Kristen says, "It actually goes a lot faster. You're working harder but you don't know it because you're looking at the clock. I gotta go in 30 seconds, then I have a two minute recovery, so it goes pretty fast." And that's the goal, to get in and out, and on their way.

Taking time off really affects our fitness level. Lori Johnson says we start to lose our conditioning in just two days.