Life can be hectic, and our busy world demands that we juggle taking care of children, going to work or school, and meeting other obligations. And we're supposed to exercise too! When can you find time to burn fat?

Most people can find a few ten minute blocks throughout the day, so are shorter workouts just as effective as one longer one?

You may be able to find the time for these workouts, but do they burn fat? If your body needs to warm up for about twenty minutes in order to kick into fat burning mode, how can short workouts be effective?

According to the American Heart Association, you can receive the same benefit from several shorter workouts as you do from one long one. This is true if they add up to the same amount of time.

This means that if you do four ten minute workouts, you are doing the same great things for your body that a single forty minute workout can do. To make it even more effective, the AHA recommends that you make these short workouts as intense as possible.

So the key to making your short workouts count is to make sure they are rigorous and challenging to your body. Here are some ways you can do this:

1. Pick up the pace. A lot.

For ten minutes, run faster than you normally do. Walkers, walk more briskly. Make sure to get your heart going.

2. Attack a gym machine.

If you are at the gym or have equipment at home, jump on and exercise extremely rigorously for ten minutes.

3. Hills and stairs are made for climbing.

Then walk back down and repeat until you hit ten minutes.

4. Try some jumping jacks.

5. Try jumping rope.

Basically, anything that is intense and hard work for your body can make a good ten minute workout. And don't forget your strength training!

Don't let your body get bored; if you do, it is harder to burn fat. Do a few minutes of light walking to warm up, and then do some of the moves below:

* Squats: these are the moves to get the most out of your workout. They are very effective.

* Lunges

* Deadlifts

* Lunges

* Pushups

You can do sets of each or combine them to create compound moves. These work more muscle at the same time. Examples of compound moves are: squats combined with overhead presses, lunges paired with chest presses, and knee lifts with tricep kickbacks.

Even short workouts need warm up and cool down periods, but they can be as simple as walking. Walk briskly for a few minutes to warm up, and walk at a slower pace to cool down. Stretching is also important so you don't strain your muscles.

The important thing with exercise is to do it. If you can do four ten minute workouts per day, that is great. You will see results, and you will burn fat.

Short workouts are also very motivating. You know you can do ten minutes, so you stick with your workout regimen.

Doing a forty minute workout can be a hardship when you have a busy schedule. But ten minutes is manageable for everyone.