1. I don't have time.
Solution: Put things into perspective. If you exercise for 30 minutes a day, that's just 3 percent of your waking hours, says John Foreyt, Ph.D., professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Schedule it into your day as you would taking a shower. If necessary, wake up about 30 minutes earlier or stretch lunch by 15 or 20 minutes. Can't do that 30 minutes all at once? Do 10-minute spurts throughout the day. "Research shows that three 10-minute bouts of exercise burn as many calories and offer as many health benefits as one 30-minute workout," says Mike Bracko, Ed.D., an exercise physiologist in Calgary, Alberta.

2. I don't have enough energy.
Solution: Believe it or not, the more you exercise, the more energy you'll have, Foreyt says. Identify points during the day when you're most awake and alert, and work out then. For many people, morning is best, but you may be most energetic at 8 o'clock in the evening. On days when you're really tired, trick your body into exercising for longer periods. Vow to walk or do strength exercises for 10 minutes; if you're still beat after that, you can quit. "Usually, though, you start feeling so good that you keep going," Bracko says. If you're sluggish, do a less intense workout. Take a leisurely walk, or do a gentle yoga video.

3. I get bored easily.
Solution: Try new activities until you find something you enjoy—tennis with a league, inline skating, walking around your neighborhood, or a combination of activities. Also, make your exercise sessions pleasurable. Listen to music or a book on tape, watch television, or read a magazine while you're on a treadmill or elliptical trainer. If possible, recruit a workout buddy—your spouse, best friend, or dog—or train for a charity event. To break the monotony, do something different every workout, Bracko says. Walk one day, take a new fitness class the next, and lift weights on the third day. Or alternate between several activities in one workout. If you belong to a health club, do 10 or 15 minutes each on a bike, treadmill, and elliptical trainer.

4. I feel intimidated at the gym.
Solution: Find a comfortable environment, like a park, the mall, or your neighborhood, Foreyt says. Look into alternative health-club options, including ymcas, ywcas, and 30-minute workout chains. Your church, synagogue, hospital, or community center may also offer fitness classes. Or check out walking, running, and cycling clubs in your area. To get started, go to www.active.com.

5. I don't know where to start.
Solution: The easiest way is to do something you do every day—walk. Begin with a 5- to 10-minute walk every day, and add time as you become fitter. You can also hire a personal trainer for an hour or two to teach you exercise basics. Depending on where you live, sessions start at $25 per hour. Even better, hire a trainer for a month. "Not only will you get educated," Bracko says, "you'll also get the motivation you need to exercise." If personal training seems intimidating, head to the library or a bookstore, where you'll find books, videos, and magazines on exercise. Or try online-training sites like www.myfitnessexpert.com. Another way to get started is to attend beginner conditioning or weight classes at the gym—you'll learn basic moves and form.

6. I have my kids with me.
Solution: If your spouse can't watch them while you exercise, join a gym that offers day care, or set up a home gym and exercise before the kids get up. Also, make activity a family event. Play Frisbee before dinner, take a walk after meals, or plan a weekly outing, like hiking or swimming. You can also squeeze in more activity at home. Walk around as you chat on the phone; do strength exercises, like push-ups against the refrigerator or squats, when you have downtime during dinner preparation; or work up a sweat during your favorite television show.

7. I don't have money to spend on equipment or a gym membership.
Solution: "You don't need money to exercise, just a good pair of shoes," Foreyt says. You can walk or jog in your neighborhood, at a high school track, or at a park. If the weather's bad, walk in a shopping mall. Some malls even have free organized walking groups. For strength training, do exercises like squats, push-ups, and lunges that use your body weight as resistance, Bracko says. If you want to make a small investment in strength-training equipment, inexpensive options include stability balls ($20 to $25), elastic resistance bands (below, $5 to $15), or hand weights ($2 to $10 per pair), all of which you can purchase at sporting-goods stores and many department stores. You can also buy exercise videos or dvds for $10 to $15 each, or check them out from your library. If you get bored with them, swap with a friend.

Karen Asp is a frequent contributor to Cooking Light. She also writes for Allure, Family Circle, Prevention, Shape, and Woman's Day.