by Nan Gibbons, Fitness Expert & Motivational Speaker

Balancing work and a fitness plan is often more difficult than it would seem. For many of the people that I come across in my line of work, it is not just about finding a sufficient amount of spare time in the day to exercise. Instead, it is often about finding the motivation and the energy that is necessary to remain committed to personal fitness goals.

If you are building your fitness plan from scratch and have comprehensive health insurance, I recommend getting started by formulating a flexible exercise plan with the help of your regular physician. One of the first keys to getting into shape is finding a moderate plan that is both feasible and accessible and that does not compromise your current health in any way.

My own frantic schedule often makes it difficult for me to stick with a rigid fitness plan. Many of my clients are surprised by the fact that I share the same difficulty in finding adequate time to work out. I do like to stress however, that regardless of where I am or what I am doing, I make it a point to get some form of moderate exercise in each and every day. I have learned over the years that when I don't make time to exercise my energy lags and I am much less motivated in everything that I do. I believe that exercise not only makes me healthier, but that it also helps me to perform better in all areas of life.

When I can, I like taking on challenging workouts that really push my body to the limit. When I have less time to spare however, I do whatever I can. I try to run a lot of my errands on foot rather than driving and when time will permit nothing else, I do squats, lunges and glute squeezes while I work. I have found that there are always small windows of opportunity to get some exercise in. I believe that everyone has these windows of opportunity. Most people simply need to learn how to make exercise a priority and then fit it into their schedules.

I cannot stress enough how good a simple walk can be for your body, especially when you are just starting out on the road to physical fitness. I speak with a ton of people who find that they are tired and unmotivated as their workdays wind down. This is never a surprise to me. Hours spent sitting in a chair and staring at a computer will have that effect on anyone at any level of health. I believe that the most beneficial thing that anyone with a desk job can do is to use the lunch hour to get in some physical activity. Taking a brisk, thirty minute walk during your lunch hour is an easy way to invest in yourself and to keep your energy levels high.

Your health insurance provider should also be able to offer several phenomenal tips on how to maintain ideal levels of physical activity while maintaining a solid work schedule. In fact, many health insurance companies offer workshops and other weekend classes that instruct patients on how to take preventative measures that will help to ensure total wellness. By taking advantage of these offers people can garner the information and the motivation that they need to start making exercise a high priority.

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Nan Gibbons is a fitness expert and motivational speaker who works with athletes all over the world. In addition to being health obsessed, she also loves blogging and techno music as well as her lab/golden retriever mix, Cody.

Twitter: @healthnut2011