This week, try doing two workouts per day to help you meet your weight-loss goals.

Sure, there are many fitness routines to choose from—but doing two short-interval workouts are the most efficient. Opt for two to three different interval routines to cycle through over the course of the week. Remember, the more intense the workout, the more efficient.

• Do one workout in the morning and repeat the same workout 6-8 hours later in the afternoon.
• On your next workout day, repeat that routine, but use a different interval workout.

If you choose the right workouts and rotation, you should be able to sustain this type of plan for 3-4 weeks . . . and make some great gains to boot!

Keep from overtraining. Only do two-a-days once every four months.

Oh, that long weekend off. It is quite tempting to take it easy for the entire break. On the other hand, it offers the opportunity to spend at least one of those days being completely active—which can be anything, from spending the day gardening to hiking or even going out on the boat for some tubing (as long as you don’t plant yourself in a seat all day).

Try to find something with low to moderate intensity, yet active for most of the day. Equally important, make it something you enjoy.

You’ll probably be wiped out by the end of the day, but the change in your routine is a great way to get a boost in your health for the upcoming week as well as some active recovery from more intense workouts.

— a workout tip from Jeremiah Jacobs, Nutrition/Exercise Counselor at Cenegenics Carolinas