My summer exercise program usually consists of trying to get outside for a walk, or, on days when the planets align, a run. Since it has rained every day in June (and we’re almost at July), I’ve been forced to continue my winter exercise routine of workout videos, mostly the 30 Day Shred.

But you know, sometimes you get a little sick of Jillian, and maybe it’s 7:00 and the drywall contractors are showing up at 7:30 and you really want to get some sort of exercise in before you shower. (Ok, not “you” so much there, but me, last Saturday.) Self magazine had a little feature called “8 Minutes to Slim” which was totally what I needed; it’s like the Reader’s Digest version of 30 Day Shred. Whole body strength moves, short bursts of cardio, children talking the whole time and climbing on you during ab moves. Clearly, it’s better to work out for as long as possible, but if you’re time crunched, and you’re not sure what to do, do the 8 minute thing. I definitely felt it.

(And I was able to get it all in before the drywall guys came, though they did arrive while I was showering, and let themselves in, which either speaks to the friendliness of Maine, or is something I should be massively concerned about.)