It’s already February and my life is in a routine. I should mention I hate routines. In fact, it’s okay to say I absolutely detest them. And the one that makes my skin crawl the most?

My gym routine.

The treadmill and bike just aren’t doing it for me anymore. Not even when I’m lucky enough to score one with a TV on it. It’s not like there’s anything good to watch at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday, anyway. The truth is, spending an hour pedaling in place irritates me to no end, especially when I know there are many other things I could and should be doing (cleaning my room is on the top of the list – who knows where all my bras went?). And if you are anything like me, meaning you have about a second to sit down and breathe before something else happens, then you feel my pain.

So what’s a girl to do? Create a new playlist, join a hot yoga class, try new weight machines? It all just ends up the same: played out and boring.

What I need is a more efficient workout. Something that can whip my booty into shape without taking up my precious time. And if it didn’t require me to have to layer up to haul ass to the gym, well, even better.

And guess what? IT EXISTS. The fitness experts at AOL Health have a 15-minute full-body workout that is quick, challenging and can be done in the comforts of my dorm room (once I actually clean it, that is).

And here it is, in all its short, powerful glory.

Goodbye ‘Reba’ reruns (for real, how did that show ever exist!?), hello Gisele body with some extra free time on the side!

Sometimes just the thought of working out at the campus gym was enough to give me a near-panic attack. When I wanted to have a solid sweat session (usually donning sweatpants, no makeup and a worn out sorority event t-shirt), the last place I wanted to be was on display in front of the whole campus. Where, let’s be honest, I would inevitably run into my uber-attractive grad student TA, that boy I may or may not have made out with Friday night or my ex-boyfriend’s new annoying girlfriend who seemed to think it was a good idea to get fully made up before the gym so that she resembled a melting troll on the treadmill.

All of those reasons are why the idea of working out in the privacy of my own apartment or dorm, was much more appealing from time to time. When I lived in my sorority house, my roommate turned me onto Denise Austin and her DVDs. Unfortunately, our floor space was limited so we couldn’t easily exercise at the same time, but somehow we each managed to squeeze in quite a few workout sessions in that tiny room.

Luckily, that experience prepared me for living (and working out) in a tiny NYC apartment post-college. However, funds are limited to say the least, so I can’t afford to buy DVDs extraneously. That’s why, in the time since I’ve been out of college to now, I have discovered a number of great, FREE workout options that you can follow to get fit, toned and best of all, do them in your underwear at home!

Here are some of my favs:
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