Taking a break in strength training or aerobic exercise could lead to muscle loss and reduced cardio fitness, but it all depends on how in shape you are to begin with, and how long you take off.

Full body exercises which require core control will also help you burn more calories in a short amount of time. In our sample workout, we use a Single Arm Down Dog to Plank.

In a poll of more than 2,000 women, 35% of respondents said they were on an exercise break, with lulls in activity lasting anywhere from one month to several years. The average pause was 13 months.

If I only had 30 minutes to exercise on my lunch break, I’d do this ... This 30-minute routine is packed full of compound exercises that will help you work lots of muscles in a short space of time.