Did you know that you don’t have to workout for hours in order to get your dream body? It’s true. In fact, only 30-45 minutes a day is enough to firm you up and trim you down-if your exercise routines are the correct type.

Follow these effective workout tips and get your dream body in just 30 minutes a day.

1. Intersperse high intensity workouts with lower intensity ones.

You can do this in two ways. Either you can pump up the intensity during your regular workout, or you can perform high intensity workouts every other day. For instance, your exercise routines could include:

Remember always to increase your endurance before you increase the intensity of your workout.

2. Combine Cardio with Strength Training.

The folks at Curves Fitness Centers have it right: combining cardio with strength training is one of the most effective workout tips. This is called circuit training, and science has even confirmed its efficacy at burning more calories than either cardio or strength training alone. Plus you can cut your workout time in half!

3. Mix It Up

If you enjoy your exercise routine, that’s great. But if you enjoy it to the point that it becomes easy, you’ve got a problem. You see, your body becomes very efficient at performing exercises that you do all the time. At that point, your workout does not, well, work out very well anymore. To keep that from happening, mix your exercise routines up. Intersperse jogging with walking, tennis, or swimming, for instance.

4. Consume Protein.

One of the best workout tips is to consume lots of protein. Your muscles need s it to rebuild muscle. This is true, by the way, for both cardio and strength training workouts. So make sure you include lots of protein in your diet.

5. Eat Carbs.

Just like you need protein to repair muscle from your workout, you need carbs to give you energy. Eating a banana before your exercise routines are a great way of providing energy for your workout.

Although there are many effective workout tips, these are five of the most important. Just pace yourself, work up to your goal, and you could have your dream body in just 30 minutes a day.

Disclaimer: Before following this or any exercise program, check with your doctor.