Let's face it: There are times when the challenging part of fitness is just finding a time and place to work out. You travel for business or go on vacation, and you're out of your normal routine and away from your familiar environment.

It's for times such as these that you need Body Basics, a fundamental set of exercises designed to keep you fit without fancy equipment or a major time commitment. These moves make up a complete 20-minute workout that uses all the major muscle groups and includes cardiovascular exercise. The best part: It can be done in a hotel room or any place that's not your gym.

The Workout:

Warm up by jumping rope for 5 minutes.

The Plie Squat: 1 minute or at least 30 to 35 repetitions
Starting Position: Stand with your feet double shoulder width apart, toes pointing outward. Place your hands on your hips. Keep your chest lifted. Contract your abdominals. Movement: Inhale as you lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Do not allow your knees to go beyond your toes. Exhale as you squeeze your buttocks and come back to starting position.

Jump rope for 3 minutes.

The Push-Up: 1 minute, 20 to 25 reps
Starting Position: Begin facedown with your hands a little wider than shoulder width apart and slightly in front of your shoulders. Keep your legs together and balance on the balls of your feet. Contract your abdominals so your back is parallel to the floor. Keep your head and neck in line with your spine. Movement: Inhale as you lower your chest as close to the floor as possible. Exhale as you squeeze your chest muscles inward to push back up to starting position. An easier variation is with knees bent and ankles crossed.

Jump rope for 3 minutes.

The Lunge: 1 minute for each leg, or 30 to 35 reps
Starting Position: Stand with feet together, hands on your hips. Movement: Inhale as you step forward with your right leg and bend your front knee until a 90-degree angle is formed. Keep your knee directly above your toes during the downward movement to avoid overstressing the knee joint. Exhale as you push off toes to return to starting position.

Jump rope for 3 minutes.

Abdominal Crunch: 2 minutes
Starting Position: Lie faceup with your legs up and knees bent at 90-degree angles. Place your hands behind your head, but don't interlock your fingers. Keep your head and neck relaxed. Movement: Exhale as you contract your abs to bring your shoulders and buttocks off the floor, hold to the count of 3. Think ribs to hips. Inhale as you slowly lower to starting position.

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