Most people who start an exercise routine do a good job of tackling the cardio portion of their physical needs. They'll hit the treadmill or elliptical because those activities get the heart rate up and don't require a lot of thinking -- push a button and go. It often takes enough mental push to simply to get in the routine of hitting the gym regularly.

While sure to deliver heart-healthy benefits, the treadmill or elliptical alone aren't enough for total fitness. To get the strength training that can help build stronger muscles and stronger bones, there are a few simple exercises that require no special equipment and can be done anywhere. Work these into your treadmill routine for full body benefits:

Squats: Think about every time you sit down and stand up. That's a squat. Think about having to pick something up from the ground. That's a squat. Squats are good for key lower body joints: They build flexibility in your hips and strengthen your quads... and in doing so, help keep your knees healthy. Squats require a lot of strength in your back and abs, so they help to create a healthy core.

Push-ups: Straight back, tight core, controlled lowering and raising of your chest to the floor -- the push-up delivers lots of benefits with one fairly simple motion. Done properly, with full range of motion and elbows kept tight to the body, a push-up works your arms, chest, abs and back. Done efficiently, they'll get your heart rate up and make you sweat.

Handstands: I'm sure there are a few of you rolling your eyes, as if you couldn't possibly do a handstand. Try one, up against a wall. As you kick up, the wall will stop you and provide support until you're strong enough to support yourself. Beginners can use a weight bench, box or chair to support some of their body weight and provide even more stability: Keep your feet on an object to stabilize you, and do handstand in a modified pike position. Once you're in the handstand position, you'll feel every muscle in your body tightening and flexing as they work overtime to support your weight. Strong shoulders, arms, back, legs, and core are a result of handstand work.

Keeping your body guessing is the fastest way to get results from your workouts. Add squats, push-ups, handstands as intervals to your cardio routine to build lean muscle and flexibility, and get more from the time you put in at the gym.

Melissa Gerharter MS, RD is co-owner of Joust Strength and Fitness of Ann Arbor, joustfitness.com. She is also a personal trainer and an adjunct lecturer at Eastern Michigan University. She can be reached at Melissa@joustfitness.com