If the idea of getting on the tube or a dreaded bus every morning makes you want to cringe, here are three active alternatives that make getting to work an enjoyable experience

After reading this article, you’ll have a much more positive take on the word: commuting. For most of us, the idea of getting fit on the way to work seems impractical and exhausting. But we did a little research and found quite the opposite. In just a few days, we found three inspirational women who have transformed their journey to work into a manageable work out, notching up valuable fitness as they go. Here’s how they do it.

The cyclist: Tracy Blinxhorn, age 34
My husband and I have one car between us, which, up until 14 months ago, wasn’t a problem because he got a lift to work and I drove the car. Then, the co-worker giving him the lift left the company, so my husband needed the car again.

At first, I didn’t know what to do. My office is only seven miles away but right in the middle of the country, so no buses or trains go anywhere near it. Then, I suggested to my husband that we get a bike and I start cycling to work. I think he thought it was quite a ridiculous idea, because I hadn’t ridden a bike or done any exercise at all for 17 years. Plus, I was four-stone overweight at the time. But we got a bike anyway and I gave it a go.

The first time I got on the bike, I was really wobbly and thought, ‘I’m never going to be able to do this.’ I felt like I was going to die on the way to work because I was so unfit. I finally made it, even though I was hot, sweaty and absolutely exhausted, by the time I got to the office. No one could believe I’d actually cycled in. They kept saying, ‘Did you really cycle to work?’. It was a great feeling and, since then, I’ve cycled to and from work every day.

If it weren’t for having to get to and from work, I probably would never have stuck to cycling. I hate exercise and would never join a gym or anything like that. But I love the feeling of independence and freedom, and I get a great workout without it feeling like drudgery. Even if my husband were to suggest we get a moped or another car, I wouldn’t want to. I’d miss cycling too much.

My stamina and fitness levels have really improved and the shape of my body has totally changed. I used to have really big thighs and quite a flabby bottom, but my thighs have slimmed right down and my bottom is really toned. My husband loves it!

The payoff: Tracy burns 6.2 calories a minute and around 434 calories a day, cycling to and from work.

The scooterist: Sheila Rushforth, age 26
I know these scooters are going out of fashion now, but I still think they’re a great investment.

The first scooter I rode belonged to my housemate. I borrowed it one morning, when I was running late for work. What was usually a 15-minute walk to the station turned into a five-minute ride. I folded up the scooter and took it with me on the train. At the other end of my journey, my usual 10-minute walk took just three minutes. I was sold, and bought myself a scooter the next weekend.

I didn't initially think about the fitness benefits of using a scooter, as I don't ride it for very long each day. But I definitely notice an effect of the adrenaline – it's hard to believe how fast you can go on something so small and, by the time I get to the station, I’m wide awake with my heart racing. When I used to walk to the station, I still felt half asleep when I got to work. Now I feel much more alert when I arrive.

I use my scooter all around the village I live in. I ride it to the shop to get a newspaper and use it to go and visit friends. I'm not sure what everyone thinks, but perhaps they wish they had one too.

The payoff: Sheila burns 8.2 calories a minute and around 160 calories a day travelling to and from work on her scooter.

The walker: Krista Nobilo, age 24
The main reason I walk everywhere is because I want to keep fit, but I don't trust myself to go to the gym everyday. I also hate waiting around for buses and trains, and prefer to leave when I want to, and get there under my own steam.

I live in central London and it takes me 20 minutes to walk to my office. I don’t power walk, or do anything snazzy like walk with weights – I just walk briskly.

Walking to work has made me really keen to walk everywhere around London. At the weekends I love strolling through Hyde Park. A few weeks ago, I set off and about an hour later had walked all the way to Oxford Street, which is about 4 miles from my home. I was on my own, just chatting on my mobile and looking in shop windows and generally enjoying myself. I didn’t even notice I’d walked so far.

Walking is really good for me. Even though it’s not really strenuous and I don’t break into a real sweat, when I get somewhere I feel my legs tingling, so I know my muscles are getting a workout.

The payoff: Krista burns 4.2 calories a minute and around 168 calories a day, walking to and from work.

All calorie estimations are based on a 9.5-stone female.