In fact, the science behind this workout is what started the high-intensity interval training trend–also known as HIIT. And there's some good research behind The Seven-Minute Workout. And if you are active, working out about three days a week, you'd need more than a bit of convincing to swap out your 55-minute spin or barre class for a workout that's not even 10 minutes.īut short-burst workout is good for pretty much any level, according to Under Armour ambassador Jennifer Rochon, who also trains at the HIIT gym Report Fitness in Montreal. It can also seem too good to be true if you're athlete-level and super fit. Especially if you're at a beginner level for fitness. The Seven-Minute Workout does seem to be too good to be true. But is this short fitness program worth the time? Find out what science has to say about this super-quick workout.Īre seven minutes really heaven? If you push yourself hard enough, The Seven-Minute Workout is the opposite of heaven–but in a very good way, according to research. Of course, you have time for The Seven-Minute Workout. 'Once habits form, then the discomfort becomes relatively unimportant,' Wood said.įollow MyHealthNewsDaily, Facebook & Google+. 'The trick with this - or any other exercise program - is to make it habitual … an unthinking part of your daily routine,' she said.Īlthough the workout may seem difficult at first, its short duration may ease some of that pain.

But for those who turn the workout into a habit, the discomfort may become less noticeable, said Wendy Wood, a professor of psychology and business at the University of Southern California. The authors write that 'proper execution of this program requires a willing and able participant who can handle a great degree of discomfort.' The seven-minute body fix is not supposed to be a pleasant experience. And more importantly, the exercises were not done in seven minutes in fact, they took three times that time to complete. The authors reviewed studies comparing high-intensity exercise with less-intense exercise, and used the findings to design a workout routine that needed minimal equipment and time.īut there are differences between the protocols used in the previous research that makes the researchers’ claims about the benefits of the seven-minute workout sound far-fetched to some.Īdam Bornstein, a fitness and nutrition author, wrote in his blog that 'the studies used to 'prove' the concepts don't mirror the workout that is being lauded as the seven-minute fix for your body.'įor example, in the previous studies, people used additional weights while exercising. The workout is based on science, but it hasn't been tested on a group of people to measure its benefits. 'This means they would need a different set of exercises' than what the seven-minute workout provides, she said, adding that more attention should be paid to the upper back muscles and glutes. The workout’s wide appeal seems to be based on how quick it is according to the authors, it was designed for time-conscious individuals, such as busy professionals.īut Vaino noted that many of these professionals spend a lot of their time seated. 'It is a good, quick option for an individual who is already really fit, and has other physical activities planned,' she said. The workout can be dangerous for people whose bodies are not prepared, said Elsbeth Vaino, an Ottawa-based strength and conditioning specialist. Some of the exercises are not recommended for persons with hypertension or heart disease. The authors don't recommend this program to people who are overweight, previously injured or elderly. 'Someone who does this workout will not burn enough calories to actually get metabolic benefits,' he said. Slentz said he would expect minimal health benefit from a seven-minute workout, but perhaps a modest physical-function benefit. 'Researchers have consistently shown that some exercise is better than none, but that more is better,' he said. Seven minutes is a very small amount of exercise, said Cris Slentz, an exercise physiologist at Duke University. A closer look at the original article reveals that the authors suggest repeating the routine two or three times in a row, to achieve at least 20 minutes of high-intensity exercise, as recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine's guidelines.

One and done 7 minute workout