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What trainers actually think about the 12-3-30 workout

Have we finally unlocked exercise’s biggest secret? Or is this yet another lie perpetrated Big Treadmill?

When it comes to exercise, so many people — beginners; die-hard enthusiasts; reluctant participants; and everyone in between — are searching for holy grails: workouts that involve the least amount of time and effort and offer maximum results.

We live in the most scientifically advanced age of fitness. Exercise is a multibillion-dollar industry, and a lot of that money is spent on new research and development of new technology. If there were an easier way to get the benefits of a squat or a pull up without having to actually do a squat or a pull-up, you’d think we would’ve found it already.

Despite the absence of a magic pill or a one-minute, low-impact total body workout that will burn fat, build muscle, and prevent all serious health problems, the industry is full of savvily marketed plans and potions, promising the world for just a little bit of time and work.

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The latest trendy regimen to fall into this category is the cardio workout known as 12-3-30. Devotees say that 12-3-30 lives in that ideal intersection of minimal effort and maximum results.

Could this be true? Have we unlocked exercise’s biggest secret? Or is this yet another lie perpetrated by Big Treadmill?

The coaches and personal trainers I spoke to said 12-3-30 is a net positive. People moving their bodies is generally better than people not moving their bodies, and anything that gets folks exercising is a good thing. But they also believe that 12-3-30 offers a look into how people have traditionally thought about exercise as being complicated, and how much simpler it can be.

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