Are you tired of not seeing results from your hour-long workouts at the gym? Do you struggle to find the time to exercise? If so, you’re not alone.
Many people want to improve their health and fitness but find it difficult to fit in workouts around their busy schedules. The good news is that you don’t need to spend hours at the gym to see a difference. By committing just 7 minutes a day, you can transform your body and improve your health in a short amount of time. Here’s everything you need to know.
Why 7 Minutes?
You might be skeptical about the idea that just 7 minutes a day can make a difference, but there is evidence to support it.
A study published in the ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal found that performing high-intensity circuit training for just 7 minutes a day can offer similar benefits to a longer, moderate-intensity workout.
The key is to perform exercises that target multiple muscle groups at once and to do them at a high intensity. This is called circuit training and can include movements such as squats, lunges, push-ups, and planks.
By performing these exercises in a specific order and with minimal rest, you can get a full-body workout in just a few minutes.
Getting Started
Before you start any exercise program, it’s important to talk to your doctor to ensure it’s safe for you to do so. Once you get the green light, it’s time to plan out your 7-minute workout.
The following sample workout includes 12 different exercises, each performed for 30 seconds with a 10-second rest in between. You can customize the exercises to your fitness level and switch them up as needed.
The important thing is to keep moving and push yourself to work at a high intensity.
Sample 7-Minute Workout
- Jumping jacks
- Wall sit
- Push-ups
- Abdominal crunches
- Step-up onto chair
- Squat
- Tricep dip on chair
- Plank
- High knees/running in place
- Lunge
- Push-up and rotation
- Side plank
Remember to warm up before starting the workout and cool down afterward. You can also stretch to prevent injury and improve flexibility.
If you’re not sure how to perform a specific exercise, you can search for videos online or work with a personal trainer to learn proper form.
Add Variety
If you’ve been doing the same 7-minute workout for a while, you may want to switch it up to prevent boredom and to challenge your body in new ways.
You can do this by selecting different exercises or increasing the intensity or duration of your workout.
For example, you can choose to do a full-body workout one day and then focus on upper or lower body the next. You can also add weights or resistance bands to increase the difficulty level.
Another option is to try a different type of workout, such as yoga or cycling, to challenge your body in new ways.
Track Your Progress
Tracking your progress is a great way to stay motivated and to see the changes happening in your body.
You can do this by taking measurements, such as body weight, body fat percentage, and waist circumference, before and after starting your workout program. You can also take progress pictures to see the physical changes in your body.
Another way to track progress is to set goals for yourself. For example, you might aim to perform each exercise for one minute instead of 30 seconds or to do two or more sets of the circuit.
By setting goals and tracking your progress, you can stay motivated and see the improvements happening in your body.
Final Thoughts
Transforming your body and improving your health doesn’t have to require hours at the gym or drastic lifestyle changes.
By committing just 7 minutes a day to a high-intensity workout, you can see significant improvements in your fitness level and overall health. Remember to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program, to warm up and cool down before and after your workout, and to track your progress to stay motivated.
With dedication and consistency, you can transform your body in just 7 minutes a day!.