{"id":15042,"date":"2023-10-11T06:50:25","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T06:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=15042"},"modified":"2023-10-11T06:59:28","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T06:59:28","slug":"the-12-3-30-workout-trend-or-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/the-12-3-30-workout-trend-or-truth\/","title":{"rendered":"The 12-3-30 Workout: Trend or Truth?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What is 12-3-30? It&#8217;s not an important date in gym history from almost 100 years ago. It&#8217;s a social media-based fitness phenomenon. Simply, it requires using a <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/best-treadmill-for-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364815\">treadmill<\/a> set at a specific incline, moving at a specific speed, for a specific length of time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"760\" height=\"427\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Shutterstock_1149445517.jpg\" alt=\"People in gym on treadmills\" class=\"wp-image-198470\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Shutterstock_1149445517.jpg 760w, https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Shutterstock_1149445517-120x68.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Credit: Estrada Anton \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s an incredibly straightforward approach that has &#8220;fitfluencers&#8221; and followers sweating buckets as they supposedly lose weight using the workout protocol. However, fitness trends can be hit or miss. And, given the general state of social media and its low barrier of entry, there are usually more misses than hits.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s time to review the pros and cons of the 12-3-30 workout to find out if it\u2019s a temporary trend or if it could become a time-tested routine.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-12-3-30-workout\"><strong>The 12-3-30 Workout<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#1\">12-3-30: Why?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#2\">The Fat Loss Workout<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#3\">Drawbacks of the Plan<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#4\">How to Improve the Routine<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sc-namejump-anchor1why-12-3-and-30\"><a id=\"1\" class=\"linkj\"><\/a><strong>Why 12, 3, and 30?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When it comes to fitness, numbers can be relatively arbitrary. The 12-3-30 routine can work, but if you set the incline to 11% and the speed to 3.2 mph, and you only do the workout for 27 minutes, it would not make much difference and you could expect nearly identical results.<\/p>\n<p>So while specific numbers can be useful for getting trends to catch on, and they can be a convenient way to keep things standard for everyone in the gym, there is no particular magic about &#8220;12-3-30.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"427\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/incline-treadmill-home-gym.jpg\" alt=\"Person on treadmill in home gym\" class=\"wp-image-198472\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/incline-treadmill-home-gym.jpg 760w, https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/incline-treadmill-home-gym-120x68.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Credit: LightField Studios \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Then what\u2019s the merit of the 12-3-30 program? Well, the steep incline and relatively quick pace make it challenging enough, and it&#8217;s long enough in duration, that you&#8217;ll almost certainly break a sweat and burn a fair amount of calories.<\/p>\n<p>The significant incline adds a level of intensity that translates well to improving your hiking and endurance abilities. The speed is fast enough to push most people, but generally not &#8220;too fast&#8221; to trigger major fatigue which might cause you to end the workout early. The 30-minute time limit encourages you to see the workout through, while also getting an appreciable number of steps.<\/p>\n<p>As beneficial as it could be, it&#8217;s important to remember that you can and should tailor it to your individual needs, which will be explained in-depth later in the article. The exact programming numbers are less important than simply getting through a tough <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/benefits-of-cardio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364816\">cardio workout<\/a> for an effective length of time.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sc-namejump-anchor212-3-30-for-fat-loss\"><a id=\"2\" class=\"linkj\"><\/a><strong>12-3-30 for Fat Loss<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Workouts like 12-3-30 can be great in aiding <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-burn-fat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364817\">fat loss<\/a>. You will see lots of progress photos online crediting the workout plan. The fundamental mechanism for fat loss is always the same for every individual \u2014 achieving a consistent caloric deficit. If you perform a daily cardio workout that burns a lot of extra calories, it can naturally be great for fat loss.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"sbi-embed-wrap\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media sbi-embed\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CwljNlZJ1aw\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CwljNlZJ1aw\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CwljNlZJ1aw\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by twelve three thirty (@twelvethreethirty)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>However, not everybody is guaranteed to lose fat with this plan. For example, if you are inconsistent with training, you might not actually be burning that many calories each week. The same applies if you &#8220;water down&#8221; the workout too much. While the particular &#8220;12-3-30&#8221; numbers don\u2019t matter that much, if you devolve the workout to something closer to 6-2-15, it&#8217;s not even close to the same workout anymore. Remember, the workout needs to be <em>challenging<\/em> and it needs to be done for a decent amount of time.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, fat loss isn&#8217;t always certain because, while you might burn plenty of calories during a 12-3-30 workout, it still might not be enough to make up for the <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-many-calories-should-i-eat-a-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364818\">calories you&#8217;re eating<\/a>. Regardless of your training program, your nutrition needs to be designed for fat loss if you want to see results.<\/p>\n<p>There is a massive overeating problem when it comes to the classic Western diet and trendy social media workouts are not going to solve that. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6817492\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364819\">1<\/a>) As clich\u00e9 as it may sound, you can\u2019t outrun or, in this case, out-incline-walk your diet if you&#8217;re taking in too many calories.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sc-namejump-anchor3the-drawbacks-of-12-3-30\"><a id=\"3\" class=\"linkj\"><\/a><strong>The Drawbacks of 12-3-30<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The main drawback of 12-3-30 is, frankly, that it is simply a cardio workout. Some fitness influencers actually go so far as to claim the treadmill routine is &#8220;all you have to do&#8221; to lose weight. But it&#8217;s not.<\/p>\n<p>This brings up a massive issue. Not only do many people face an overconsumption issue when it comes to calories, but there is also a lack of strength training in many populations. Gone are the days where lifting weights is only for <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/bodybuilding-workout\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364820\">bodybuilders<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-build-strength\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364821\">powerlifters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"427\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1011470248.jpg\" alt=\"Long-haired person in gym holding barbell for front squat\" class=\"wp-image-195390\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1011470248.jpg 760w, https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1011470248-120x68.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Credit: Ground Picture \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Countless anecdotal evidence (from long before 12-3-30 existed) along with abundant scientific research all demonstrate the same thing: optimal fat loss and significant body composition change requires strength training. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8365736\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364822\">2<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Strength training is the only way to provide the stimulus your body needs to retain <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-build-muscle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364823\">lean muscle mass<\/a>. This is important because, when you\u2019re in a caloric deficit, you are deliberately burning more energy than your body is taking in. This makes your body want to &#8220;eat away&#8221; your tissues \u2014 muscle and stored body fat alike \u2014 to fuel its basic function.<\/p>\n<p>If your body doesn\u2019t have the ability to hang on to muscle tissue, which is stimulated through strength training, you will lose a combination of body fat and muscle tissue. This is why some people don\u2019t end up looking &#8220;lean&#8221; or defined when they lose weight. They simply look &#8220;skinnier,&#8221; saggy, or even frail. Furthermore, losing muscle reduces your metabolism and makes your bones weaker. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7090295\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364824\">3<\/a>)(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7861141\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364825\">4<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>While seeing the number on the scale go down is often a good thing, you want that reduced body weight to be primarily from body fat, not lean muscle. Muscle retention requires a foundation of strength training. This is especially true for leaner and more trained individuals who are more prone to muscle loss, due to beginning with relatively lower body fat levels.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"760\" height=\"427\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Shutterstock_1711347766.jpg\" alt=\"Person in gym on treadmill\" class=\"wp-image-198473\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Shutterstock_1711347766.jpg 760w, https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Shutterstock_1711347766-120x68.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Credit: LightField Studios \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you&#8217;re currently at a relatively heavier body weight or if you&#8217;re new to fitness, you <em>might<\/em> be able to get away with solely doing 12-3-30 without muscle loss&#8230; for a little while. Eventually, though, everybody benefits from strength training.<\/p>\n<p>This is not so much a knock on the 12-3-30 workout plan, as much as it&#8217;s a comment on how it\u2019s being &#8220;marketed&#8221; or widely promoted. For the best overall and long-term results, using 12-3-30 as your only form of exercise is not an effective plan.<\/p>\n<p>The look that you are likely after will require you to lose fat while retaining precious muscle tissue, so let\u2019s talk about how to get there without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sc-namejump-anchor4tailoring-12-3-30-to-your-goals\"><a id=\"4\" class=\"linkj\"><\/a><strong>Tailoring 12-3-30 to Your Goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The textbook approach to 12-3-30 can be a productive cardio workout. It can help you burn some calories while improving general cardiovascular health and endurance. Another plus is that it\u2019s not so intense that you can&#8217;t watch YouTube videos or pay attention to a podcast during the workout. Those kinds of strategic distractions can make a half-hour go by quickly.<\/p>\n<p>However, it\u2019s important to remember that you don\u2019t need to stick exactly to the 12-3-30 prescription. That incline, speed, and duration could be pretty hard for beginners, so start slightly lower, slower, and\/or shorter before gradually working your way up.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"760\" height=\"427\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1870324375.jpg\" alt=\"gray-haired person using treadmill in gym\" class=\"wp-image-196148\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1870324375.jpg 760w, https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1870324375-120x68.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Credit: YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And please, for the love of all things good, do not make the 12-3-30 workout the foundation of your exercise plan. Many fitness trends are cardio-based, which will have some merit, but no matter how trendy they might seem, they don\u2019t trump the foundations of strength training and proper nutrition.<\/p>\n<p>So, while 12-3-30 can be simple enough for almost anyone to start, it\u2019s ultimately a supplemental training method. The base of a fat loss plan should revolve around weight training and a good diet.<\/p>\n<p>This means you should be lifting weights <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/workout-splits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364826\">three to five days per week<\/a> before worrying about tacking on any trendy cardio workouts. But, once you do add a plan like 12-3-30 (or something like 8-2-25, to get started), you might boost fat loss because it can burn quite a bit of calories for some people.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re not finding measurable success on your plan after a few weeks, it\u2019s OK. It simply means you need to reassess your nutrition. It is a reminder that strength training triggers muscle retention, but nutrition triggers your fat loss, and any clever cardio programming will always be, at best, an accessory to all that.<\/p>\n<p>And if you simply don\u2019t have time for 12-3-30, that\u2019s OK, too. Despite the viral popularity, it&#8217;s not the only option for cardio training. You can do a &#8220;condensed&#8221; version for just 15 minutes with a higher incline or faster speed to make up for abbreviated time. Or you can try a different approach like a <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/hiit-treadmill-workouts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"364827\">high intensity interval workout<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-final-verdict\"><strong>The Final Verdict<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>12-3-30 isn\u2019t necessarily a fad. Using a treadmill-based workout that&#8217;s a challenging intensity for a significant duration can be effective. But, like all trends, it needs context. It may seem intriguing and tempting to hear about losing fat with a simple, straightforward workout, especially as you see already fit influencers following the plan.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s appealing to think that fat loss is as simple as getting on a machine for X incline at Y speed for Z time and results will just roll in. But the physiological foundations remain the same.<\/p>\n<p>No matter your chosen workout, you need to be in a caloric deficit by managing your nutrition and, to ensure that deficit strips away primarily body fat while retaining lean muscle, you will need to strength train consistently.<\/p>\n<p>If 12-3-30 has caught your eye, consider it as one part of an overall fat loss program. Don&#8217;t hang your fat loss hopes on one workout just because it has a high follower count on socials.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"references\"><strong>References<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Kopp W. (2019). How Western Diet And Lifestyle Drive The Pandemic Of Obesity And Civilization Diseases. <em>Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy<\/em>, <em>12<\/em>, 2221\u20132236. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2147\/DMSO.S216791<\/li>\n<li>Bellicha, A., van Baak, M. A., Battista, F., Beaulieu, K., Blundell, J. E., Busetto, L., Carra\u00e7a, E. V., Dicker, D., Encantado, J., Ermolao, A., Farpour-Lambert, N., Pramono, A., Woodward, E., &amp; Oppert, J. M. (2021). Effect of exercise training on weight loss, body composition changes, and weight maintenance in adults with overweight or obesity: An overview of 12 systematic reviews and 149 studies. <em>Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity<\/em>, <em>22 Suppl 4<\/em>(Suppl 4), e13256. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/obr.13256<\/li>\n<li>Kim, G., &amp; Kim, J. H. (2020). Impact of Skeletal Muscle Mass on Metabolic Health. <em>Endocrinology and metabolism (Seoul, Korea)<\/em>, <em>35<\/em>(1), 1\u20136. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3803\/EnM.2020.35.1.1<\/li>\n<li>Bettis, T., Kim, B. J., &amp; Hamrick, M. W. (2018). Impact of muscle atrophy on bone metabolism and bone strength: implications for muscle-bone crosstalk with aging and disuse. <em>Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA<\/em>, <em>29<\/em>(8), 1713\u20131720. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00198-018-4570-1<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><em>Featured Image: Khakimullin Aleksandr \/ Shutterstock<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/12-3-30-workout\/\">The 12-3-30 Workout: Trend or Truth?<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\">Breaking Muscle<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is 12-3-30? It\u2019s not an important date in gym history from almost 100 years ago. It\u2019s a social media-based fitness phenomenon. Simply, it requires using a treadmill set at a specific incline, moving at a specific speed, for a specific length of time. It\u2019s an incredibly straightforward approach that has \u201cfitfluencers\u201d and followers sweating buckets as they&#8230;<br \/>\nThe post The 12-3-30 Workout: Trend or Truth? appeared first on Breaking Muscle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":""},"categories":[20,1,21,22,19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15042"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15042"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15048,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15042\/revisions\/15048"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}