I Tried the 12-3-30 Treadmill Workout and Here's What Happened

YouTuber Beatrice Caruso (@BeatriceCaruso) decided to try the 12-3-20 viral treadmill routine created by fitness influencer Lauren Giraldo (Giraldo lost 30 pounds using the method, and the results were pretty impressive. The method is simple enough, but it is not easy—Giraldo says when she first started it, she could barely make it through two minutes without being out of breath. So, how exactly do you do it? You get on a treadmill, set the incline to 12 percent, and walk for 30 minutes at 3 miles per hour five times a week at least. Caruso also thought it sounded easy… until she tried it five times a week for three weeks. Here's what happened.

Huge Challenge

The first time Caruso tried the method, she was shocked at how challenging it was. "I've just been walking on the treadmill. Nothing wrong with that, but walking uphill, it's such a steep climb. I don't know. 12 is deep. I'm not going to lie," she says.

Incline Is Tough

Caruso slowly started to get used to the challenge. "I'm just going to let you know right now that walking at an incline of 12 is a special kind of hell," she says. "It wouldn't be so bad. For the most part, my respiratory system has caught up. It doesn't feel as terrible on my lungs. However, my calves just keep getting tighter and tighter, and I don't really know what to do about it. I've tried foam rolling. I stretch every single day, and then I focus extra on my calves."

She Did It!

Caruso was thrilled to finally complete the challenge. "We have completed the Lauren Giraldo Treadmill Challenge!" she says. "This challenge, in particular, has not been about weight loss at all. It's evolved into a personal vendetta. For whatever reason, I have fixated on this challenge, and I would just not let it go. I was like, I need to complete this one. It's going to bother me if I don't. And we finally did it."

Weight Loss Results

Caruso was pleased with the results of the challenge. "When I began, I weighed 230.3 pounds, and at the end of the 21 days, I now weigh 224.5 pounds. That means I lost 5.8 pounds during this challenge."

Body Changes

Caruso noticed changes over her whole body. "I kind of lost everywhere on my body with the most loss coming from around my abdomen," she says. "Very happy about the two inches lost around my belly. I was feeling very, very bloated at the beginning of this challenge, and I don't feel as bad now, but whatever. I was expecting to lose a little bit everywhere overall just because that's how my body typically decides to lose weight."

Want to try the method for yourself? Read on to find out how to get the most of it.

Be Prepared

Fitness newbies should expect to find it difficult at first. "It's definitely on the harder side," exercise physiologist Katie Lawton, MEd, tells the Cleveland Clinic. "That's a steep incline — and it'll really feel like it's over 30 minutes."

Choose Your Shoes

You're on the treadmill a LOT with this challenge, so make sure you have the right shoes. "Choose shoes with proper arch support, a firm heel and thick flexible soles to cushion your feet and absorb shock," says the Mayo Clinic. "Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and gear appropriate for all types of weather, such as layers in cooler weather."

Don't Hold the Rails

Giraldo admits she sometimes holds onto the treadmill, but it's better not to. Holding onto the rails will mean fewer calories burned, so keep that in mind.

Embrace the Incline

We know it's hard, but the incline is what makes this workout so effective. "I like to use inclines within the general warm-up phase of a training session when we're trying to reach a specific heart rate quickly," personal trainer Chance Ruggeroli tells Texas Health. "However, walking at an incline can be a great exercise on its own. It is an excellent substitute for those recovering from injury, trying to reduce the impact on their joints, or to get an efficient workout within a small window of time."

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Listen To Music

Caruso admits that her first time doing the workout was more difficult because she didn't have her headphones. "Studies show that faster-paced music tends to help improve athletic performance when a person engages in low-to-moderate level exercise, either by increasing distance traveled, pace, or repetitions completed," according to the National Center For Health Research.

Is your Sports Bra Working Out?

Ladies, don't underestimate how important a good sports bra is. "One secret to a good sports bra is fit," says Nichola Renwick, Senior research associate at the University of Portsmouth, via The Conversation. "It has been reported that 70-100% of women are not wearing the correct bra size. It might be that you are a different size in different brands, so the best way to ensure you wear the correct bra size is to follow the best-fit criteria."

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Stay the Course

Consistency is key—stick to the workout, and you will get results. "The faster, farther, and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits," says the Mayo Clinic. "For example, you may start out as an average walker and then work your way up to walking faster and walking a mile in a shorter amount of time than an average walker, similar to power walkers." And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 12-3-30 Walking Method: 20 Proven Tips to Lose Weight Faster.