Skip to main content

Is 30-30-30 worthy or hype? What to know about the latest growing fitness trend

It turns out, this simple method is backed by scientific evidence

Man on an elliptical
Gpointstudio / Shutterstock

TikTok fitness trends come and go, and many aren’t worth putting in the effort. On the other hand, some stick around longer, and they can help you optimize your fitness and get you closer to achieving your goals. A new report from Pure Gym shows that the 30-30-30 fitness trend is surging on Google, with a 175% increase in interest from last year. 30-30-30 rapidly grew in popularity on TikTok this year as people continue trying to find ways to enhance their health and wellness. Here’s what to know and the potential benefits.

What is 30-30-30?

shirtless man drinking protein shake drink muscle
Bernardo U Ploud / Pixabay

30-30-30 is a health and fitness trend that went viral on TikTok. The idea is that you eat 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up. Next, you get your muscles moving with 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise. There aren’t any further rules or restrictions beyond that. It sounds simple enough, which is probably one of the reasons why so many people are interested in trying this plan to level up their health and fitness

Recommended Videos

Timothy Ferriss introduced the method in his book ‘The 4-Hour Body’. Podcaster and biologist Gary Brecka popularized 30-30-30 on TikTok and shared that it can help you lose weight and burn fat without losing muscle. Gary Brecka also shares that this method helps you better manage your insulin and blood sugar levels.

How to implement the 30-30-30 method

Big breakfast with bacon, bagels and scrambled eggs on the table overhead
Fahrwasser / Adobe Stock

Within 30 minutes of waking up, you consume 30 grams of protein, such as:

  • Three scrambled eggs topped with cheese or smoked salmon.
  • A fruit smoothie with protein powder.
  • Greek yogurt with nuts.

You can also eat carbohydrates and fat for a more balanced breakfast, but you have to make sure you’re getting that protein to fuel you through your workout. 

man cycling outside on the grass
Kingbull Bikes / Unsplash

Next, opt for steady-state cardiovascular exercise that gets your heart up a little but not too high, such as:

  • Brisk walking outdoors or on a treadmill.
  • Try walking on a treadmill on an incline.
  • Cardio machines at the gym, such as an elliptical or stair stepper.
  • Cycling at a steady pace.
  • Swimming laps in the pool at a steady pace.
  • Jogging.
  • Dancing.

Try to keep your heart rate around or below 135 beats per minute (bpm). With the talk test, you should be able to carry on a conversation while jogging or biking with your heart rate at or below 135 bpm. 

What are the benefits?

Male athlete drinking protein shake while sitting in gym.
Westend61 / Adobe Stock

Research shows that eating more protein in the morning can help you feel more satiated throughout the day, so you’re less likely to overeat. Protein intake has been directly related to weight loss in the literature. A protein-rich breakfast can also help you stabilize your blood sugar and reduce your risk of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Cardiovascular exercise is proven to help you burn more body fat, strengthen your bones, reduce stress and your risk of heart disease, improve blood flow and brain function, and more. 

The combo of consuming protein for breakfast and exercising regularly aids weight loss, so making these changes could help you along your weight loss journey. If you’re just looking to get fit and try something different, it might be worth giving it a go, as it’s simple and easy to remember.

Topics
Steph Green
Steph Green is a content writer specializing in healthcare, wellness, and nutrition. With over ten years of experience, she…
What happens to your body and brain during a runner’s high?
This feeling doesn’t happen for everyone and is difficult to measure because it’s subjective.
man and woman running together runner high happy smile outdoors exercise workout

Those who experience the runner’s high will know that familiar euphoric or blissful post-run feeling. For many of us, it’s a motivator that keeps us running. Research reveals how running and exercise boost your mood and can improve a range of mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and psychiatric disorders. We can find plenty of evidence-based reasons to put one foot in front of the other, including, for many of us, the runner’s high. Here’s what happens to your body and brain during a runner’s high. 
What is the runner’s high?

The runner’s high is the sense of euphoria that helps you feel calm and relaxed after running a few miles. Euphoria refers to a positive or delightful, joyful feeling. The feeling can also help temporarily diminish discomfort from running a long distance. Many people also claim they feel less anxiety with the runner’s high. 

Read more
Light weights vs. heavy weights: Which approach is better for your fitness goals?
Discover which is ideal for building muscle
man powerlifting dead lift holding barbell competition

Whether you are a newbie in the gym or you are an experienced lifter who simply wants to see gains a bit faster, having an effective game plan in place is essential. What weights you choose with your lifts can make a big difference in your results. As a personal trainer, I have experimented with many lifting techniques, and light weights vs. heavy weights is one of them.

Keep reading to learn more about what weight you should reach for in the gym, as well as what strategies bodybuilders and powerlifters use!
Is it better to lift light or heavy weights?

Read more
What is the Jeffing Method and can it help you cross the marathon finish line?
Running guru Jeff has been encouraging people to enjoy the benefits of exercise for over five decades.
man running a marathon

Most runners are interested in improving running speed and technique and lowering the risk of injuries. Olympian Jeff Galloway developed the Jeffing Method to try to help runners do just that. Jeff is a lifelong runner who’s finished over 230 marathons, the author of multiple books on running and marathons, and a 1972 U.S. Olympic Team member in the 10,000 meters. Jeff was also a U.S. National Track and Field team member in Russia, Europe, and Africa. To this day, he remains a competitive athlete. Jeff introduced the increasingly popular Jeffing Method or the Run-Walk Method to help other runners cross that finish line and pick up the pace. 
What is the Jeffing Method?

Running guru Jeff has been encouraging people to enjoy the benefits of exercise for over five decades. He developed the innovative Run-Walk-Run Method or the Jeffing Method in 1973 to help beginners start running. The strategic walk breaks assist runners in managing fatigue and lowering the risk of running injuries.

Read more