Scientific 7-Minute Workout Review

Limited time is an issue for everyone. There's so much that needs to be done throughout the day, how on earth does one find the time for a good, effective workout? This is where Scientific 7 Minute Workout aims to help.

Based upon the New York Times article of the same name, the app offers 7 minutes of high-intensity, potentially quite unpleasant but highly effective workout material. While I can't guarantee that it'll work wonders in the long-term, it certainly feels pretty effective in the short-term.

The idea is all part of HICT, High Intensity Circuit Training, which requires plenty of hard work but all focused on a short space of time. The app is immensely simple to use: just hit Start and away it goes. A clear timer resides at the bottom of the screen, with an image-based description of the exercise at the top. These aren't quite as effective as an instructional video but they're quite straight-forward exercises to work on.

The app includes Jumping Jacks, Wall Sit, Push-Ups, Abdominal Crunches, Squats, Plank, Lunge and other variations of such core exercises. There's no focus on how many must be completed within the time limit, simply that users must do as much as possible within the time that the app offers. After the exercise has been completed, there's a brief rest period before moving onto the next thing.

It can be pretty tough and tiring, mostly because it should be. It's a workout that's meant to be better than jogging for 30 minutes or more, so expect to work hard at it to really reap the benefits. It's satisfying though, especially for those with limited time but keen to exercise.

The actual app is pretty basic, with the only additional feature being a tracker to keep an eye on how regularly the user has been partaking in the workout, but it doesn't really need to be more advanced than that. Focusing on the exercises, rather than distracting statistics or other peripheries makes it all the quicker to use. It's certainly an interesting concept and one grounded in some fascinating science.