Does The 300 Workout Really Help You Get In Shape?

In our lifelong oath to look out for our health, hearing about any type of workout makes our ears perk. Luckily, there are a wide variety of exercise regimens to get your sweat on, since we all have individual body types, goals, and interests. The workout under the microscope now is called the 300. The name sounds intense, but can it really help you get into shape?

We know there are hundreds of ways to exercise, but according to CapTel, they can all fall into four categories: Aerobic (or endurance), strength, flexibility, and balance. The 300 workout heavily emphasizes both strength and endurance. The workout was originally named after the movie 300 because it was created by Hollywood trainer, Mark Twight, when he was hired to help the actors in the film shed fat and build muscle to resemble lean and muscular Spartan warriors, notes Healthline. So a workout heavily emphasizing strength and endurance, and designed to make actors look like Spartan warriors? So far it's sounding like yes, this routine could absolutely help you get in shape.

The 300 workout should take between 15 to 45 minutes to complete, depending on your current fitness level. It is made up of 300 repetitions done straight through with little to no rest between exercises, Healthline explains. This routine is not for those who are just looking to break a light sweat, as a YouTube video demonstrates a ripped man beginning his 300 workout by doing 25 pull-ups, 50 dead-lifts, and 50 push-ups in under three minutes. As Men's Health contributor Craig Ballantyne explained to the publication: "It's a brutal workout, starting out strong and slowing down, finishing at a crawl. I don't plan on doing that any time soon or, really, ever again."

So the odds are that you are likely to get into shape by repetitively doing this grueling routine. Although Healthline notes that there are no specific studies proving this workout's effectiveness, there are similar workouts that have shown improvements in a person's overall shape. We can't tell if the 300 workout scares you, or inspires you. We're just a little bummed it doesn't require you to wear a Spartan's helmet while doing it.