A couple months back, we discovered an article about a new approach to working out that is very short and very intense. It requires nothing except your own body and a chair, and the entire workout lasts roughly seven minutes. There are twelve different exercises that you do for thirty seconds each with a ten second break in between. Our family gave it a try because, while we’ve been doing a hell of a lot of walking around the world, there hasn’t been a whole lot of upper body or abdominal work (actually none whatsoever). Now we’re completely hooked. We do it almost every morning and in the length of the video below it’s over and we feel fantastic. This is a Workout Video pure and simple — and in sharing this we join the proud ranks of Jane Fonda, Cher and Kim Kardashian. If you’re game you can use The Thinking Family’s video as a guide and timer for your own workout in the privacy of your living room.Let us just take a moment to say what good sports the kids were in making this particular film. Working out in public with your parents is not for the faint of heart and Franny and Finn deserve special commendation for this one. It will inevitably be presented as Exhibit A in some future suit brought against their parents — but at least the plaintiffs will be well-toned with strong cores. We started the workout back in Venice, and shot most of what you see on location in Berlin, Amsterdam and Dublin. In spite of subjecting our children to slightly more mortification than they endure on a daily basis, we can’t say enough good things about The Thinking Family’s Seven Minute Workout — the secret ingredient in keeping us fit as we enter our final lap of globetrotting. (Oh, and by the way, the song is called “Ten Thousand Hours” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, which to our knowledge is the only hip hop song ever inspired by a Malcolm Gladwell essay.)
Fabulous. Never experienced such long 30 second periods before, nor such short 10 seconds… but I shall persevere. thank you guys.
We must confess that while 10 second breaks are prescribed when we’re actually doing the workout our turn-around between exercises is closer to 20 or 30 seconds. So feel free to pause the video as you do your workouts.
I have been reading your adventures since discovering your small guides piece in Cambodia. I loved this movie so much just brilliant. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. cheers Bron
thank you for this- I am inspired to do a couple of these workouts. a great video
That’s great guys I’m going to do it I love it. You all look great
Maya Michael and I just did it along with you! We loved it. You guys all look very fit! Mwah
Great workout! I think I lost a pound or two just watching.
xox,#1FANNY
Seeing you doing these exercises so joyful on various locations is a great motivation to the workout.
I am exhausted just watching, but it is very inspiring… must get Richard to give it a try also! YOU GUYS ARE SO WONDERFUL!!!!!
Jen, your chair is something to aspire to — keep knocking them out with those American thighs.
“Those AMERICAN THIGHS?”
We appreciate our thighs in America! U…S…A! U…S…A!
#1THIGH FANNY
Actually Théo is American. She actually hail from New Jersey just like you — in spite of her insistence on putting an accent over the e. But how about those American TRICEPS? Did you see Jen’s dips? That’s form!
M
i found myself getting emotional on this one. laughing and crying. the kids have changed this year. and its so wonderful to see you all together doing fun and crazy good for you things. i hope I get to meet you guys when you return.
Joined in for one minute of triceps dips, now ready for a nap.
I read this article, and then filed it away. This may be the inspiration I need to implement it. Thank you!
This is great – our new on-the-road workout. Though I would not want to be filmed doing my version of a push-up.
LOVED watching you all exercise! Although I did feel a bit slothful just watching. Very impressive & I liked the music, too. How many more countries will you be doing your 7 minutes of exercise in? Enjoy it all…
Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing…
Well,I did many if not all of those very excercised in the gym this morning. But they seem so much more wonderful as you guys were doing them on location. What an inspiring trip, what a beautiful film–like the others. You are my heroes!
I wondered about this when I saw the pizza quest vid.