Why the 12-3-30 Challenge Isn’t as “Easy” as Everyone Says

February 1, 2023

We took on the 12-3-30 challenge thinking it would be a walk in the park—literally. Turns out, this deceptively simple treadmill workout has thrown us a few curveballs. Between snowstorms, sore backs, and surprise 5Ks, here's how it's going so far.

💡 First, What Is the 12-3-30 Challenge?

Incline: 12%
Speed: 3 miles per hour
Duration: 30 minutes
Goal: Do it every day for 30 days

Simple, right? Well… not exactly.

🏃‍♀️ A Slight Detour: From Incline Walking to Running a 5K

One of us (👀 looking at you, Kaylee) hit a day where the treadmill just wasn't happening. So instead of skipping entirely, she ran her first-ever 5K.

✅ First 5K completed (on the treadmill!)
✅ No breaks… well, except one 30-second pause to fix a rogue ponytail
🔄 A spontaneous detour from the original plan, but still a solid workout

❄️ Weather vs. Willpower: Snowstorms and Solo Workouts

Snow tried to slow us down—literally.

Sarah made it to the gym nearly every day, even after a late-night workout
Kaylee opted for home workouts when snow blocked her driveway
Her treadmill only goes up to a 10% incline, so some workouts were “10-3-30-ish”

Hey, we said challenge, not perfection.

💥 Lessons Learned (and Sore Muscles to Prove It)

The incline makes a huge difference—especially if you're hunched over
Keeping your posture tall and engaging your core helps avoid lower back pain
Holding on to the treadmill bars changes the intensity (yep, we caught each other doing it!)
Covering the timer with a towel makes the time pass faster—trust us, it works

🔥 Real Talk: It’s Harder Than It Looks

When we started this challenge, we were convinced it would be easy. Spoiler: it’s not.

After the first couple of sessions, the soreness was real
Sticking with it through travel, weather, and busy schedules has been tough—but worth it
Running a 5K was easier than doing 12-3-30 some days 😅

👯‍♀️ Accountability Helps (So Does Friendly Trash Talk)

We’ve been meeting at the gym most mornings at 6 AM
When one of us skips, the other definitely hears about it
The challenge is way more fun when you’re doing it with a buddy

Final Thoughts: Proud, Sore, and Still Stepping

Sure, we’ve taken a few creative liberties. But we’re still moving, still showing up, and still laughing through the sweat.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Mail

Ready to work with Nacho Fitness Coach?

Let's connect! We’re here to help.

Send us a message and we’ll be in touch.

Or give us a call today at 913-788-6511

Agency Contact Form

More Marketing Tips, Tricks & Tools

What’s in My “Drug Bag”? Supplements, Sleep Hacks & a Little Bit of Chaos

August 27, 2025

What supplements should you actually take? In this fun episode of Nacho Fitness Coach, we unpack caffeine, collagen, creatine, probiotics, and whether melatonin is a sleep hack or just hype.

Protein Wars: Muscle Milk vs. Whey Isolate – Which Protein Powder Is Actually Better?

August 20, 2025

Muscle Milk vs. whey protein isolate—what’s the difference? We break down ingredients, benefits, and who should use which in this funny yet practical episode of Nacho Fitness Coach.

Fitness Scams You Need to Stop Falling For (and What Actually Works)

August 27, 2025

If you’ve ever bought a $50 tub of “miracle” greens powder, fallen for the latest detox tea, or wondered whether pink-labeled supplements for women are actually different (spoiler: they’re not), you’re not alone. In this episode of Nacho Fitness Coach, Caleigh (the self-proclaimed beginner who thinks Bulgarian split squats should be classified as cruel and unusual punishment) and Sara (the coach who actually knows what she’s doing) dive headfirst into the wild world of fitness scams —with plenty of laughs, tangents, and questionable jokes along the way. 🚨 Why Fitness Scams Are Everywhere The fitness industry is worth billions, which means there’s always someone ready to sell you a “shortcut.” Whether it’s a supplement that promises to torch fat, a crash diet that guarantees results in 30 days, or Instagram workouts that magically target belly fat, scams thrive because people want fast fixes. The reality? Sustainable health comes from the boring stuff : consistent movement, balanced nutrition, sleep, and stress management. But that doesn’t sell as well as “drop 30 pounds in 30 days.” 🤯 Popular Fitness Scams They Call Out Here are just a few of the fads and gimmicks discussed in the episode: Body Positivity (when twisted into an excuse) – Loving yourself is great, but ignoring your health isn’t. Raw Milk – Romanticized online, but not a magic bullet for health. Athletic Greens (AG1) – Expensive powders that are basically just multivitamins in smoothie form. Electrolyte Powders – Some (like Liquid IV or LMNT) are useful, but don’t believe the “double hydration” marketing hype. “For Women” Supplements – Same formula, pink label, higher price. Colostrum & Collagen Powders – Marketed as miracle youth potions. Spoiler: your regular protein powder works just fine. Probiotics – Helpful after antibiotics, but not the cure-all they’re marketed to be. Detox Teas & Cleanses – Your liver and kidneys already handle that job for free. Keto Desserts – Sorry, Jessica. That keto cupcake is still just a cupcake. 12-3-30 Workouts – Good exercise, but it’s not a “fat-burning secret.” Crash Diets (HCG, blood type diets, etc.) – Fast weight loss? Yes. Sustainable? Nope. And of course… everyone’s favorite scammy influencer, V Shred . 💡 The Bigger Problem: Normalized Fitness Lies The scariest part? Some scams are so normalized, we don’t even question them anymore. Marketing convinces us that we’re broken and need expensive fixes—when the truth is that health isn’t about extremes. What actually works: Consistency > hacks Real food > powders Movement you enjoy > gimmicky workouts Patience > promises of “30 pounds in 30 days” 🎧 Why You’ll Love This Episode Yes, you’ll learn how to spot scams. But you’ll also laugh (a lot). From butt-joke tangents to middle-schoolers discovering their teacher has a podcast, Caleigh and Sara remind us that fitness doesn’t have to be intimidating—or boring. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a detox tea commercial or wondered if collagen peptides are just expensive marketing, this one’s for you. ✅ Key Takeaway Don’t waste money chasing the latest fitness trend. Stick to the basics: move your body, eat balanced meals, get sleep, and stay consistent. Everything else is just expensive hype.