Only have 10 minutes? Try this workout to torch fat and build muscle

This short workout is ideal if you're tight on time but still want to hit your fitness goals this year

Man holding a plank at home
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you want to hit your fitness goals this year but struggle to find time for long training sessions, short HIIT routines could see you through. Working out for just 10 minutes can help burn fat and develop muscle.

Many of us pick up a set of the best adjustable dumbbells to add resistance training to our workout programs, but this routine uses your bodyweight alone to help you get fitter, leaner, and stronger.

If you're just starting out or prefer coached workouts, this guided routine comes with an on-screen countdown timer. Each move is demoed, so you can follow along and perfect your form to avoid injury.

There's a variety of exercises, but the foundation of each is your core. You can build strength in this mid-body muscle using the best workouts for abs, including fitness staples like planks and push ups.

Watch Fraser Wilson's 10-minute fat-burning workout

The session is the latest in a series of accessible, fat-burning workouts by fitness YouTuber Fraser Wilson. In the past few years, the online trainer has made a name for himself with his collection of short at-home routines with very little equipment.

There are a few reasons you might want to drop body fat, like as part of a weight-loss program or to make your muscles more visible. Although exercise is a massive part of any muscle-building routine, the food we eat is just as important.

If you're aiming to build muscle and gain weight, it's worth exploring the differences between bulking vs cutting diets. Bulking and cutting are often spoken about together, but bulking packs on pounds fast, and cutting is for calorie-based fat-burning.

These methods have their roots in competitive bodybuilding. So, for most of us, it's better to find a more sustainable approach like adding the best protein powder for weight loss into your daily routine.

Protein helps repair your muscles after an intense session, and these powders have fewer calories and a lower fat content than standard powders to help you build lean muscle to complement this fat-burning workout.

Of course, after all this training, you'll probably feel the effects of delayed onset muscle soreness the next day. You can speed up your recovery and ease some of the pain by massaging your muscles using one of the best foam rollers to promote blood flow.

James Frew
Fitness Editor

James is a London-based journalist and Fitness Editor at Fit&Well. He has over five years experience in fitness tech, including time spent as the Buyer’s Guide Editor and Staff Writer at technology publication MakeUseOf. In 2014 he was diagnosed with a chronic health condition, which spurred his interest in health, fitness, and lifestyle management.


In the years since, he has become a devoted meditator, experimented with workout styles and exercises, and used various gadgets to monitor his health. In recent times, James has been absorbed by the intersection between mental health, fitness, sustainability, and environmentalism. When not concerning himself with health and technology, James can be found excitedly checking out each week’s New Music Friday releases.