This 15-Minute Metabolic Workout Burns Fat and Builds Muscle

When you hear "metabolic workout," doing a long and intense endurance workout that melts body fat probably pops into your head. But a metabolic workout is actually not quite what it sounds like.

"Metabolic workouts essentially condense the intensity of a full workout into a shorter session that incorporates high-intensity and compound movements with minimal rest periods," Brittany Leboeuf, PhD, a research scientist at Orangetheory Fitness, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

"This usually isn't a leisurely jog on the treadmill or an hour-long lifting session. Instead, metabolic workouts allow you to tap into immediate and intermediate energy systems, enabling you to maximize your output in a shorter time frame and making every second count."

According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), your body converts energy from food into adenosine triphosphate, otherwise known as ATP, which is an immediate form of energy.

There are three main energy systems that store ATP in the body: phosphagen, anaerobic and aerobic, per the ACE. The phosphagen system provides an immediate source of ATP, but it has very limited amounts that are used during short high-intensity exercises.

Then there's anaerobic glycolysis, which doesn't need oxygen and breaks down glucose to produce ATP for activities that last 30 seconds to three minutes. Lower-intensity and longer workouts require aerobic glycolysis for ATP; this energy system kicks in when the phosphagen and anaerobic systems tap out.

Because metabolic training is done in a short amount of time with minimal rest, it blends the use of all three energy systems — with the middle pathway being the primary one. Therefore, it's efficient and effective.

Unlike a lifting session, where you're doing one exercise for a certain number of reps and sets and have a rest period in between, metabolic workouts focus on quick, muscle-strengthening exercises with minimal rest, Leboeuf says. This translates to a more time-efficient workout.

"You're going all-in for a shorter period with metabolic workouts, but the payoff is huge. It's like a power hour for your body and is ideal for anyone with a busy schedule," Leboeuf says. "By increasing the intensity and minimizing rest, metabolic workouts challenge you to push yourself for a short time for maximum benefits."

Unlike traditional cardio, like walking or running, which target long-term energy pathways through steady-state exercise, metabolic workouts are done at a high intensity, providing major perks for your cardiorespiratory fitness.

When you're doing a metabolic workout, aim for an 8 out of 10 on the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale, where one is an easy walk in the park and 10 is an all-out sprint, Leboeuf says. The benefit of using the RPE scale is that you can turn up (or down) the intensity of an exercise based on how hard you're pushing yourself.

Because you're incorporating both cardio and strength components, metabolic workouts also help reduce your body fat and build lean muscle mass.

"Metabolic workouts can also do a lot in terms of promoting a healthy body composition. Whether hitting high-intensity intervals or participating in regular weight training, you're making strides toward reducing your body fat percentage and gaining lean muscle mass," Leboeuf says.

This 15-minute metabolic workout, designed by Vincent Emanuele, a NASM-certified personal trainer and workout design specialist at Orangetheory Fitness, targets your entire body with just five simple moves.

"These movements are game changers because they target multiple muscle groups, leading to more energy expenditure, better fat loss and amplified muscle engagement," Emanuele says.

"We're also training the body through various planes of motion. This is incredibly important when structuring a balanced routine because we're not just working those 'mirror muscles' that you can see on the outside but engaging those often-neglected, deep, stabilizing muscles that you use in your day-to-day life," he says. "Think of it as giving your entire physique, inside and out, the attention it deserves."

Do each exercise for one minute (30 seconds per side) for a 5-minute round. The goal is to do three rounds as quickly as possible — with good form and minimal rest — in 15 minutes. Use the first round as a benchmark and aim to finish the other two sets in less time — fewer seconds or minutes, Emanuele says. You'll need one moderate-weight dumbbell.