I tried the 12-minute workout Helen Mirren's used for her ‘whole life’
I tried the 12-minute workout Helen Mirren's used for her ‘whole life’
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Harry Bullmore discovers why the workout has stood the test of time. Helen Mirren’s acting career spans six decades, seeing her jump from stage to screen while tackling a wide range of genres. But one thing has remained constant: her workout routine. Here’s what happened when I gave it a go, and why I think it has, by and large, stood the test of time.
![[The Independent's fitness writer Harry Bullmore performing a side leg raise]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/23/15/01/The-Independents-fitness-writer-Harry-Bullmore-performing-a-side-leg-raise.jpeg)
The XBX pamphlet is 51 pages long, and pretty wordy, containing a series of charts and numbers which look far from inviting. I’ve done my best to simplify it for you. XBX is shorthand for 10 basic exercises, and that’s exactly what the plan entails: a 10-move, 12-minute workout. There are 48 difficulty levels, with each one challenging you to complete a few extra reps than the level before. Every 12 levels, the 10 exercises are also tweaked to make them slightly more challenging.
![[Harry Bullmore demonstrating a kneeling press-up]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/23/15/16/Harry-Bullmore-demonstrating-a-kneeling-press-up.jpeg)
The idea is that everyone starts on level one. Once you can complete a level fairly comfortably, you progress to the next one. The booklet gives you a level to aim for eventually, depending on your age – 26-30 year olds are told to aim for level 30, while it reckons those aged 46-50 should target level 16.
![[A leg lift is one of the exercises in Helen Mirren's chosen XBX military workout plan]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/23/15/26/A-leg-lift-is-one-of-the-exercises-in-Helen-Mirrens-chosen-XBX-military-workout-plan.jpeg)
Below you can find the prescriptions for levels one and 30 to see how the chart progresses. In two minutes, complete:. Then complete:. Read more: Doing this one thing after meals can help you lose weight and transform your health, walking expert says. I limbered up to try Helen Mirren’s military workout routine in my living room, which wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card. It took some time to decipher the 51-page XBX booklet, but after reading it cover to cover I felt like I had a pretty good grasp of what was going on: 12 minutes, 10 exercises and a target number of repetitions for each one, to be performed within a time limit (usually one or two minutes).
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