I came a across a recent article in which British researchers claim we only need 7 minutes of exercise a week to maintain a healthy lifestyle. What? Wait a minute! Am I the only one who feels I have been lied to? Remember those doctors who always said at least 30 minutes a day? Well, so do I. Now, science changes as much as trends do, so I’m not taking this new research as fact, but I do find it interesting and rather startling that the number is so low compared to what we hear about all the time.
We are no strangers to celebrity work outs which often include strict diets and hours of exercise on a daily basis (in fact I know several friends on this regimen). The point is that we are too easily convinced that we have to overwork and over-think our way into healthy, happy and ultimately thinner versions of ourselves. Now, if you are reading this blog, we hope that your goal is to live a happy and healthy life at any size. We have already stated countless times that the equation, healthy = skinny is not reliable, since health comes in all sizes. We also hope that you won’t spend most of your thoughts trying to figure out how to get skinny. Trust us when we say that these thoughts will neither make you happy nor healthy. And if you can achieve heavenly bliss in which your mind and body are content in only as little as 7 minutes why not opt for that instead of the overdone and overworked alternative?
Here are ten fun and healthy activities you can do that have nothing to do with overexercising and have everything to do with you enjoying your life.
1. Take a walk with a friend and have a deep meaningful talk.
2. Stretch for a minute every night before you sleep (helps me release tension from my day).
3. Do yoga with your kids or younger siblings.
4. Play catch with your dog.
5. Play volleyball, tennis, basketball or any other social games you can think of.
6. Go dancing with friends.
7. Go for a bike ride along the coast.
8. Learn how to double dutch (this will take more than 7 minutes if you are a complete klutz like me though).
9. Go ice-skating.
10. Go swimming and play Marco Polo.
I’m not one for the “10 tips to a healthier you” type articles, but I list these to show that you really don’t even have to think, let alone, obsess about being healthy. Life was made to be lived to the fullest, and my guess is that if you start enjoying your life with the people you love, you will be on your way to a healthy and happier you.
tiffabee.wordpress.com 
I find that a good stretch in the morning is exactly what I need to be able to get a good start on the day. It clears my mind, limbers my body and just sets the tone for the day. and believe it or not, I love to give my house a good cleaning every now and then (I’m kind of obsessive in that I don’t feel organized if my house isn’t at least somewhat organized). People don’t usually think of housework as exercise, but it really is.
I’ve always wanted to learn double-dutch! What a great idea!
Though I think I’ll have to buy a better sports bra first . . .
Wow I can’t believe that number is so low too! Seven minutes huh wait until I tell this to people then they will really look at me like I have jumped off of the deep end. Can’t wait to try it on a couple people!
I can do 7 min. I practically do almost 25 min going up and down stairs at my work. I like your 10 tips,thanks. You are absolutely right. Why waste time thinking of what not to eat or drink (rigid diets) and start doing daily activities that are fun and practical for our lives.
7 minutes, huh? That makes me chuckle about the hours I used to spent at the gym each day I went, as many days a week as I could handle without falling over. Of course, I was sure that I couldn’t possibly be healthy unless I looked like a model. Ah, silly me. 😉
I also love that you made the point that life was meant to be lived to the fullest. When I was work-out obsessed and deep into my eating disorder, living life was the last thing I was doing. I wasn’t going to enjoy anything until I looked a certain way and if I never looked that way, then I would die trying.
It’s pretty sad to think of the way I used to be… and to know that way too many people still cling to those ideas today. Life is so much lighter and fun and happier and WORTH LIVING… if you actually allow yourself to live it.
Great post, Tiff!
Unfortunately, the only real way to lose weight and get healthy is to do the healthy thing. Back up from the table and ditch the drive-through. No one really WANTS to work out, but if you find something you enjoy it sure makes it easier. For me, it’s power yoga. I like it, it interests me and gives me awesome results. Drinking soda and skipping my veggies doesn’t agree with me.
I say, find something you love to do and get some food that tastes good and is good for you at the same time and you’ll be okay.
Terrific info! Hope to come back.