Have you ever taken the Real Age test?
It calculates your body’s “health age” and was created by various doctors, including Dr. Oz. We’ve taken the online test and occasionally receive emails from Real Age. You can’t help but click on an email with the subject line Lose Weight in Just 7 Minutes, can you? Well, we couldn’t.
The idea is that if you want to lose some weight, first calm down. Next, try this: Spend 7 minutes a day meditating. The Real Age docs say 7 minutes can help you control cravings, eat less, and get thin.
The article, written by Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen, shared this scoop: Meditation helps with sleep, stress, fighting inflammation, and concentration. (Dr. Roizen apparently does quick deep-breathing sessions when he’s stuck in long, slow elevator rides.)
One of meditation’s benefits is its effect on cravings. The article recommends spending about 7 minutes meditating each day and you’ll naturally have fewer food cravings.
Here’s how to do it: “Find a quiet place (the bathroom is fine), get comfortable, close your eyes, and breathe in and out at a natural pace. Notice whether your breath feels warm or cool. When other thoughts and sensations butt in, acknowledge them, and then refocus on your breathing. After 7 minutes or so, open your eyes and re-enter the world slowly.”
They claim bonus benefits, too. “A few minutes of daily mindful meditation can also counteract aches, stress, and memory loss. It helps control your alpha rhythms (a type of brain wave that boosts your ability to focus and tune out distractions), including pain signals, which mess with your memory. That helps you recall important stuff, such as where you put your cell phone, or what your spouse just said.”
One of the women who commented on the article advised that when you take deep belly breaths, try “breathing in” your favorite color and just keep that color as constant as possible for the seven minutes.
OK, cobalt blue, follow me to a quiet place and let’s do this thing.
