Rugby star Joe Marler has teamed up with Babybel Protein to show Brits how small changes to their routine can support their health and fitness goals without overhauling their life
Rugby star Joe Marler made an unexpected appearance at an office to challenge Britain’s growing obsession with “life-maxxing”. The Celebrity Traitors star caught staff off guard with a lunchtime pep talk, stressing that improving your wellbeing doesn’t have to mean a total lifestyle overhaul or endless hours in the gym.
The visit follows research suggesting 56% of people are committed to “life-maxxing” — optimising everything from fitness and relationships to personal development in a bid to reach their full potential, often through extreme routines. But Joe says it doesn’t need to be so drastic. Partnering with Babybel Protein, he urged workers to rethink their lunch break, showing how small, realistic changes can help build healthier habits.
A survey of 2,000 adults found the average person has just around 90 minutes a day to fit in everything outside of work — including exercise, eating well, managing money and pursuing personal goals.
Discussing the life-maxxing phenomenon, Joe said: “It’s exhausting just thinking about it. I wanted to show people that looking after yourself doesn’t have to mean completely changing your life.
“Most of the time it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. Walk while you’re on a call, take the stairs, move a bit more, and make smarter snack choices. It’s about making healthier habits fit around your life, not the other way round.”
From desk-side squats and walking meetings to makeshift “kettlebell” exercises and stairwell lunges, he showed how straightforward methods of movement can be integrated naturally into the working day – with enough time remaining to savour lunch.
Living a healthy lifestyle is at the top of the nation’s priorities, but many admit they often struggle to make progress with their goals. More than half of those surveyed agreed that small, everyday habits make the greatest impact.
Abhilasha Shaw from Babybel said: “When time is limited, trying to overhaul every part of your lifestyle can feel overwhelming. Rather than chasing perfection, it’s the small, consistent changes that are more achievable – and often make the biggest difference.
“Whether it’s finding more opportunities to move, making smarter food choices, or ticking off life admin where you can, those little wins all add up.
“Something as simple as choosing a natural protein snack can help support your goals while fitting effortlessly into a busy day.”
TOP 10 WAYS BRITS FIT IN EXERCISE:
- Taking the stairs instead of using escalators or lifts
- Taking quick, regular walking breaks during the working day
- Turning household chores, such as cleaning, into exercise
- Parking further away from their destination to fit in a walk or run
- Making social plans that include exercise or sport
- Stretching at their desk
- Dancing around the house whenever the mood strikes
- Doing upper-body exercises while sitting and watching TV
- Exercising during advert breaks
- Doing mini workouts while cooking