Home gym - 3

Pull in the Abdominals (TumBum)

I can incorporate these exercises while I'm walking. Again 'reps' with no counting as lampposts act as  indicators for a change of activity. Start with the tum, pull in and hold until the lamppost is reached then think about those pelvic floor muscles and pull those up. Swap holds at each lamppost. It doesn't matter if I forget as the next lamppost reminds me to 'hold it in' or 'hold it up'. Tum, bum, here I come. 

xx

Home gym 2

Triceps lifts (Trolley Triceps lift)

This time it's weights and for this I use the pull along shopping trolley. Combined with a trip to the supermarket this is a relatively simple exercise. All I do is lift the handle of the trolley behind me while walking back home. A full trolley ranges from 10 kg to 15 kg in weight. Granted I'm not lifting all that weight as some of it is on the ground but I am walking, pulling and lifting at the same time. Win, win, win.

Ten lifts with one arm then ten lifts with the other or, if it's too much trouble counting, then one arm lifts to the next lamp-post, change arms, and one arm lifts to the next.

Here's a video of a triceps dip. Using the trolley, instead of dipping down, I pull up with the same shape of arms which should work out the triceps and biceps muscles.



xx

Home gym - 1

I go to the gym to dance and swim (no, I'm not starting a ditty) and find that working out with the machines is really boring so I've found a way to incorporate workouts into my daily routine. Here's my first workout which can be done at any time of the day in the comfort of home. I find that this workout works best while tidying up. First watch this video.

Great to do in front of your computer screen but to incorporate it into the day I just do the 'silly walks' for 15 to 20 minutes while I'm going around the house tidying up. They could also be done while prepping a meal in the kitchen, sorting out the washing or making the bed. I don't recommend doing the 'walks' while ironing or wielding knives while chopping veg!

Workout - weight lifting

This morning I walked to the supermarket with my trusty pull along trolley and loaded up with groceries. A full trolley is quite heavy especially with a large milk and several tins and cans. Walking back I pull, alternating left and right arms. Ta da - weightlifting workout plus a 2 mile walk. Sorted.

xx

PS for Jules and Jill in answer to the question 'Is all the effort worth it?'

This is the second time I've made pasta with the machine. The first time was just as messy but the pasta cooked in no time and melted in the mouth. Totally different from bought pasta.

Is all the effort worth it?

Pros

excitement, contentment, wonder, satisfaction, culinary delight, clean kitchen once cleared up!

Cons

messy, lengthy process, takes time, easier to open a packet

Another pro is that the pasta can be frozen or left to dry then stored. If it tastes wonderful from frozen or dried then one big pasta making session could result in quite a few meals, cutting down the time of preparing a meal.

Watch this space.

xx

Another workout

This time it's making pasta. I really shouldn't watch too many YouTube videos. I've made pasta before but decided it was much too messy. Here's my pasta dough - just 2 mugs of flour and 2 eggs with a little water to make it into a firm dough. I mixed it up in the mixer to start off with but then got busy with my arm muscles.

Pasta machine from the CS at the ready. It would only fit on the table so there was a lot of walking backwards and forwards. I cut the dough into 4 manageable sizes ...

and did an initial roll out on the board.

Into the machine on setting 9, working down to 1, on to the other side of the machine to make spaghetti and fettuchini.

The handrail of the oven came in handy for the draping.

Then came the clear up.

Kitchen floor, back room floor, table and counter tops.

Yep, it's messy.

Here's the video that inspired me - what a lady.

xx

PS Chicken cacciatore next.

First workout of the day

or 'Morning Routine'.

Walk downstairs.

Put the kettle on.

Let cat out of back room and feed and water.

Put the toast on and Weetabix in bowl.

Brew tea.

Pour tea.

Take breakfast tray upstairs

 to bedroom and have breakfast in bed.

Bring breakfast tray down and empty/load dishwasher.

Wipe down all surfaces. 

Sort cat tray.

Sweep and mop floor.

Take out recycling and rubbish.

Walk down to garage and open up bringing back food I want from the freezer.

Do chores for the day - see here.

xx

PS I know when the sheets need doing as the bed rapidly gets filled up with crumbs! No matter how many times I brush out the crumbs there's always one tiny one to be found when I roll over. :)

xx

I have started ...

1. to tidy and clear the garden before it gets too cold

2. to knit a mermaid tail blanket with circular needles - I've a long way to go.

3. to get into a normal routine now that the activities of summer are over

(Let me see now - LWL, LWJ, swimming, dancing, gardening, date days with OH - it's a hard life!)

4. buying small presents for C--------

5. thinking I eat to much (only thinking)

6. sorting out my Autumn wardrobe (getting out the long sleeved tops!) I purchased 2 pairs of ankle boots from the CS last week as I'd walked through the soles of my other pair.

7. to conquer travel sickness and go out on a coach trip with a friend tomorrow

xx

PS

LWL = Ladies who lunch

LWJ =  Ladies who jolly

OH = Other half

CS = Charity shop

C = Christmas - yeah!

PPS

He gave me a hug = English

He gev me an 'ug. = English with a Lancashire accent. Hence "a Nug" from yesterday's post. :)

I'm being watched

My new to me watch is definitely watching me. With its Activity App in action every day I can monitor the amount of activity I'm doing.

My tidying up in the kitchen, mopping the kitchen floor on hands and knees, ironing and hoovering hall, stairs and landing sent the green 'activity' band nearly all the way round to complete its circle. The red 'moving' band was completed and lapped itself after this afternoon's dancing and my blue 'stand up and walk around every hour for at least one minute' is nearly completed and it's just after the evening meal. My total steps have topped 10, 500. As my watch has been set for me being moderately active I can safely assume that I am.

Time for a rest now, I think.

xx

Strawberry ditty

One little, two little, three little strawberries,

Four little, five little, six little strawberries,

Seven little, eight little, nine little strawberries,

Ten little strawberry fruits.

Ten little, nine little, eight little strawberries,

Seven little, six little, five little strawberries,

Four little, three little, two little strawberries,

One little strawberry fruit.

Chomp!

Yum!

xx

From my seat

Getting back to fitness after a major operation takes time - baby steps each day. 

From my seat at the Tower ballroom I see many people keeping fit by dancing. I'm now able to hold my own in all of the dances.

To my left is the stage where the organist plays for the sequence and ballroom dances.

Above me are the extravagant light fittings in the ballroom.

Behind me is a picture in tiles comparing the height of different towers in the world.

And in front of me is my fan - it's hot work tripping the light fantastic - and my water to keep me going.

Not only did I dance all afternoon but I also walked home too. That's my exercise for the day - done in the beautiful surroundings of the Ballroom. One of my favourite hobbies is helping with my recovery journey. Can't be bad. I shall be walking tomorrow.

xx

Be good

I am having a bloggy break for a while. Be good and play nicely while I'm away. Hope to get back shortly.

xx

Taking a rest ...

… just for a while so my Friday Favourites posts will not be appearing. I do have some posts in drafts so I'll schedule those for November. I will be reading your blogs and hope to be back in action soon. Thank you for all your comments recently and welcome to new commenters.

Take care.

xx

Allotment envy

This was how an allotment should be - tended, tidied, productive and loved. A visit around the local allotment showed this in abundance. Here was a space for cut flowers and foliage,

here the beds were set out neatly and orderly.

There was a quiet space between the separate allotments for rest and contemplation with seating, wild and cultivated flowers and a small pond.

The best allotment on the plot, I thought, was this one where every square inch was covered with produce, sheds, greenhouses and special corners. There were even hens pecking around in one area and experimental growing in tyres and unusual containers.

A pergola led to a seating area where the overhead vine could be viewed with easily tended annuals at waist and eye height. Who said allotments should just be horizontal?

This gardening bum had serious allotment envy.

xx

What to do when swimming lengths

Keep a count of the lengths and work the brain by linking the numbers with facts and fiction.

I can swim one length in one minute (at a  push!) so I had a minute to associate the number of my length with all sorts of nonsense.

I'll try it again now giving myself one minute to think for each number.

One - 

one is one and all alone and ever more shall be

one hand one heart

a partridge in a pear tree

one, two buckle my shoe

You're the one that I want

one is a prime number

Two - 

a pair

twins

snap

two turtle doves

an even number and a prime number

weeks in a fortnight

Three - 

Holy Trinity

Three Little Maids from School

triangle

Reliant Robin

Trois

steps to Heaven

Four - 

suits in a pack of cards

corners to my bed

seasons

specky four eyes


Five -

snakes alive

half of 10

pentagon

Dave Clark Five

gold rings

fives


Six -

pick up sticks

a favourite number

place settings

hexagon

faces to a cube


Seven -

heptagon

20p

50p

7 Brides for 7 Brothers

7th daughter of a 7th daughter

prime number

swans a-swimming

days in a week


Eight -

octopus

octogon

lay them straight

furlongs in a mile


Nine -

nine-pins

3x3

no? :)

nine men morris

nine ladies dancing


Ten - 

ten lords a-leaping

decimal

decahedron

fingers and thumbs

ten, ten, do it again

ten millimetres = one centimetre



Right, brain exercised for today! I'm off to a car-boot now.

xx

Glow, girl, glow!

Horses sweat,

men perspire,

and ladies glow.

I hate changing the bedding because it makes me glow like mad!

Let's just call it a great work-out.

xx

PS A very warm welcome to my new follower. I hope you enjoy your visits here. I'm a little warm at the moment!

Bank Holiday News

Here is the latest broadcast.

I'm planting up seeds that have been in the drawer for some time. These are Little Marvel peas which will hopefully climb up my chicken wire cylinders.

These cut and come again lettuce are growing nicely now. They were a 'living lettuce' purchase from Lidl-iddle. I just separated the little plants and planted them out in a container. The larger leaves died off and newer leaves are growing. 

The dressing gowns were a bit worse for wear so I cut them up for rags.

DD and DH played fly catching today ...

Yeah!

xx

Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow

I'm slowly adding to the list of 'can do' dances and improving slightly on others. One thing I've found now is that I can remember the dance but not the name and vice versa. Just got to put the 2 together and I'll be there!

Here's my list from last October.

And here are more dances adequately mastered.

Bossa Nova Blues

Caribbean Calypso

Saunter Together

Square Tango

Harry Lime Foxtrot

Tina Tango

The Boston Two Step

Jacqueline Cha Cha

Mambo Marina - this one's hard

These ones I've just learned.

Rhumba Rosalie

Midnight Jive

There's not a chance of me learning this one!

Glenroy Foxtrot

I was awarded a 'Silver Medal' at the last dance class. (Everyone who turned up received one!)

Pity I still can't do a proper jive.

xx

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good

I'm saving the cost of petrol by walking to the supermarket with my trusty trolley, giving myself plenty of fresh air and exercise. (The full trolley plus full bag = weight training!)

The Bad

No lovely pics of countryside, flowers or gorgeous views today. Why throw your litter on the pavement? Why not take it home? It's litter galore along the roads around here.

Another sight that is plentiful is featured below. I could have taken a score or more pics of this bad behaviour. (Not the dog, of course, but the owner.)

The Ugly

Empty shops are a sign of the times but they don't enhance the surroundings.

Neither does grafitti.

The pavements are a disgrace with pot-holes, cracked slabs and botched repairs.

This was a necessary walk but not a particularly pleasant one. I thought I'd take the grotty shots on the way to the shop and then take some pretty shots on the way back. Sorry, but even I could not find any today. I've neglected to mention the tramp who was staggering slightly and the dreadful state of some people's gardens. 

After packing away the shopping, I filled a carrier bag full of litter which I picked up in our front garden. It blows in from off the street - cigarette wrappers, chocolate, crisp and toffee wrappers, polystyrene (!), plastic bags and plastic bottles. (This one was half full of cider!)

Never mind, my garden is tidy now, the brass is polished on the front door and the step and windowsills washed, a pot roast is slow cooking in the oven and we have food for the week.

A warm welcome to my new followers. I'm not negative for too long!

xx

Mum's Advent Calendar 9, Days Left 16

The list - had to have it or I wouldn't have got anything done yesterday.

1. Finish last shepherd for the crochet Nativity set.

Sorry he's a bit blurred - must have been the sherry.

2. Polish the brass on the front door.

3. Finish the poinsettia row on the Christmas blanket.

4. Bake bread.

5. Make selection boxes bags - nearly finished

6. Finish putting up the decorations - nearly finished

7. Take a picture to put on this post.

8. Go and buy some more sherry! - hic!

I also washed the kitchen floor, took cats a walk, delivered neighbour's Christmas cards and walked to the supermarket.

There's healthy living for you! It also helps you sleep at night.

xx

Sunday - today will be my day of rest.

I can do the ...

The Lilac Waltz - easy peasy- can do without looking at other people's feet

The Alpine Stroll - get your breath back with this one

The Veleta - knew from school days - CDWLAOPF

St. Bernard's Waltz - knew from school days - CDWLAOPF

Sally Anne Cha Cha - my favourite - CDWLAOPF

Rhumba One - great wiggles in this one - CDWLAOPF

Tango Serida - must learn the arm and head movements to this as well as the feet!

Sindy Swing - mastered - CDWLAOPF

Mayfair Quickstep - mastered - CDWLAOPF

Balmoral Blues - reasonably easy

Pride of Erin Waltz - reasonably easy

Glengarry - ours is more of a two step than a shuffle and is progressive - great fun

I have not quite mastered yet ...

Glenroy Foxtrot - lots of turns

Ennerdale Waltz - as above

Catherine Waltz - ditto

Melody Foxtrot - oh my! It took me ages to learn how to quickly change feet. (hutchy up!*)

Tayside Tango - how's your twinkle and wing?

Waltz - whisk, wing, chasse, turn. Such a lot of different terms to remember. I can do a very basic waltz. My toes are still getting in the way.

Viennese Waltz - this is a great workout. I can go one way but need to master going the other way. (Just tried it in the kitchen and went dizzy. I'll stick to one way round for now.)

Foxtrot - slow and not so slow. Each partner seems to do the foxtrot differently, hence many trodden on toes. I just try and follow a partner who 'knows' what they are doing so my head seems to be always looking down at feet! The slow foxtrot starts off slow and ends up a race - more practice needed. I'm not too keen on the foxtrot at the moment. It feels like I'm treading precariously through hot coals!

Quickstep - still at the basic steps stage. I can turn and swivel.

These will take some time to perfect! ...

Jive - step back, triple, triple so the Youtube video goes.

Rock 'n' Roll - triple, triple, step, step? Sounds like the Jive to me! I need a partner who 'knows' what they are doing. Even then I can't see how those steps fit to the music.

My dance sessions keep me active and are a great workout plus they definitely keep the brain active!!

* my dance term

PS Further research shows another jive which is jiggling hands and arms about, swirling and turning and letting the feet look after themselves - I  like this one.