Monday, April 22, 2013

Sigma

S Extra! I met a Super Woman in my a to z travels. Becky Due has done a fabulous job with the challenge. I was drawn in by her B-Word post and so many of her other posts are encouraging and empowering as well. And she's on her fifth publication! Check her out!

From the messy countertop of the Lazy Housewife...

Showercize! I've mentioned this before and I'm finally getting around to elaborating on it. There are many tasks we do each day that require very little brain power. Showering is one of them. And many of us complain we do not have time to exercise. So I thought I would maximize my time by exercising in the shower - Showercize!* (*Copyrighted, because I said so!) And I've been doing it for over five years. 15 min/day!

But first, before I explain, for anyone interested in trying Showercize, I am issuing a...

DISCLAIMER! Always check with your doctor before taking on a new exercise program. And anyone who tries this in the privacy of their own shower better have a nonslip mat or stickers and a safety bar or something to grab onto. The Lazy Housewife is not responsible for any injuries sustained while doing Showercize.

That was fun. Also note, these are not aerobic, no jumping around! And I don't count unless specified. Now here are my moves (naming them was half the fun! you can just read to have a laugh! I know it sounds crazy, I crack myself up, too):
trunk twist stretch
  • Inner Thigh Lifts - I have heard many aerobic instructors say that lifting your legs also works on your stomach muscles - yeah for multitasking moves! So when I wash my face and hair, I alternate lifting my legs with bent knee and thigh facing up.
  • Trunk Twists - so hair is rinsed. When my back started hurting, I realized I needed to stretch it and exercise it more (I also got a back support pillow for my writing chair) There is an awesome back stretch where place your leg over your other leg and twist away from it (see pic) so I added it as an exercise. While adding conditioner and soaping up my washcloth, I lift and turn my right knee to the left and twist my upper body to the right, alternating sides. (I leave conditioner in through the body washing)
  • Lunges - I recently added this move as varicose veins creep up my legs because I read doing lunges helps prevent/lessen them. During the body wash, I put my foot up on our built-in bench and lunge as possible. I know, if you have a stall shower, you're out of luck... But that's okay. I don't get many in and it's awkward, but I'm dedicated!
  • Tricep Lifts - time to rinse the washcloth. Holding it spread out on both hands behind my back (under the water), I lift up, keeping elbows straight, about 20-25 times (I count these) then...
  • Chest Press - Anyone remember "We must, we must, we must build up the bust!" ? Hook hands together at chest level and push, and squeeze washcloth at same time, only about 10 AND
  • Chin Stretch - whenever I think of it, I work this muscle to curb that double chin that has been peeking out! Stick out your chin and lift and lower your jaw or just hold for 30 sec or do a combination AND
  • Butt Crunch - gotta keep those legs moving, too. During the previous upper body steps, I alternate lifting each heel from the knee up to ninety degrees
  • Stomach Suck-Ins! - Last one! This was the first move I incorporated, the biggest trouble spot! During the conditioner rinse out, I suck in that gut and release. I get in 50-75 reps, changing it up by holding in longer sometimes or shorter if I'm in a hurry.
  • But that's not all! After the shower, I do a few exercises while putting lotion on my legs, I alternate from time to time between these two moves:
    • Baby Kicks - laying on back, leaning up, alternate kicking legs in and out
    • Frog Legs - same pose, but kick both legs in and out at same time
Other S TIPSShowers & Sinks - probably in the top ten of least liked cleaning jobs. I keep Tilex Mildew & Mold cleaner, a scrubber brush, and a big plastic cup in my shower. See some gross buildup? Clean it while you're in there! And for sinks, I try to keep the surface areas clear, then I can easily wipe up in between cleanings, which lets me put off those cleaning longer!


Editing Tips

SHOW! - you've heard it before, hope you're applying it by using action verbs and dialog and rich descriptions! Don't tell what they feel, what is their reaction? what are they doing about it?
Semi-colons - use to separate two related, complete sentences; use sparingly
Slashes - informal, okay to use at your discretion, again, sparingly/not all the time
Sounds - for sounds we make with our mouths, use 2 letters after the initial letter, Ahh. See? Mmm. And for onomatopoeias (sound effect words), use italics. Whip it! Whoo-Pah!

commonly confused "S" words:
sheath (n) / sheathe (v)
shudder (v) / shutter (n)
snug (adj, a tight fit) / snugly (adv, fits tightly) / snuggly (adj, cuddly)
stationary (unmoving) / stationery (writing paper)
staunch (firm, steadfast, faithful) / stanch (to stop the flow of blood)

Find more A to Z posts here.

28 comments:

Stina said...

lol Showercizes aren't something I need to worry about. I love running and I tend to brainstorm when I run. Unfortunately I can't run right now because of an ankle injury, so I walk instead. The best part about that is I take my iPod, and when ideas hit, I can jot them down. I don't run with my iPod, so I have to remember my ideas until I get home.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Wow, showercize could catch on. LOL

Heather M. Gardner said...

Ok. Never once occurred to me to work out in the shower!

This could catch on!

Heather

Donna K. Weaver said...

Oh, funny. I'm afraid I'd hurt myself in the shower. I'm actually walking on my treadmill while I'm writing this. Takes all the conflict out of having so little time to write. I don't have to choose because I can do both.

M.J. Fifield said...

Hmmm. I'll have to try showercizing. Mostly I let my day job act as a work out as a typical shift is like an 6 hour stairmaster experience (lots and lots of ladders).

mshatch said...

Showercize is a great idea!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Very creative! I don't think my shower is big enough to do some of those safely though.

Shell Flower said...

I'm going to feel lazy when I shower and don't exercise now. LOL. Great editing tips :)

Dana said...

Showercize is a great idea! My problem is that I'm barely awake in the morning. I'd probably hurt myself if I tried exercising that early. :)

Happy Monday!

Unknown said...

Showercizing- what a great idea! I'll have to try it some day. Showers are a great way to wake up.

My blog: morgankatz505.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I love to work out but am terrible about floor workouts(or shower as the case may be)and stretching. I like the get-my-heartrate-up aerobic workouts. Great idea though!

Rena said...

Showercizing is totally the next big exercise sensation!

I actually already use my shower time to dream up what happens next in my WIP, so I'm afraid I'll have to stick to the treadmill time for the now (which I also use to brainstorm for ideas).

L. Diane Wolfe said...

If I wasn't a klutz with no sense of balance, I'd try showercising.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

I'd never showercize. Showers are my relaxing time.

Carrie-Anne said...

It's never occurred to me to exercise in the shower. I'd probably be too afraid I'd slip and fall, and bang the metal hardware in my right leg.

jesstopper said...

Love the idea of showercizing! Sometimes just squeezing the dregs out of the shampoo bottle takes Herculean strength! Thanks for popping by my blog during the A to Z. :)
Jess/ Blogging on the Brink

Fida Islaih said...

Showercizing sounds good!! I'll be doing that (: Thanks for sharing your idea (:

VikLit said...

I'm gonna try showercize! :)

Mark Means said...

That could really take off...especially if someone put out an instructional video... -ahem- :)

Rechelle Owens, Romance Author said...

I don't think showercise is for me. With my luck, I'd slip and fall and break something...lol!

Anonymous said...

I never thought of doing exercises in the shower. I have while brushing my teeth, but I haven't tried in a while. When I did, it was simple push up on my toe then back down. Easy peasy to do while scrubbing those pearly whites.

Christine Rains said...

Wow, that is a brilliant idea. Market it! You'll make billions! I'm going to start my Showercising tomorrow.

Carol Kilgore said...

You're so organized! I'm liking the sound of Showercize. Will try to remember until morning - LOL.

Unknown said...

Showersize - I will ty it!

Anonymous said...

Showercize! I love it. Haha!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Tara .. what a great idea - and yes you may copyright it .. as long as I personally can copy it .. well maybe not in the shower but at other times of day .. waiting for the kettle to boil .. et al ..

Cheers and I'm all for this! Hilary

Rhonda Albom said...

This is actually brilliant. You should do a How to kindle book on it, just don't market it here or any where else in a drought. I take 2 minute showers :)

Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com

D.G. Hudson said...

Creative thinking in the shower! I like those tips, and I try to incorporate extras into things I do all day to get a bit of exercise in. Good ideas, but watch the soap.

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