A bit of beauty in my neighborhood.
I have a work in progress and felt my plot had some gaping holes in it. So in January, I took a writing class on plots. One of the assignments was outlining along a very constructive plot point path. I used my WIP and found that the assignment helped. Then I got feedback from the instructor with further suggestions.
It took me until late March to mull over the suggestions and get to work on rewriting and revising.
After spending countless hours sitting at my laptop, I decided to mix in some simple exercises. (My former writing mentor Gerald Petievich once told me that writers need buns of steel.)
I began leg exercises for strength and balance. They are from my PT when I had knee surgery post ski accident. I’ve been reading that falling when we get older is not a good thing. Once elderly start falling, they usually don’t last long. So why wait? I break up my writing with those exercises.
Then I decided to do something about my flabby arms. I started with three pounds weights and now I’m at five. But I have a sharp pain in my neck and shoulders. I was on the phone with my daughter yesterday and she said, “You’re not doing the exercises correctly.”
“How do you know?” I asked. After all she isn’t here.
She said, “Because you sit with your shoulders around your ears. You aren’t engaging the correct muscles.”
I explained that my husband (her dad) showed me how to do them. She insists he doesn’t know how, either. Well, she is coming by for a short visit, dropping off Waffles the Pug while she goes to a destination wedding in Portugal. Maybe I can get some private instructions from her.
In the meantime, I’ve got a pain in the neck and shoulders. Maybe I should stick to legs?
Do you find you need to get up and move after sitting at the computer?
What exercises do you do?
I’m laughing. Sorry. Can you hear me? Not at your pain…no, no. But the ‘buns of steel’ comment and your sweet daughter’s diagnosis that you’re doing your weight lifting all wrong…even though she doesn’t have eyes on you. How do they do that? Cheers for writing, writing, writing most of all. I find I need to get up and stretch when I’ve been on my butt too long and I’m wrestling with weights again, too. Let’s just say I do better when the hubster isn’t around. He says my form and technique ‘stink’. 😜
I was wondering the same thing about my daughter knowing my technique was wrong! Also, my husband will make the same comments as yours 😂
Adore you! And as I type this, I’m quietly correcting my posture. Shoulders down…less up at my ears! 😜
Yes, I need to work on that!
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I have back and neck issues big time. I know that I often don’t lift correctly, or sit correctly but mine is a lot of adaptation over the years to be comfortable. I think it’s a huge and ongoing process to learn how to hold your body correctly and I’m not good at it at all!
I totally relate. I took ballet for years and always the teacher would tell me to keep my shoulders down. I think that’s where I hold my tension.
I totally need to get up every 45 minutes or so. I walk at least 10000 steps a day. I go to the gym in the morning. 3x spin class, 2x cardio cross (with weights) I try to do a Saturday spin class or play pickleball.
Good for you! I try for 10,000 steps a day too. I had trouble on our rainy days.
Is your resolve contagious? If so, I’d like to catch me some. I could use a little de-flabbing, but getting myself out of the lazy girl is always a challenge. Maybe I need to revisit the pre-natal gift shop and ask for an extra shot of inner resolve and determination. I hope there’s still time—hope springs eternal!
I like to be lazy, too. Especially on rainy days. Maybe the sunshine and warm weather is motivating me?
Thanks for the chuckle. Yes, sitting anywhere is painful. To ensure I am up frequently and I hate it when my watch tells me it is time to get up and walk around, I have a cup of water (I’m a big water drinker) that is only 8oz (the horror). The cup is empty or nature calls, quite frequently. I also have a peddle machine that sits under my desk so I can peddle to my heart’s content. I also do knee strengthening exercises daily. I don’t ski but I do and did hike and backpack. Lets just say I pivoted one day and my knee had other ideas.
Ouch! I turned skiing and one ski got stuck. I heard a loud pop and that was it. I like easy hikes and need to get my knee stronger as well as work on balance.
Knees are funny – not. I sat for an hour. Fortunately it was the end of a 14 mile day of lots of rocks. Our camp site was only 50 yards away and I could hobble. Plus there was a road. The thought of crawling or hobbling mile to a road was not appealing. Now I exercise both and if I’m headed out, compression knee support is my best friend. If I’m alone I have an app on my phone that allows my contacts to follow my progress. I joking say, they can use it to find the body.
Wow. 14 miles is a huge hike. I also use compression knee supports. It makes a big difference. I got a ride on a toboggan after my ACL popped.
Do you find you need to get up and move after sitting at the computer? I no longer sit at a computer, having adopted the standing desk concept. I feel better for it, my alignment is much better. Plus I swear by the Pomodoro Method, wherein you set a timer, work for 25 minutes, move around for 5 minutes, then repeat.
Good for you for standing. My son has a standing desk also. I may have to try that. I’ve never heard of the Pomodoro Method, but I’ll give that a try, too!
I try to get up from the computer because I don’t have the best posture. I try to stretch and walk throughout the day, but also lie on the floor with a rolled towel under my neck (about the size of a 16 ox water bottle) so gravity can help restore the natural posture. I also see a chiropractor who does myofascial release a few times per year for a “tune up”, which I find to be very helpful.
I like the idea of being on the floor to restore posture. I’m getting so many good ideas today to add to my day.
She’s probably right. Once she shows you how to do the exercises properly, it shouldn’t hurt.
I hope you’re right! I’ll need her to review my technique when she returns from the wedding, too.
It easy to look up things on the net but technique is very important which can only be a hands- on skill
Yes. The exercises for my legs I went to a PT for months, so I do know technique for those. It’s my upper body I need help with.
I did that too, for my knees and hamstrings.
I love your practice to break up writing with exercise. I totally need to do that – I have a consistent pain in my upper left back. Thank you for the inspiration to get moving!!
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Always, but my job or my need to move keeps me busy moving.
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My main exercise is walking about 3 miles a day. I know I should do more, but I have a lazy streak a mile wide. Just as long as my hind end isn’t also a mile wide, I’m good 🙂
That’s funny! My main exercise is walking, too.
Oh my, your daughter sounds just like mine! They seem to know so much more than me and somehow I am always doing things wrong! I hope your pain is temporary. I walk for exercise, cycle, and a little yoga when I really push myself. I need to work on my arms too! Thanks for the inspiration. Hugs, C
My neck is feeling bit better. I can’t wait for my daughter’s visit in a week to get a private lesson! Our kids as college athletes got training in how to do the weights correctly.