UNO: an exercising game

      

       My boyfriend and I have been playing UNO since he first brought the pack on our vacation to Mexico a year ago. That was also the first time I ever played UNO. After that, we been playing the game at least once a week. However, recently my boyfriend decided to read the rules of the game. For what reason I do not know. But he read it and told me that all this time we have been playing wrong, and that there is this and that rule. Then he told me that there is also a point system. Apparently the first person who gets 500 points wins. I was shocked. But if you know the rules, there is nothing to do but to abide by the rules, especially when it is to your favor (that your realize while playing...hehe).

       When it is only the two of us playing we reduce it to 200 or 300 so the game won't drag on for too long. But one day, we were suppose to go to the gym but was too late so we decided to just play UNO. Writing down my winning streak, I got all high and mighty and came up with an idea for a punishment: for the points either of us lose, we got to do some sort of exercise. He agreed and then he got serious for his revenge.

       It was actually very fun. Doing it with someone who you can laugh was the best part of the game. It is different than just taking 20-30 minutes and doing plain exercise. One person shuffles and deals the cards while the other does the punishment. While playing, you rest and get a breather before the next punishment. In the end, one person will do 200 crunches, sit ups, push ups or squats while another on average will do about 100-150. Better than none.

So, I advise any one of you who likes to play UNO, just try this one with your family, or boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse or friends. It is a great way for you and your friends to get a bit more fit while having lots of fun. If you have a sleepover of 5 friends for example, the four who lose can do the punishment either of the total points or their own points that they lose. The best part everyone will get a chance to lose, and a chance to do the punishment therefor a bit more fit.

My rules for the game are:

       Less than ten - push ups.

       From 10 to 20 - crunches.

       From 20 to 40 - split: crunches and pushups.

       From 40 to 60 - split: crunches, push ups and squats.

I am not very athletic and lack lots of muscle, so I can't do many pushups or squats. Later on, after I train a bit, I plan to adjust the rules so the punishment can still be a true punishment. Haha. 

This is just an idea for you. But make it fun and exiting and something new. Getting fit while having fun is the best method one can think of. And with this game, everyone will go to bed with some new muscle formed. 

Clean Back Needs a Helping Hand

       Summer is already here and shirts just keep flying coming off. Girls just want to put on their bathing suit and run to the beach while guys want to take off their shirt while playing sports. Yet so many hesitate to do so because of the unsightly pimples or "acne spots" on their back. 

       Although back spots/acne are not easy to treat for some people since it may be hormonal or due to scarring, there is one simple thing that everyone can do, but no one does: scrub it...in the shower of course. Yes, many people scrub their own back but lets admit it, we can just pat ourselves on the back and the result will be the same.


     The skin renews itself within a month therefore we need to help get rid of the dark spots for new skin to be visible by exfoliating it properly. Not everyone is so flexible to be able to reach and exfoliate the back properly, thats when our own hands tend to fail at that task. So, what I suggest is to get someone to help you. Anyone! I ask my mother usually since i don't have a female sibling. The best choice, in my opinion,  is your sibling of the same gender as you. If not, ask your parent (most advised of the same gender too). However, you can just put on your swimming suit and ask your dad or mom to come scrub for a good 5 minutes. I know my dad would not mind the tiniest bit and be more than happy. After all, he is my dad who took care of me as a toddler. Guys, put on your swimming trunks and ask your sister or mother. Scrubbing your back is so essential to removing those spots yet so many fail to do it properly. You need that exfoliation, that blood circulation in the back. It helps the skin to be fresh, more lively and elastic.


      If you live with a roommate who is a close friend, ask her/him to do it. It may be a bit awkward in the beginning but after few scrubs and better results, you will love it. Scrub their back in return too so they won't be awkward at the request.

Note: In Asian coutnries, scrubbing one's back is a completely normal hygiene routine. In Japanese families, often parents shower with their children and each scrub each other's backs. You can see in Korean dramas, in saunas, friends and family members scrub each other's backs as well. Its very common and very normal. So, make it normal for yourself too and part of your hygiene routine! =)

Helpful Hints:
 If you have regular breakouts on your back, I would suggest to use your anti-acne face wash for your back as well. Rather than buying a wash for back acne, just use that one. In the end, they do the same thing. Also, if you notice you sweat a lot, don't re-use the shirt.
For girls, a lot of times we re-use our bra's which is very normal but many forget that bras are a bit tighter than other clothing and tends to rub on our skin while not being very clean which can be a cause of break outs. So what I do is just wash them by hand usually after I shower. It is a small clothing article, so washing is rather fast. If its my favorite bra and I wear it often, I wash it often too.


Do any of you do this? Is it helpful? Maybe have your own tricks like attaching a scrubber to the wall and moving yourself around?