Being Mrs Muscle

So, as well as having a quasi obsessive interest in my weight I'm also semi OCD about cleanliness in my flat. Fun ey? Just spare a thought for my boyfriend.

When I lived at home, my mum was always a complete tyrant when it came to picking knickers off the floor, organising the dishwasher in a very specific manner and plumping the sofa cushions...even when someone was sitting on them. And whilst I rebelled at the time, now I have my own flat, home doesn't feel like home unless there's a faint whiff of Jif in the air.

So imagine my excitement when I received an email indicating that I could feed both of my obsessions AT THE SAME TIME. Molly Maid, bless them, have used their experience as the UK's leading cleaning company, to build a hybrid cleaning / fitness routine which will burn 150 more calories than an average spring clean.

So, to you, this gift I bring...

WARMUP
Dust and dance along to your favourite tunes.

Let yourself go and have fun! When dusting skirting boards, try to incorporate some squats. When reaching up to those high, hard to reach places stretch thoroughly to get those muscles working and include a few step ups on your stairs to get the blood pumping. Alternate your legs; after one minute leading with one, change to lead with the other for one minute.

CLEANING WINDOWS
Clean up and down your windows and incorporate squats to boost the calories burnt, stretch up to reach top of the window.

Keep legs slightly wider than hip width for a strong base. Keep knees over ankles and stomach engaged throughout.

POLISHING WINDOWS
Once windows are cleaned with the squat technique, use a dry cloth in each hand to dry and polish the windows.

Rotate both hands one way to polish and change direction after 10 rotations.

CLEANING KITCHEN WORK SURFACES
Stand in centre of the work surface, hold cloth in each hand and stretch as far as possible in each direction to clean.

Keep stomach engaged throughout. Stretch out as far as possible and press hard to clean the surface.

VACUUMING DOWNSTAIRS
Do some walking lunges across the length of the room every time you step forward, moving the vacuum backwards and forwards.

Take a step forward keeping stomach tight and shoulders back. When back knee almost touches floor push weight onto front foot and stand up straight. Repeat on other side.

SCRUBBING THE FLOOR
Start on hands and knees, hold sponge/scrubbing brush with both hands. Holding your stomach in, reach forward as far as possible and then return to starting position. Keep stomach engaged throughout, relax neck.

Using one of your cleaning trigger sprays or bottles do 10 x bicep curls on each arm. Bicep curl - hold trigger spray/ bottle and squeeze into shoulder.

USING THE STAIRS
As you move upstairs, use the stairs to do 2 minutes of step exercises. Take your vacuum cleaner with you to work those arm muscles.

Lead with the right leg for 1 minute and then the left leg for 1 minute (i.e. 1st min start on right leg first, 2nd min start on left leg first).

CLEANING THE BATHROOM
Shoulder press against bathroom wall. Facing the wall, with both hands high against the wall lean into the wall, bending your elbows and then extend back to starting position. 10 repetitions then rest, then do another 10.

Keep stomach engaged throughout, stretch up as high as possible and press hard to clean

VACUUMING UPSTAIRS
Do some more walking lunges across the length of the room every time you step forward moving the vacuum backwards and forwards.

Take a step forward keeping stomach tight and shoulders back. When back knee almost touches floor push weight onto front foot and stand up straight. Repeat on other side.

www.mollymaid.co.uk/workout