mamasaysmine

So I began a second 30 day challenge using EA Sports Active last week and have decided to bring you weekly recaps!

The details:
* I completed my first 30 Day Challenge on “medium.”
* I’m doing this one on “hard.”
* In my last 30 Day Challenge, I figured out that a good pattern for me is to work out Monday & Tuesday, take Wednesday off, workout Thursday and Friday and then rest or work out on the weekend, depending on my schedule.  This technically cuts out one workout a week, but is way better for my schedule, so it means that I’m more likely to stick to it. 

Notes from week 1:

* I was most definitely ready to switch from “medium” to “hard.”  Medium wasn’t leaving me as sore or burning enough calories, especially towards the end.  (Note:  in the beginning, I was DEFINITELY sore, so I’m glad I started there.)  My goodness, folks, I think that’s me making progress.
* The main difference so far between hard and medium is that you do each exercise more times… this is great for the stuff I enjoy, but I notice that I’m watching the reps on the stuff I don’t like and counting down to the end. I’m not bored, but, still, I don’t like watching the clock.
* In this second 30 days, I’m not as ravenously hungry as I was before, thank goodness. I think my body is finally accepting a new normal - one where I’m much more active!
* Since I’ve stuck with this, I went out and bought a new pair of workout shoes (which I’ll review later because I think I love them a lot!). Even though this is a video game, it’s a real workout, and I was feeling the effects of having sub-par sneakers. Definitely money well spent.
* Last week, while running, a though flashed through my mind: Maybe I should run a marathon. People, this is crazy talk. The last time I was in a race was 8th grade, and even then it didn’t end well. But, it does say something about the power of exercise to change your thoughts!  

Here’s the short review:

I love EA Sports Active for Wii and think you should go buy one now. You’ll be happy you did.

Want more info? Fine.

What I love:

* The 30 day Challenge (which I recommend to start and get your momentum going) is set up so that you work out 2 days, then rest one day, work out two days, then rest one day. Perfect for me, because if I would take a day off from other routines, it was easy to feel like I’ve failed and then just stop all together.

* There’s no “body test” or “weigh in” like on the Wii Fit. I get discouraged, not motivated, by learning that I’ve gained a tenth of a pound. This kept me focused on being active, healthy and fit, instead of on numbers.

* The Trainer doesn’t say snide things at you if you miss a day or two (compared to the Wii Fit, which reminds you of exactly how much time you’ve missed). Again, for me, this kept the focus very positive.

* The exercises are all laid out for you, so you end up doing activities that you might not choose on your own. (because, I don’t know, THEY’RE HARD!) With the Wii Fit, it’s way too easy for me to stick to what’s easy.

* Each day of the 30 day challenge contained a different set of exercises, so you don’t get into a rut.

* You can pick the level of intensity of your workouts (easy, medium, hard) and change it every day if you want to. (I stuck with medium for the first 30 days)

* You do the whole routine at once, with no stops. With the Wii Fit, you pick an exercise, finish it, pick another, and end up wasting time that way.

* You can play with other people, which is awesome.

* I really got a good workout. Hooray!

What I don’t love so much:

* For some exercises, the position of the Wii remotes is more important than the actual form of the exercise. That’s distracting and irritating.

* You really need a wireless nunchuck, or you’ll be hitting yourself in the face with cords when you play volleyball (and the cords get in the way with lots of other exercises too. really, the game should just COME WITH a wireless nunchuck).

* The boxing exercises are too slow for me (this is the one area where the Wii Fit wins compared to EA Sports Active).

* You need to invest in re-chargable batteries, because you’ll go through them every couple of days. (and if you don’t, the Wii Remote won’t work well and you will swear at the television. trust me on this.)

Here’s how my 30 days went:

Since my emphasis isn’t on losing numbers on the scale, I started the challenge trying on a skirt that is too tight to be worn in public. Ouch. By the end of the challenge, the skirt fits, although not to where I feel like it looks good. Give me another 30 days and I’ll even post a pic, though! My husband totally noticed I was losing weight and firming up, and I definitely feel healthier. I actually packed up my Wii and brought it along on vacation, just so I could keep my momentum going. I did end up taking a week off when I got sick, had company and was teaching an awful summer class, all in the sam week. HOWEVER, it was easy to just pick back up where I left off.

Like I said… I love it. Go get yours now.

I am so very tired.Here’s the thing.  I actually BROUGHT my Wii to spend a week in Nebraska seeing family so I could do my EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge.  (I did NOT have the internet all week, which was both a bummer and totally refreshing) (and not because the internet doesn’t exist in Nebraska.  it does.) And I did it.  Every day.  Faithfully.But I skipped Sunday because we were traveling and I was exhausted.  And I think I’m going to skip today for the same reason.  I’m teaching a summer class at my church with teens and I’ve had to rework my lesson plans every day because the students refuse to talk.  (never in my life have I encountered such a resistant group.  they are very hard to love, especially as I try and entertain them by reworking my lesson plans.  that really irritates me.)So, tomorrow, I’ll try to get back on the wagon.It may require me getting up at 5:00 am.  That makes me sad.But I really want to finish this 30 day challenge.More from the trenches tomorrow. 

I am so sore that it will be difficult to write this post without profanity.

Lucky mama that I am, I got a copy of EA Sports Active for the Wii to test out.  (haven’t heard of it?  the rock you’re living under must be lovely.  but you can read all about it here.) 

Because I am too sore to go into details of the game right now, let me just say that this beats the Wii Fit out of the water. It’s a solid workout, I really enjoy it, and (thankfully) you workout for two days, then take a day off. Even through my pain, I’ve been motivated enough to do extra drills after my workouts (I KNOW! INSANE!).

And I hate hate hate going to the gym, so this is perfect for me. Perfect.

Now I am going to dissolve into a puddle in the floor. I promise a more in-depth review soon, but if you were already thinking about getting this game, do it. Now.