Recently, I completed the 30 Day EA Sports Active Challenge. It only took me two months to do so. Oh, well…
This game really is like having a personal trainer in a box. (It just doesn’t call you when you miss a session – hence the two month completion time. Also, instead of being priced per session, it’s a one time cost of $60.) On Day 1, I did the workout at high intensity. “I’m pretty fit,” I thought to myself. “I can pretty much so do my Tae-bo workout without breaking a sweat.” Let’s just say that I was so wrong. I almost vomited after the first workout, because I was so nauseous. This exercise system works out muscles that I didn’t even know existed in my body! I did the rest of the program at medium intensity. That was a much better fit. Still, fast kickbacks and squat lifts are not my friends at any level.
Overall, I really liked the fitness system. It took me a couple of days to really get the exercises right. (You really have to pay attention to how the remote and nunchuk are supposed to be held for each exercise.) After that, I had a good rhythm. When we moved to our new apartment, I stopped my workout for a while. Now, I’m back on track and I have finished the 30 day workout. I’m going to do it again at medium intensity all the way through. Then, I’ll start doing custom workouts.
Since I didn’t do the system consistently, I take my “results” with a grain of salt. I definitely feel like my arm, shoulder and calf muscles are more defined. Then again, those areas were my strongest before I started. I still want to work on my abs and thighs. I might be unrealistic, but I want to get back in the shape that I was when I played sports in high school. We’ll see…
More than anything else, I like that this 30 day system mixes up the exercises. It’s never exactly the same set. I think that’s why this workout makes me break a sweat every day – my body never gets “used to” doing the same thing. Also, since I get bored easily, this was one of the few exercise routines that kept my interest. In any event, I’m looking forward to doing the series all the way through (without any unscheduled breaks) in August. I’ll keep you posted!
Meanwhile, these are the top three things that I learned about myself in regards to exercise programs over the last couple of months:
1. Don’t plan to undertake a new program in the midst of major life events (i.e. moving!).
2. Work out first thing in the morning. If I wait until later in the day, inevitably something else will pop up in my schedule. Then, exercise will be put to the side. Also, working out in the morning helps me to make better food choices during the day. Seeing how much work it takes to burn just 100 calories, makes me thinks twice before getting my favorite Starbucks drink. (I’d rather eat my calories!)
3. Get a workout buddy. The easiest time for me to do the system was the (one week) that my husband did it along with me. Although he made my exercise equipment all sweaty, it was a great motivation. I’m working on getting him to start over with me.
What helps you with your exercise program?
(Oh yes, I gave the other system away to a single mom/Mom in the City reader. I gave her 60 days to complete the program. Writing this post makes me remember that I need to check in on her progress…)