It's hard to believe I'm already in the throws of week three of the EA Sports Active challenge. I learned a lot after last week's trials and tribulations, so I decided to step it up a bit this week.
I took to Target and purchased a fancy resistance band that included handles and all, and as backup, I also got a box of three bands offering different resistances. I got all excited to take my upper body exercises to the next level, but as soon as it got to bicep curls with upright rows, there was zero communication between the Wii and my movements. What had I done? I was still holding the Wiimote and nunchuck in the same position.
After many attempts and putting new batteries in the Wiimote (by this time I was halfway through my workout and was getting really frustrated), I decided to take the basic band I purchased and put it on the black handles which were included in the workout — so it looked exactly like the red one except with a stronger resistance band. Bingo, that seemed to work just fine. But now that I'm catching on to the exercises fairly quickly, I am easily irritated when the game tells me I'm moving too fast and it won't pick up a signal with my Wiimote. Has anyone else had this happen? The Wii sensor was on the top of my TV, so I even tried moving it down to see if that would help.
To keep reading about my experience with the Challenge this past week, just read more.
I can't say I feel like the pounds are shedding off, but I do feel stronger and my muscles feel tighter. Since there's a bit of a delay between each exercise, I try to use that opportunity to run longer, or do more reps of each exercise. I've started ignoring the calorie counter since it still goes up when I'm not doing anything (like having Wii sensor issues). I can say, it's one of the few at-home fitness regimens I don't dread doing.
Wondering how the Green Pixels group is doing this week? Check out their progress!
Buti
Urban Decay
Missoni
I am almost done with my 30 day challenge and I have dropped a size. The game can be super frustrating at times. I also try going faster cause at this point I know the moves by heart but the game doesn't like you going faster. I think it wants you to go only at it's pace which seems a bit slow sometimes. I have also noticed that some lunges will take awhile and then it will speed up. Maybe it is me moving the remote a certain way. I yell at it a lot.
We tried
switching out the resistance band but found it to be too tight to do some of the moves and we just put the red band back on. I have been using some small weights. It works fine for me.
1I tried using 8 pound weights instead of the bands, and the program had difficulty catching on... sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't work... The lunges are brilliant though!!
2I have been doing Wii EAS Active for a little over a month (I preordered mine!) and I love it. I have done plenty of strength training in the past, and I can tell you every fitness guru that's helped me says that you MUST do your reps slowly and controlled. I absolutely go with the pace of the game and I never have problems with the Wiimotes or timing. You have to go slow for the exercises to be effective. One of the things I see in the gym ALL THE TIME, is people flying through their reps and using momentum to complete the set when, if done correctly, you don't need 5 milliion reps, just 3 sets of 8-12 reps does the trick, and this is what EA Active does. I believe if it says you're going too fast, you probably are. Try slowing down and holding the move at the top and bottom. The calorie counter is perfectly accurate for me according to what I've calculated, but I have noticed that all of the lunges hold LONGER on the left leg than the right. I've timed them, had my husband time them and even used a stop watch to time them - the left leg lunges are longer. Another tip: I DOUBLED the red band that came with the game. I saw that 3/4 of the band was always on the floor between my legs because I stand so close to the ends of them, so I doubled it, looped it through the handles and it works great. It's more resistance and I hope it will take the strain off the band itself as I've heard that people are breaking them.
At the end of my "daily" workout, I add at least 25 of the sports activities and continue for close to an hour of calorie burning. I usually average between 300-400 calories burned. I hate lunges and running but I love bumps, sets, spikes - tennis on the balance board, batting (all working the core!) and the standing twists and knee crunches. I put together several custom workouts and love doing them! I made some fun workouts to do with my kids, so after my daily workout, I have my kids join me. They haaaaaaaaate the exercises, so the "sports only" custom workout is what we do. Great fun!
3I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has weighed in on this. I just ordered both a Wii and the EAS hoping it would motivate me better to stay active while I'm studying... I'm glad people have had such good results. I'm excited to start!
4I use regular resistance bands with mine with thick handles. If you hold the wii remote flat against the handle, with the front facing the tv and your thumb in between the A and 1 you shouldn't have a problem any more. I was getting extremely frustrated until I really watch hand position and haven't had a problem since.
5funny I was having problems with the bicep curls and upright rows too!! I had done them before on previous days and had no problems for some reason the past two days the thing kept telling me to lower my arms. Really frustrating! Also, the inline skating every time I jump when it says it doesn't give me the point!!! I get frustrated and put skip this exercise.
when I tried using one of my other resistance bands with hands it felt too weird while trying to hold onto the remote and nunchuck so I just use the one it came with.
What I do love is that if I don't do the workouts on the days scheduled on the calender I feel so bad and lazy. Soooo it makes me workout. I didn't pay $60 for nothing.
6Im enjoying the work out so far but to be honest ive skipped some work outs and when you look at the calendar and see five rests days it makes you really disappointed in yourself. I haven't lost a pound, nothing fits differently but i do feel stronger.
as for the annoying delays of the game they drive me insane! sometimes i get the whole hold still and point remote bla bla crap sometimes i dont i have no clue wut goes wrong...
i do really enjoy the game and i love making up my own work outs like dance work out and tennis work outs lol
7Mine keeps telling me I'm moving too fast. I'm only on Week 1 since I just got the game, but I've lost a couple pounds so far, even after having a slice of the key lime pie I made last night.
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