Long time no see! I have been out of the country having possibly the time of my life. Sadly I am back and have a severe case of the Post Holiday Blues. What has this got to do with my post? Well, it actually has a direct
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| I am actually quite upset I found this picture.. | . |
A few years back, I left college and was not sure what to do with myself. So I spent a year in Vancouver, Canada. I loved it, a lot. So much so that upon coming back to the UK, my 36" waist and 16st (or 224lbs to the Americans) was catastrophically obliterated into the realms of 48" waist and... 21st (294lbs) purely due to a bit of the blues, and a sudden comfort in having seconds of seconds.
Now although I am 6' 4" and on paper, I COULD possibly get away with sounding like a rugby player, I am ashamed, heavily. Since then, about 2005, I have tried many different ways to throw out the comfort eating and exercise in a manner that will show results and also allow me not to get bored.
Now, I have owned my own mini-gym, I owned a cycling machine, I owned a rowing machine, I had a collection of free weights during University. I currently have a heavy resistance band, I have signed up to 3 different gyms, I ran on a regular basis. How much do I weigh now? 19st (266lbs).
I remember when the Wii Fit came out, and I was genuinely intrigued, not only was it on a games console (yes I am THAT geeky) but it actually suggested it could help me achieve my ever important personal goals. I did not invest, but stayed in earshot of any products that may have become available. As time went on, we saw Workout Guru slapping their name on products for the Wii and of course with Kinect and Move now available it was almost a knee jerk reflex to do the same. Eventually, I caved.
Before you start having a go about how I should just get out and run, or grow some balls and do it properly I should say... fuck off. To me the idea of exercise should involve some form of enjoyment. If you are working yourself to pure exhaustion, and crying in the process, I personally feel you should look to new methods of weight loss!
You should feel good about the burn, feel good about that extra rep, and certainly not feel bored! So I bought EA Sports Active 2. Now I have used it twice so far, but cut me some slack, I was away snowboarding for a week inbetween! Both times I have genuinely been surprised. Not at the motion tracking, or the fact that it is being backed by David Beckham and Vanessa Williams, but for once, at last, after much MUCH waiting... the Trophy and Achievement system actually MEANS something for a change! Admittedly, I did not want to be awarded for telling the program how unhealthy I had been the day before. But as with any fitness program, I was delighted to be rewarded for burning over 500 calories, and for working out for longer than 1 hour, and for travelling (running/cycling on the spot) for a particular distance, because it all encompassed how much I had done in what amount of time.
"So what?!" you say? To those of us who do struggle with keeping up the exercise consistently, who are tired of heart burn, piles, sucking in to put those once comfortable jeans on, wearing coats to cover the stretched areas on your t-shirt, these "games" might be the answer. They can cost you a one off of up to £70, you will NEVER have to leave the house, the compliments on your efforts are appropriately delivered thanks to the heart rate monitor, you can set up your own workout program or have your "trainer" generate one for you based on time and body parts you wish to work on.
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| By the end of this year, I must shit this fish... in weight... |
I joined a group, only to find myself miles behind! Some had run 25km, some had already burnt over 10,000 calories (yes, there's an Trophy/Achievement for that too), but the joint effort was definitely encouraging.
What I have done this week is set up a workout group of my own. In order to join the group name is '25to0' (get it?!) and the password is the same. It would be nice to see how more of you are getting involved, and if you had any good workout regimes you have made with the game yourself!
Also, I shall let you know if I make my targets. Probably best to put this box of Milk Tray down...
NEXT WEEK: "Godzilla ALMOST Got it Right"
If you have anything you wish to share with me or indeed the readers, feel free
to comment or e-mail me at twentyfiveand0@hotmail.co.uk - Don't forget to check out the What Have I Been Playing pages found on the right! OR Check out my channel at www.youtube.com/ike1luv
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