Friday, January 25, 2013

Just Dance 4 - Review

5 hours.

That's how long i have played this game since Monday, and that is not even including today! I love it, seriously. As much as i loved Just Dance 3, i love this one 100x more. My husband says he really can't see a huge difference in the two but i can. To me, it is worlds different, and super addicting!

So far, here's what i see that is different -

Just Sweat and Just Dance are two completely different categories now, there aren't just sweat points that you can earn, it's a whole new system. You get to choose whole new routines that keep you moving nonstop. My major complaint about the last game was that i would have to stop and choose my next song, so my heart rate was coming down while doing so but this one keeps you moving. Not only are there routines but each one has a theme, there's cheer camp (set to punk rock music), latin dance (world music), and even a kickboxing/martial arts routine. It also chooses your next song based on your intensity. AWESOME. It shows you if you are losing steam or heating up, i love this feature and it really helps me push myself to see how far i can go. Then you get to choose how long your workout will be, 10 - 45 minutes long, and at the very end you get a cool down portion of stretching. They are finally getting that people are using these games for weight loss and have incorporated all these features to help.

The new features don't stop there, that's just how the Just Sweat portion of the game differs from the last game. There are tons of new songs, obviously, and the routines are harder. You also have different goals on every song, not just getting gold moves, it wants you to perfect the dance. This is cool because it's more like a game, it's something to work toward so it keeps you coming back.

This game has also added something called "Mojo" points. You receive points for every song you finish, and points for completing goals. Once you level up with these points, you unlock new features, sometimes even whole new dance routines.

You can buy songs. I love this, love it. When you think you are getting bored with the game, but still want to play it, you can just download more songs for it. I have the wii version and wii points aren't all that expensive so i love it. No need for a whole new game when you are getting bored, just a new song to perfect.

So what's the best part about this game? It's addicting, it's FUN, and it will make you drip in sweat if you want it to. You will laugh at yourself through some routines, and feel like a rockstar while doing others. You will want to workout, without even realizing you are working out, and you will definitely 100% not be bored.


Thursday, January 24, 2013

Recent Diva Happenings

I finally feel like i am 100% back on track. I'm still having battles with my fast good addiction but i'm caring about it and being mindful, i'm actively trying to avoid it and that's what matters. I'm starting to get my workout addiction back and i'm loving it. I think it has to do with all the new workouts and workout gear i received over the holidays, i'm no longer bored with the same old routine!

I finally got sick of weighing in on my wii, and since it was being a little wonky anyways i ordered my first "big girl" scale. It reads quite a bit different from my wii, and not in the good direction, but it's a new start and i'm ok with that. I love how consistent it is and can't wait to put it to good use on weekly weigh ins when i start those back again. Right now i'm in the middle of a 4 week jumpstart challenge to focus on health and not the number on the scale so i won't be weighing myself for another two weeks. After this challenge though, it's on to finish what i started and lose the last 30lbs.

I also started a vitamin regimen, something long over due, and have been feeling way better since then. Unfortunately, even though i did it all the healthy way, losing 100lbs in that first year, and then getting pregnant with twins right away really drained my body and vitamins are necessary for me now. Thanks to vitamins though, i now have energy to get off the couch and workout daily, and they are making these long Chicago winters a little more bearable.

My charting is in full swing. Thought i was joking?? No way ;-)
(PS - I can't draw a straight line, even with a ruler, my husband had to do this for me because i kept messing them up!) 






I have three right now, all spread out over my dining room table. It's hard to eat something bad when you have a bright pink chart staring at you and you know you will have to write it down if you eat it!

I also started my new workouts. I'm in love so far. I received 2 new Jillian Michaels dvd workouts for Christmas and the new Just Dance 4. I have full reviews coming up of them soon, but so far i'm loving them.

I have way more in depth stuff to talk about, but i will save it for another entry. Here's to 2013 being goal year!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Reach For The Sparkly Stars

Happy New Year!

We are back from our Holiday travels finally, and brought back with us the flu. Not the - Lose 10lbs overnight while praying to the porcelain gods - flu but the - I feel like a mac truck rolled over me and i'm coughing up a lung while hallucinating that there are pink bunnies in the room with me - flu. Ah, fun!

Due to this i'm sure i have gained an easy 10lbs. I'm unable to workout, and fast food has become a go to lately. Regardless, it's a new year, and time to reach my goals! So while sick i am figuring out my plan on how i'm going to lose the remainder of my weight (along with that brand new 10lbs, ugh). So out comes my trusty notebook and pen, my poster board, markers, and star stickers. Oh yes, i am a crazy planner. You don't get this far without being crazy prepared and organized! I make lists for everything, if i make a list for it, it gets done. If i don't make a list for it, i will talk about how i need to make a list for it or it won't get done. Drives my Husband absolutely crazy. When i pull out my pen and paper, he practically has to hold himself back from rolling his eyes.

Other than the list, there is...

THE CHART.

You know $#!t has gotten real when the chart comes out. If you visited my old apartment, you probably saw my chart hanging behind my back door, in all it's sparkly star glory. That chart showed countless hours of workouts and good eating, a star for every glass of water, and a star for every day i didn't drink a soda. It also showed a 13lb loss over a 5 week timespan.

#Winning!

Well assuming this nasty flu is letting up by Monday. There will be a new chart on the wall, and lists all over the kitchen. The food scale will be dusted off, and wrappers will be coming off of all the new workouts i got for Christmas.

Operation Goal: 2013 full steam ahead!