Hello, and welcome to a new feature from Xbox Kinect Fans! Each week we’ll be highlighting someone from the community or the website who is using their Kinect to add a little fitness to their life (as you can probably tell from our fantastic title). In addition to talking a little bit about themselves, they’ll fill us in on a game or an activity from a game that they’ve been using to work out, with information about what they like or don’t like about it. If you’d like to get involved for a future edition or would just like to add some thoughts, please let us know in the comments or by emailing Nick@xboxkinectfans.com!
Kinecterciser: Nick DePetris, managing editor of Xbox Kinect Fans
What’s up with them: In high school I was always involved in a ton of sports. Since I’m a competitive dude, sports were a great way for me to get a lot of exercise without thinking much about the fact that I was getting it. Since leaving college’s intramural fields, I’ve become… pleasantly plump. Then, after a delightfully delicious fall filled with Thanksgivings, Christmases, and delicious, delicious beer, I noticed that I’d been putting on a little weight. OK, more than a little weight. I’m not huge by any means, but I definitely have a some room for improvement. Hopefully, with some help from Kinect, I’ll soon have some more room in the waistline of my pants as well.
I started of this year resolute in my desire to use Kinect every day, but quickly fell off the bandwagon after a couple of way-too-intense Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 workouts. That game can HURT! As February turned towards March I decided it was time for a rebound, and have been easing myself back into it with games that emphasize fun movement over pure exercise. As I build myself up a bit I’m going to try to transition back to fitness games, but for now I am feeling better than I have in a while. I’ve even shed a few pounds!
What they’ve been playing: Dance Central 2. Most of the time DC2 doesn’t even feel like working out, even though I always break a sweat. While I am a little dubious of the game’s built-in calorie tracker, I do appreciate its inclusion – if only as a symbol of progress. I also love the crew battles, which inspire my inner gamer by giving me a clear objective to work towards. I’m currently dancing my way through the game on Easy, but have plans to kick it up a notch once I’ve taken down the infamous Glitterati. The one downside I’ve encountered is that it’s sometimes hard to figure out where I’m going wrong with a move, even after taking a closer look in Break It Down mode. Overall though, Dance Central 2 is one of my favorite Kinect experiences, and it’s a fantastic way to get a workout without it feeling like work. As someone who hates gyms and any sort of non-competitive exercise, that’s pretty much all I can ask for.
And now, a health tip from a pro: According to Science Daily, “It is hard to distinguish between being thirsty and being hungry, so try drinking water and waiting 20 to 30 minutes to see if you’re still hungry.” Check out the article for a lot more information about the health benefits of staying hydrated!
We want this feature to be a chance for everyone out there who wants to lose weight (or stay in shape!) to have a community of like-minded folks to talk to. It’s good to have comrades-in-arms. Leave a comment if you’ve been doing some “Kinectercise” or have been thinking about trying it. And let us know if you’d like be featured on Kinectercise!
