This is a compensated review from BlogHer and EA Sports Active for the Wii.

Well, I’m just about done with my 30 Day Challenge. I’ve probably done 15000 lunges, runs in places, thrown twice the amount of punches and way too many squats. But you know what?

It was worth it. Even after all the whining I did.

I’m a lazy exerciser. I hate doing it but I know I have to or I’ll never be happy with my body. This challenge though was a great way of making it fun. I didn’t have to go to the horrid gym. It had me doing exercises I never really thought to do and I didn’t get bored with it. Compared to a work out video like The Shred which is generally really the same thing over and over and over. It was really nice to have the variety.

I feel like the difference. The cardio definitely helped, I no longer become winded walking up a few flights of stairs. My legs feel stronger from all the lunges. I feel like I can tell there is a difference in how I look. I even got a compliment saying I looked a bit thinner and well, that’s always nice to hear!

Gripes? We need a wireless nunchuck! You hear that, Nintendo? Then I won’t smack myself in the face while boxing or getting tangled in it. I hope that happens to other people too or I’m just an incredibly clumsy dork. Really, I think it would really help if there were a wireless option.

Overall, I really enjoyed the EA Sports Active. It’s definitely something I will continue to use as part of a work out routine. Only part of it though because Jillian really kicks my ass so I think I’ll have to keep her around. Especially since BlogHer is coming up and dude, I’m already getting invites for cheeseburger parties and the wine! Oh the wine! I’ll work out extra hard so that weekends intake doesn’t count!

So has anyone else picked up EA Sports Active? I’d love to know what you think about it!

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You can also check out the progress of the rest of the BlogHer reviewers and enter to win one of 5 copies of EA Sports Active. There is only 100ish comments last time I checked. There is a great chance you can win your own!

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and EA Sports Active for the Wii.

Here we are starting week three of my 30 Day Challenge. I’m feeling very encouraged because I feel like I’m really starting to see results. The day before my Vegas vacation (June 4th), I picked up a new pair of jeans for my trip. Today, I can slide them down without even having to unbutton them! Although, when I look at myself in the mirror, I don’t feel like I see any difference but obviously, there is and it’s pretty exciting.

As for the exercises, the squats are still killer. I don’t think I will ever like them and I whine the whole time while doing them. I probably waste more effort whining about them than it takes to actually do them. And the lunges, those make me tell my Wii trainer I better have some awesome legs after doing them so often. I’m really enjoying boxing though. It makes me feel kind of like a bad ass except I won’t be feasting on ears or tattooing my face anytime soon, sorry to say. Don’t test me though, I have a wicked right hook.

I think my favorite part so far is being able to do this from the comfort of my own home. I’m not very comfortable in my own skin and huffing and puffing all red faced at the gym makes me feel singled out even more. So this? I can really appreciate.

My big project now will be working on a play list. I can’t do the music the game gives me anymore. I know it’s a silly complaint but I need some music to keep me going!

What do you listen to when you work out?

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You can also check out the progress of the rest of the BlogHer reviewers and enter to win one of 5 copies of EA Sports Active.

A little late due to my dad being in the hospital but better late than never!

Alright so I’m not going to lie, this 30 Day Challenge is kicking my butt. I’m reaaaally out of shape. But the good thing is as I continue to push along, it is getting easier. I’m not breathing as hard as when I first started and not getting tired as quickly so I’m definitely taking those as a good sign. I’ve yet to really notice any changes in my body but then again, I’m rather heavy. I’m not expecting to physically SEE results right away. I’m going to go more by how I feel and how my clothing fits. Let’s talk about dedication now. Who manages to plan a Las Vegas vacation right at the beginning of her 30 Day Challenge? THIS GIRL. I wasn’t about to lose so I packed up the Wii and brought it with me. I did go light on the exercises though because hello, have you walked the Vegas strip?! I mean really, I was ready to cut my legs off from the knees down because my feet and calves hurt so bad. But I’m glad I brought it because even though I got laughed at for bringing a whole effing video game system, my two roomies were interested! Seriously, though that’s what’s so nice about the Wii, it’s pretty small and portable. You won’t see me stuffing an actual personal trainer in my suitcase. 1) because I don’t think they’d like it too much and 2) that’s probably illegal. There is a couple things I’m not really feeling. One being, I’m still having some nunchuck issues (OMG how many times to you hear people say that?!). Sometimes my exercises aren’t registering when I’m doing them and it’s super frustrating. I’ve learned to really watch the demonstrations before doing it myself. If you’re slightly off with positioning then you have the nunchuck issues. My second issue is really just a personal annoyance. My trainer I made is a bit annoying. Her encouragement makes me want to throw my nunchuck at the tv. And then the “you’re going to have to work harder than that” make me throw witty retorts back like “you’re face is going to have to work harder than that”. What can I say, I’m mature. Stay tuned next week for another update!

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You can also check out the progress of the rest of the BlogHer reviewers and enter to win one of 5 copies of EA Sports Active.

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and EA Sports Active for the Wii.

After trying EA Sports Active, I can surely tell you that it really is like a personal trainer. Just because you are not in the flesh, doesn’t mean they aren’t kicking your butt! First off, I really love the built in journal and feel it will be pretty helpful. You can help monitor your food intake and track other activity that you do outside of the game. I weighed myself today and will be able to track my progress through that and I’m going to buy a measuring tape to track inches as well. As for the exercises, I’m not a runner at all. I have jacked up knees and ankles from playing softball for years and one of my exercises is to run/walk in place. My first exercise in and I was already in pain. But what is nice about EA Sports Active is that you can pick and choose what activities you want to do. Since the running hit me pretty hard today, I can choose to do only one running exercise at the end of my next workout instead of the three that were in my exercise list for the day. Kind of neat. What I didn’t like so far is I was having some technical difficulties. I had my leg band and controllers exactly where they were suppose to be but it wasn’t picking up my movements. I don’t know if that was my fault or not but it really was a pain. The game is telling me I’m not doing my squats and I’m like my legs and ass are saying DUDE, I disagree, enough with the squats! My first overall impression is I’m surprised how much this got me sweating. Just because it is a game defintely does NOT mean it isn’t hard work. And I’ll wrap it up with a question: Would you consider using a video game as a form of exercise? Why or why not?

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You can also check out the progress of the rest of the BlogHer reviewers and enter to win one of 5 copies of EA Sports Active.

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and EA Sports Active for the Wii.

Everyone who reads my blog knows I struggle with my weight and body image so when this opportunity popped up, I jumped at it. Today I’ll be starting the EA Sports Active for the Wii 30 Day Challenge.

It’s basically a personal trainer in a box since it makes customized fitness programs for you. AND even better, I won’t have to go to that hateful thing they call “a gym”. I mean, a video game that will make me skinny if I keep at it? Let’s do it!

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Day One

The game is telling me I’m not doing my squats and I’m like my legs and ass are saying DUDE, I disagree, enough with the squats!

Read more about the first day of my challenge.

Week Two

You won’t see me stuffing an actual personal trainer in my suitcase. 1) because I don’t think they’d like it too much and 2) that’s probably illegal.

Read about how I took a video game to Las Vegas.

Week Three

The day before my Vegas vacation (June 4th), I picked up a new pair of jeans for my trip. Today, I can slide them down without even having to unbutton them!

Read more.

Week Four

Well, I’m just about done with my 30 Day Challenge. I’ve probably done 15000 lunges, runs in places, thrown twice the amount of punches and way too many squats. But you know what?

It was worth it. Even after all the whining I did.

Read more.

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Make sure you stay tuned to see how I’m doing with the challenge this month. I’m sure it will be interesting, to say the least. You can also check out the progress of the rest of the BlogHer reviewers and enter to win one of 5 copies of EA Sports Active. Don’t forget to stop by the EA Sports Active official site for more info on what will be kicking my butt this month!