A few weeks ago I agreed to do a review of a new digital body fat scale from the folks over at EatSmart, the EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale.  It’s a nice looking scale, with a nice sleek glass surface with no raised buttons, and a high tech look.  It looks like something out of Star Trek.

I did a full review of the EatSmart Scale after using it for a week or two. My verdict? It’s a nice scale that has a lot going for it, especially if you want to get regular body fat readings (along with other stats).  Here’s a quick look at the scale from my video review:

Giveaway Of The EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale

After doing the review of the scale I asked if EatSmart would allow me to give one of the scales away on my site.  They agreed to the idea, and now one lucky reader will be getting their own scale as well!

I’ll be hosting a giveaway from today until midnight next Sunday in which one winner will be getting an EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale.

Entering to win the scale is extremely easy, and can be done through the Rafflecopter widget shown below.  Here is what you can do to win:

• Comment and tell me why you would like to win this great scale! (Then be sure to click “I did it” on the widget)
• Follow Quick To Fit on Twitter via the widget.
• Tweet about the contest through the widget.
• Like the blog post!

That’s it! Get entering below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Details Of The EatSmart Body Fat Scale

The EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Fat Scale can be found at a variety of online retailers.

Here are a few of the scale’s specs, and what it does:

• Measuring Functions: % Body Fat, % Total Body Water, % Muscle Mass and Bone Mass
• Proprietary Automatic User Identification Technology; Stores personal data for up to 8 users
• EatSmart “Step-On” Technology – Get instant readings with no tapping to turn on!
• Large 3.5″ Blue LCD display with white backlight – Easy to read.
• Auto Calibrated; Auto Power-Off; Runs on 4 AAA batteries (included); 100% EatSmart Satisfaction Guarantee

So the scale will measure your body fat percentage, as well as telling you your body water percentage, muscle mass percentage and bone mass.   It also auto-recognizes who is using the scale when you step on and will automatically tell you your body fat percentage without having to enter any details.  Very quick and easy.

As a reminder, comment and tell me why you would like to win this great scale, then confirm your entry via the widget above!

A few weeks ago I talked about how I was considering jumping in full bore and trying P90X. I had heard it was tough, but when you think about it – so many things in life worth having aren’t easy to achieve.

After considering all the pros and cons and hearing from several P90X graduates (and P90X evangelists!) I decided to give it a try.

I got the class materials a couple of weeks ago and delved into them. The class takes a whole life approach to losing weight, eating healthy, and exercising to become fit. They give you a full nutrition and exercise program when you sign up, not just a workout program.

Nutrition Is Important

One thing that becomes apparent when you watch the introduction video is that the exercise in the course is not  going to help you to be fit by itself. In fact they stress that the diet and nutrition portion is also an integral part of the plan.

Quite honestly I think the nutrition portion is the part that I’m probably going to have more trouble with.  No, not because I’ll find the exercise easy – because I won’t, but because this is usually where my fitness plans break down – on the eating side.  My love of donuts and sweets always seem to do me in.

So I’m looking at the nutrition plans and hoping to carve out some sort of routine so that I can do this thing the right way.  All I do know is that I’ll be going to the grocery store later this week to get some better foods than what we have now.  Lots more protein rich meats like chicken and  turkey, more veggies and fruits.

Last Night’s Workouts – Night Number 1

So yesterday was my first day doing the P90X program.  I followed the nutrition portion of the program pretty well, eating healthy foods all day. I had a salad for lunch, healthy snacks in between and then grilled chicken, broccoli and rice for dinner.   I plan on trying to do the workouts in the morning once I adjust to it, but this week I’ll probably be doing the workouts at night.

Last night I did the first workout, the chest and back workout, and then the ab ripper workout.   Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

I struggled my way through the chest and back workout first.  There are lots of pushups and pull-ups in this routine.  If you want you can modify the pull-ups a bit to use a chair if you’re not confident in your pull ups  – or use bands to simulate pull ups.  I used a chair part of the time as my pull ups have never been very strong.  Something to work on.  I think I was still able to get in a pretty good workout. The pushups near the end I had to modify a bit and do from my knees -   as I started getting pretty tired.  Just goes to show how out of shape I am!

I was able to complete the hour long routine though, despite having to keep my number of reps significantly lower than the folks on the video.    As they say in the video, however, doing less reps when you start out isn’t a problem, just “do your best and forget the rest“.

On several days of the week you’re supposed to also do the ab ripper workout after your initial workout.  So that’s what I started to do.  Let’s just say that I made it through about 3-4 of the exercises in the ab ripper workout before i was complete toast.  I didn’t complete it. I was so sore from the first workout that I was just spent.

I have a feeling it will get better over time as my body adjusts to working out again, but let’s just say it was rough that first night.  The question is – did I miss something in the manual?  Are you supposed to split the two workouts out – one in the morning, one at night?

Sticking To It

So tonight I’ll be moving on to workout two – Plyometrics.   I hear this one is also good but will leave you exhausted. I can’t wait – my tired sore body and all.

At the beginning of 2011 I hadn’t been posting on this site much at all, and I was at an all time high weight for me, over 270 pounds. At 6’4″, I’m a big guy, so the 270 lbs didn’t really look that bad, but I knew something had to change. I wasn’t feeling healthy and I was beginning to feel the strain that the weight was putting on my body.

In January of this year I joined Weight Watchers as a support system to my wife. Over the next few months we both lost weight, and by July/August I had dropped around 30 pounds off of my starting weight. I was ecstatic.

But then reality started to set in. I started getting bored with the program, life started getting stressful and I started to let myself slip into old bad habits. On top of that I hadn’t really stepped up my exercise routine while on Weight Watchers, and I knew I needed to get back on that.

Weight Roller Coaster

This past week I realized that over the past few months  I was starting to gain back a bunch of the weight I had lost this year.  Frustrating.   I know why I’ve gained it back, my eating habits have quickly deteriorated.  I haven’t been exercising.  I know I need to get back on some sort of healthy eating and exercise regimen.

I’m now at around 255 lbs – still down from my high of 270, but nowhere near my goal of 200 pounds.

I need to get back into something that I can enjoy doing and that will get me moving.

P90X Sounds Intense, But Maybe What It’s What I Need

A few months ago I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn, and he was talking about how he was on a fitness kick. He was doing P90X, an intense 90 day workout from Beach Body, that promises to kick your butt and whip you into shape in no time.   At the end of his 90 days, he shared his P90X results. They were impressive to say the least.

…just getting started is the hardest part. At the beginning, it was tough. I could barely do half of the workouts on the DVDs and would constantly drop out in the middle of routines just to rest. One of the mantras of P90X is “Push Play Everyday”, and that’s exactly what I did, and after a while I began to notice that what was once hard was getting easier and easier everyday.Also, I learned that nutrition is more important than anything. What you eat makes up 85% of your results and the workouts and training is only 15%. It sounds crazy, but it’s soooo true.

When I read his results I thought – “Hey, I should try that”!    But then I put it on the back shelf in my brain and didn’t think about it again until this past week.

This past week was when I finally realized I was sabotaging all the results I had seen earlier in the year, losing 30 lbs, and slowly getting into better shape.  I needed to stop my downward slide and get back into it.

So now I’m once again considering jumping onto the P90X bandwagon, and giving it a shot.

P90X Details

I first heard of P90X years ago when it first came out after seeing it on TV.   At the time I wasn’t that interested in it as I was doing another fitness regime called “Body for Life”.  While I still think that program is good, I think I need something a little different now.

So what is P90X all about?  Here are some basic facts and screenshots from the P90X website:

P90X® is a revolutionary system of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts, designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days. You’ll also receive a comprehensive 3-phase nutrition plan, specially designed supplement options, a detailed fitness guide, a calendar to track your progress, online peer support, and much more. Your personal trainer, Tony Horton, will keep you engaged every step of the way, and you won’t believe your results!

Why is P90X so effective?

The secret behind the P90X system is an advanced training technique called Muscle Confusion™, which accelerates the results process by constantly introducing new moves and routines so your body never plateaus, and you never get bored! Whether you want to get lean, bulk up, or just plain get ripped, there’s an endless variety of ways to mix and match the routines to keep you motivated the full 90 days and beyond!

So when you buy the package, you’ll get a 12 workouts on DVD, a nutrition plan, a fitness guide and an overview video to get you started.

The workouts run the gamut from cardio, to weights to yoga.

When you sign up you also will get access to a variety of online support tools, community support and more.

So I’m seriously thinking about jumping in and giving it a shot.

I’d love to get some feedback from others who have tried the program.  How did it work for you?   Did you get the results you were hoping for?  Was it hard to complete?  Would you do it again?  Tell me your thoughts in the comments.

If you’re in a time crunch and want a simple but highly effective metabolism boosting fat loss workout that only takes 15 minutes to complete then this is right up your alley.

Give it a go and let me know how it works for you:

Proper diet and exercise go hand in hand when trying to lose weight. However, I’ve noticed that for many dieters, creating a diet that fits their exercise regimen isn’t always an easy task. The U.S. is well known for giving in to fad diets and fast food, both of which don’t always yield the highest weight loss. To properly attain your fitness goals, you must plan accordingly just as you would for any goal, and there are a few easy steps that can help you create a diet to optimize your goals.

Determine Your Caloric Maintenance

First and foremost, when creating a diet to suit your fitness goals, you must determine your caloric maintenance. When I say “caloric maintenance,” I’m referring to the amount of calories your body needs to maintain your current weight. Calculating your current caloric maintenance will be the key to determining the amount of calories you may consume throughout your diet.

Calculate Caloric Goals

After determining how many calories you will need to maintain you weight, you need to decide if you would like to lose, maintain, or gain weight. If you choose to lose weight you will need to subtract around 500 calories from your caloric maintenance so that you can lose between 1-2 pounds weekly. If you wish to gain weight, you will need to add an additional 500 calories to your caloric maintenance amount. Always remember to factor in the intensity of your exercise regimen as well with calculating your caloric goals. Remember, eating too little or too much while exercising can greatly impact your fitness goals.

Create a Weekly Menu

By creating a weekly menu, you are making sure that your diet adheres to its caloric needs. When you don’t have a structured menu, you risk grabbing meals conveniently at local fast food restaurants or grabbing other high carbohydrate snacks simply to satiate your hunger. Each week I create an exciting menu for myself that will fit my caloric goals to optimize my fitness training.

Drink Plenty of Water

I believe one of the best ways to create a diet that optimizes your exercise regimen is by drinking plenty of water. Many dieters don’t drink enough water while exercising which can dehydrate the body and limit muscle growth and weight loss. Whole house water filter systems and other water purifying systems are a great way to promote drinking water as these systems provide clean, fresh water out of the tap at all times ensuring that you get your recommended 8 glasses a day.

What other tips can you give to folks looking to create a diet that fits their fitness goals?

A while back I talked about how I had bought a Kinect Sensor for the Microsoft Xbox 360.  I bought the sensor because I love checking out new technology, and because I just love playing video games in general.  The Kinect seemed like a bit of a game changer for the video game world, allowing you to control the video games, and the console experience without the aid of a controller.  As Microsoft likes to say, you “become the controller”.

While I was skeptical at first that the Kinect would be able to pull off the controller-less experience, now that I’ve had the sensor for several months I can truly say that I think they’ve done something special – and pretty darn cool – with the Kinect.  It truly is an immersive experience, and it is so easy to use – even for people who aren’t video game enthusiasts.  You know what I’m talking about – the folks that give you a funny look when you hand them a controller – and can’t remember which buttons to push.  With Kinect, they just do what comes naturally, and it just works.

Fitness Aspects Of Xbox Kinect

Since this is a health and fitness site, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fitness aspect of the Xbox Kinect – and to me, this is one of the coolest things about the Kinect.  In the old paradigm being someone who played video games meant that you were a couch potato, and that you never left your seat.   Many of you know what I’m talking about, in fact you may be sitting there eating your Doritos and drinking Mountain Dew as you read this!

Now, with Kinect, pretty much all of the games that you can play are more active than the games in the past because you have to get up out of your seat, and actually move.

Because you’re actually moving, and breaking a sweat, just from the start you’re going to be doing better than you probably were before.  Add to this the fact that Kinect has a pretty good range of dedicated fitness games, and other dance games/etc that will get you even more active – and you’ve got the recipe for something that can help you get more active and actually lose some weight.

I’ve been using the Kinect now since November, and actively using it in an attempt to lose weight since January.  While I’ve been doing it in concert with healthier eating and diet, I’ve now lost about 20 pounds in 8 weeks.  That’s about 2-3 pounds a week!  Not too shabby!    I’m confident that others can do the same as it really does make fitness fun.

Details Of Xbox Kinect Package

If you’re thinking about buying a Kinect sensor and you already own an Xbox 360, here is what you will end up paying – and what you’ll get.

• Kinect Sensor ($149.99)
• Kinect Adventures Video Game

Of course this is only the sensor itself, and one game, Kinect Adventures. While Kinect Adventures is actually a very fun game that will really get you moving (I always break a sweat playing that game), most people find they’ll want to buy additional games.  Below I’ll look at some of the games I’ve found that work best for fitness.

Fitness Games For Xbox Kinect

Here are some of my favorite games for fitness – for Kinect.

Your Shape Fitness Evolved

Read my full review here: Your Shape: Fitness Evolved Review
From Amazon.com: Your Shape Fitness Evolved is a fitness-simulation game for Xbox 360 that is designed to deliver a 3D, controller-free fitness simulation experience like no other. Built around the camera, depth sensors and multi-array microphone of the Microsoft Kinect sensor peripheral,* the game allows for real-time motion capture of the players movements, facial recognition and both voice and interactive menu commands. This combined with Ubisoft’s Player Projection Technology, which enables the Kinect sensor to track up to a million data points on the player’s body, results in low lag and total player immersion in what is destined to be the most challenging fitness-simulation game to date. Additional features include: in-game instructors, multiple exercise classes, workouts created by real experts, progress tracking and multiplayer support.

EA Sports Active 2

From Amazon.com: EA SPORTS Active 2 with Total Body Tracking will include the innovative EA SPORTS Active heart rate monitor that provides constant on-screen monitoring, allowing users to capture intensity and optimize performance over time. Additionally, it will utilize the full body motion tracking ability of the Kinect Motion Camera, providing users complete freedom of motion. Users will also be able to track and share their workout data online through automatic uploading from their online connected console to their personalized EA SPORTS Active profile. 70+ Exercises and Activities – Create unlimited customizable workouts with over 70 exercises and activities to choose from, including foundational exercises like squats, lunges, and bicep curls. Enroll in the 9-Week Program – Designed by certified personal trainers, the EA SPORTS Active 2 9-week program provides total body conditioning using progressive exercise.

The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout

From Amazon.com: The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout is an exercise simulation game for Xbox 360, based on the popular The Biggest Loser television series. Utilizing seamless physical player movements only possible with Kinect for Xbox 360, The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout is designed to evolve along with the player’s exercise routine. Featuring the cast and trainers from the TV show, the game’s 125+ exercises, 2-4 player support via Xbox LIVE, new challenges, customization and more the game provides a fun and healthy exercise outlet suitable for every member of the family, regardless of their weight, physical ability or age.

Dance Central

While this game isn’t specifically a fitness title, it does have a “workout mode” that will track how long you’ve been dancing. It’s a good cardio workout!

Conclusion

I’ve now had the Xbox Kinect for a few months, and my initial thoughts have been that the Kinect is a great tool in the toolbox for people trying to lose weight, and for those who are trying to stay fit.  It offers the opportunity to get up and get active, and offers a variety of ways for people to do that through the fitness games, along with other games that just get people active.

I’ve also got personal experience using the Kinect as a weight loss tool -having now lost 20 lbs using the Kinect and a healthier diet.  If you’re considering getting a Kinect, and using it to work out, I’d highly recommend it.

Have you bought the Xbox Kinect, and have you used it for the fitness games or otherwise?  Are you considering it?  Tell us what you think in the comments!

Read my full review of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved and Kinect Sports.

I‘m always on the lookout for workout routines that are a bit unique, or that don’t quite fit the mold. There’s a new fitness program that was recently introduced in select locations called Dog Boot camp. It’s an exercise program for dogs and their owners. As a dog owner myself, I love the idea!

The program is designed to where both dog and dog owner become active participants, allowing people, along with their canine workout partner, to get into shape while having the added benefit of teaching dogs valuable obedience training that will be a huge help on the home front.

Jill Bowers, the brainchild of doggy boot camp, launched the program along with the help of her sister Jamie.  This veteran dog trainer has now become an expert fitness trainer that is helping people all over get into shape. Fitness is the key but with her program and with her many years of experience with dogs, she has crafted this unique way of exercise through adding in invaluable lessons for dog obedience in conjunction with an effective workout.

How It Works

This program is based in Los Angeles and there, during consultations, the owner is taught a series of commands that are designed to maintain a strict power and command structure. In this program, it’s important for the owner to maintain power and control over their dog during the entire process. This is essential for the dog obedience training as well as making for a smooth workout. The last thing a person wants is to end up spending most of their workout time with a dog that won’t listen. It can be chaotic and messy and nobody wants that.

So far the program has been hugely successful and the people who have applied these methods, devised by Jill Bowers, have found an increase of energy, loss of weight, better fitness and health, and last but not least, a healthy and obedient dog.  Jill writes:

Bootcamp was naturally the next step for us because of the growing number of obese dogs and humans in America. Because the owner and dog are dependent on each other, we know how important good health is for both. Just like basic obedience is necessary to ensure a peaceful home environment. A tired dog is a good dog and a trained dog is an even better dog, so get your shoes on, grab a leash, and come play with us!

Bowers explains that it doesn’t matter what breed or how high-strung the animal. This workout promises results to those who work the program right. Dog health is just as important as human health and everyone wants to get into shape. This may be just the time to do it. Summer’s right around the corner and there’s tons of information and other similar programs available in your area that will help you and your dog get fit.

A couple of weeks ago I did a quick review of the game Your Shape: Fitness Evolved on this site. I talked about how I thought it was a leap forward for fitness video games, and how it was so much better than any other games in the genre that I had tried before. I’ve been enjoying the game, and I’m working my way through a series of Men’s Health weight training workouts, in addition to doing the cardio boxing and even a little yoga. It’s a great game, and it really draws you in every time you play.

Kinect Games Are Great For Fitness

One thing I’ve noticed since purchasing our Kinect is that not only are the dedicated fitness titles good for giving you a workout, a lot of the other games are as well!   As such, I decided to take a look at several other Kinect games that we own, and look at some of the activities that will really get your heart pumping.

In this article today I want to do a brief review of the Kinect title, “Kinect Sports“.

Kinect Sports Review

One of the first games that we bought when we bought our Kinect sensor was the sports title called Kinect Sports. I don’t have a Wii, but some friends have mentioned that it compares favorably to the game Wii Sports, and in many respects surpasses it.

The basic premise of the game is that you can engage in a variety of sports, many of them olympic sports. The game makes it feel like you’re at the summer olympics or something along those lines, and that you’re participating in the competitive atmosphere there. From Amazon:

Turn your living room into a world-class stadium, bowling alley, soccer pitch or track-and-field arena. With “Kinect Sports” you’re not only the star player, you are the controller — through the magic of Kinect for Xbox 360. See a ball? Kick it. Spike it. Even give it a little topspin. “Kinect Sports” features soccer, beach volleyball, bowling, table tennis, track and field, and boxing.

Simple, intuitive and instantly fun, “Kinect Sports” delivers the ultimate party experience — whether you are trying to outmaneuver the goalie to win the soccer match or cheering on your friends at ringside. The first full-body, controller-free sports game, “Kinect Sports” is so real, you will almost feel the wind in your hair as you fly over hurdles and the sand in your toes as you set, bump and spike your way to volleyball victory.

While of course some of the text above is just marketing spin, I have to say I have been thoroughly impressed with the game. It really does feel very natural to walk into a ping pong arena, pick up your paddle and start swinging at the ball. Or if you go bowling to reach out and grab your ball, and throw it down the lane. Boxing? You just punch as hard and as fast as you can at your opponent! It’s extremely intuitive to play, even beginners can get into it no problem!

On New Years Eve we were at a friends house who had just purchased a Kinect for Christmas, and we brought all of our Kinect games with to the party.  We played Dance Central (very fun), Kinect Adventures (another good game for getting active), and of course Kinect Sports.  Of all the games we played, everyone enjoyed Kinect Sports the most just because of how easy it is to play, and the sheer variety of sports you can compete in.

Sports You’ll Find In Kinect Sports

There are a lot of fun activities to keep you moving in Kinect Sports – both the main sports themselves and mini-games.

Sports In Kinect Sports

There are a ton of sports you’ll find in the game. Among them:

• Track & Field:  This one is a lot of fun with running activities, hurdles, javelin, discus, long jump among the activities.  When you compete you’ll basically compete in all of the track and field events, which will give you a combined score at the end.  Some of these activities, especially the hurdles and other running rounds will get you sweating.
• Bowling:  This is a lot of fun, and while it isn’t particularly active it is a lot like going to a bowling alley and rolling a few rounds.  More fun than the Wii Sports version I think.
• Boxing:  The boxing portion of the game will have your arms feeling like jelly by the time you’re done.  When we played this game on new years against each other, we were both exhausted by the time  you’re done – you can really feel your abs tightening and your arms getting a workout.
• Beach Volleyball: You do have quite a few short burst of motion in this volleyball simulation. You’ll have to serve, set, bump and spike the ball as you try to win a game down at the beach.
• Table Tennis: I used to play a lot of ping-pong growing up, and I have to say I was impressed with how accurate this portion of the game felt with the Kinect.  When I would slice the ball, it would slice on screen. When I added top-spin, it would add it on screen.  Amazing!
• Soccer: Another part of the game that will get you moving as you dance around trying to block shots, or swing your leg kicking the ball.

As mentioned, some of the sports get you moving more than others. Bowling, for example, won’t get you to break much of a sweat, but boxing and track and field will for sure get your heart racing.  All in all my favorite parts of the game so far are the table tennis portion and the track and field part.  Both tons of fun.

Mini Games In Kinect Sports

There are also a ton of mini games that you can play in the game – which are based off of the main sports that you play in-game. For example, there’s a boxing mini-game where you have to knock out as many opponents as you can in a short period of time.  This  basically means you’ll be wildly swinging your arms and huffing and puffing by the time you’re done.   For table tennis there is a mini-game that has you hitting as fast as you can and trying to hit targets for points.  Very fun.

So Can You Get A Workout In Kinect Sports?

So the question remains – is it possible to get a workout by using Kinect Sports?  Maybe.  If you’re looking for a weights routine, or a hard core cardio workout – you might want to look elsewhere like Your Shape: Fitness Evolved. But if you want to get a pretty good cardio workout that will get you sweating – and maybe even a little sore – Kinect Sports might be just the ticket.

While it isn’t an all around workout option, Kinect Sports is a good piece to add to the puzzle when trying to improve your health and fitness.  Get up off the couch and get active!

Get more details and your copy of Kinect Sports at Amazon.com

There are affiliate links in this post. If you purchase something through my link, I will receive a small commission. Thanks in advance if you do!

I mentioned last week that I had purchased the new peripheral for the Xbox 360, the Kinect. The Kinect is basically a motion sensing and tracking device that allows you to control your video games without holding a controller in your hands. To me it’s one of the most exciting advancements in gaming technology in years, probably since the Wii came out with the motion tracking Wiimote.

While the Kinect is priced a bit on the high side ($150), after having a week or so with the device I have to say that I’ve been thoroughly impressed and I feel like it was worth it for me. In my few tests so far in using the device it has been extremely accurate in sensing my motion, and the only real glitches I’ve seen are due to the fact that my play area probably isn’t large enough. That is the biggest con I’ve found of the device so far – that the Kinect needs you to have a play area 8×8 feet or larger to really enjoy it to it’s full potential.

So far I’ve got two games that I’ve been able to test out, Kinect Adventures (which comes with the Kinect), and Your Shape: Fitness Evolved – a fitness title that aims to take full advantage of the Kinect’s motion sensing capabilities, and really take the fitness video game genre to a new level. Today I’m going to do an initial review of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved.

Your Shape Fitness Evolved

Before we get too far into the review, let’s start with a quick look at what Your Shape is supposed to be from the Amazon.com description:

Your Shape Fitness Evolved is a fitness-simulation game for Xbox 360 that is designed to deliver a 3D, controller-free fitness simulation experience like no other. Built around the camera, depth sensors and multi-array microphone of the Microsoft Kinect sensor peripheral,* the game allows for real-time motion capture of the players movements, facial recognition and both voice and interactive menu commands. This combined with Ubisoft’s Player Projection Technology, which enables the Kinect sensor to track up to a million data points on the player’s body, results in low lag and total player immersion in what is destined to be the most challenging fitness-simulation game to date. Additional features include: in-game instructors, multiple exercise classes, workouts created by real experts, progress tracking and multiplayer support.

So Your Shape aims to give the player a totally immersive experience where they’re able to actually be in the game, not be distracted by feeling like the game isn’t a real workout and be challenged by a variety of workouts, classes and mini-games.

For me the game so far has done that – when I’m playing it I feel like I’m really at the gym taking a class or getting a one-on-one personal training session. To me it’s probably the only fitness video game (or video) that I’ve done that makes me feel like I’m actually getting a tough workout, the right way. Because of the Kinect sensor, the game also is able to give you correction and make you feel almost like you’re actually working out with a real instructor!

So let’s jump in and talk about what you’ll find in this product.

Playing The Game

When you launch the game for the first time, the first thing it will do is do a quick scan of you to figure out how tall you are, your body proportions and then ask you some simple questions as far as your age, weight and a couple of other data points.  Based off of what you answer – and the body scan, a somewhat personalized workout plan will be created for you.

They say the camera adds 10 pounds, and Kinect has two cameras. So when Ubisoft’s upcoming Kinect title Your Shape: Fitness Evolved put a somewhat stout-looking projection of me on the screen, I shouldn’t have been surprised—especially given that the game’s success depends on players wanting to melt away those love handles (source)

Depending on what your goals are as well you can choose a variety of programs tailored to your needs.  Just had a baby?  Choose a program tailored to new moms.  Trying to drop some weight?  Choose the weight loss regimen.   Toning up?  Choose the toning program.

Menu Systems Very Intuitive

While I was beginning this process the first thing that I noticed was that the menu system for the game is very intuitive.  Basically, the Kinect sensor camera recognizes you, scans you as you stand there and inserts a full body image of you in the game.  Then as you stand there in game if you reach your arms out you are able to choose different menu options with your hand outstretched, and once you’ve chosen something it always asks you to confirm.

I wasn’t sure how well this was going to work when reading about it online, and whether or not there was going to be a lot of lag from when you do something to when it happens on screen.  I have to say I noticed very little if any lag in this game.   I played a couple of other demos, and kinect adventures – and Your  Shape was by far the most responsive of the games I’ve tried so far.

The menus were very easy to use, and after doing it a few times I found I was controlling the game and menus with little or no thought to it. It just works very well in my opinion.

Workout Options

After being scanned the first time, every time after that you’ll be logged into the game automatically, and the in game hostess will welcome you back  with a “good evening” or “good morning”.    Once you’re in the main menu you can do a variety of different things.  First, you’ll see a customized home screen for you, showing how many calories you’ve burned so far and any challenges you’ve got pending with other users.  You can also change your in game appearance or view any news or updates by simply stepping on one of two small  circles in your play area on screen.  If you don’t want to do any of those things, you can simply begin your workout by choosing either “personal training”, “gym games” or

Personal Training

One of the first options you have in-game is to do the personal training – customized training sessions that are tailored to your fitness level and fitness goals that you chose when you first signed on.  To me this is the heart of the game.  For me I chose a weight loss goal and started right in with the cardio workouts.

You can either let the game guide you through workouts, or choose a specific one that you want to do. When choosing workouts it will tell you what it is, how long it takes, and how advanced the workout is.

The first one I chose was a cardio workout.  The clock starts and the game begins by showing you how to do a couple of the moves that will be included in the workout.  The Kinect sensor tracks you and shows you on-screen – and will tell you when you’re not doing the exercise right.   Think you’re going to dog it when working out?  Think again!  The game will recognize when you’re not lifting your legs high enough, or your arms aren’t going up all the way, and will tell you to pick it up and improve.  For example, I was doing lunges at one point, and getting tired.   I started not dipping close enough to the ground. The game recongized that and told me to dip lower.  I did, and felt the burn!

The first couple of cardio workouts that I did were up to an intensity level for me right now (where I’m out of shape) where I felt challenged, but not like I was going to fall over and die. While you’re working out the game tracks the number of calories you should be burning – and will keep track of that for you every time you workout.  While I can’t vouch for how accurate that part of it is (there is some debate about that), I can tell you it’s a useful yardstick for yourself when working out.

The day after doing the cardio workouts I did a brief Men’s Health upper body weights workout (there are several Men’s Health and Women’s Health sponsored workouts in the game).  The weights workout was effective as well, and I found myself getting a great workout, while getting useful feedback from the game when my form wasn’t up to par.  To me, the feedback you get from the game is extremely helpful because it helps you to get a better workout, all while having better form than you might otherwise have had.

I’ve only been doing the personal training workouts for about 3 days now, but so far I’ve been pretty impressed with how much of a workout I feel like I’m getting, and how effectively the game uses the Kinect sensor to improve your workouts.

Gym Games

Another part of the game that can be fun, although I haven’t found it to be overly exerting, is the gym games.   You may have seen some of the gym games on the commercial, especially the virtual smash game (show below)

The games found in the title include:

• Virtual smash:  In this game you are trying to punch and kick as many blocks with your hands, knees and feet as you can before the time runs out.  In more advanced levels you’ll also need to avoid swinging pendulums.
• Light race:  You stand in a circle and have to have fancy footwork in order to copy the pattern of lights appearing on the circle around you.  Reminds me of that old handheld game where you hit the buttons in the same pattern the game does, or you’re out.
• Loop-a-hoop:  You do the hula hoop for a set period of time and try to get the balls lifted and out the hole in the ceiling based on the intensity of your hula-hooping.
• Stack em up:  You hold your arms in the air and catch blocks and balls on a platform as fast as you can, and dump them into holes in the floor when they open up to get points.

The games can all be played with anywhere from 1 to 4 players, one player at a time.  They’re fun, but I can’t see myself playing these games over and over unless we had others over at the house and needed some laughs.

Fitness Classes

There are also currently two fitness classes that you can take in-game.  Yoga training and cardio boxing.

So far I’ve taken one of each class, and they do what they’re supposed to. The yoga class takes you through a progression of yoga moves over the time period, scoring you on how well you do. I’m not a big yoga guy so I can’t see myself doing this too often. I had heard it suggested that you do a yoga routine after working out as a cool-down, and i can see how that might work well, that’s how I did it this time.

The cardio boxing is more enjoyable for me. I did this routine the other day and it does give you a good workout.  My only thing is that I have a hard time following along sometimes – although part of the great thing about this game is that it helps you to fix what you’re doing wrong.   You can see yourself on-screen  and compare to the instructor – and the game tells you what you’re doing wrong.  I love that.

Conclusion

After playing Your Shape: Fitness Evolved for the past few days, I’ve been very impressed with the game, and would highly recommend it to anyone.  Among the high points.

• Great utilization of Kinect:  The game’s use of the Kinect sensor in the game’s menus, workouts and games is done really well. The menus are responsive, there is hardly any lag, and it really does give you an immersive experience.   I especially love how the game gives you feedback and helps correct you when you’re not doing the exercises correctly.
• You will break a sweat:  While the novelty of Kinect will certainly sell the game, the fact that the workouts actually make you sweat will keep you coming back.
• Good variety of workouts: There are a good variety of workouts that will keep you entertained for weeks to come.
• It’s fun!:  The game is just plain fun – never mind the fact that you’re getting a good workout!

The game isn’t without it’s faults.  Some cons:

• You need a large play area:  One of the downsides for the game is that you need a pretty big area to play the game in, in order for it to track you correctly.
• Environment is kinda plain sometimes: The white backgrounds on the game can be kind of plain and vanilla at times.  more colorful backgrounds might have been nice.
• Number of workouts isn’t exhaustive:  Although the game does come with quite a few workouts, the game isn’t exhaustive.  They do plan on releasing more as downloadable content, however.

I’m loving Your Shape: Fitness Evolved so far, and look forward to dropping some pounds using it over the next few months!

Get more details and your copy of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved at Amazon.com

Have you tried out Your Shape: Fitness Evolved?  What was your experience?   Considering getting the game? What’s holding you back? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

There are affiliate links in this post. If you purchase something through my link, I will receive a small commission. Thanks in advance if you do!

I haven’t mentioned it much here, but I enjoy video gaming. Maybe a bit too much, it may be part of what has gotten me into such bad shape – sitting on the couch vegging out all the time. Well now, you can enjoy still enjoy playing video games, but get a workout while you’re at it!

If you’re into video games at all you know that next week the Xbox team will be launching a new peripheral for the Xbox 360 that will allow controller free gaming, motion capture, video chat, voice commands and a host of other  functionality. It’s  going to be called the Kinect ($149.99).  Part of what makes the Kinect so great is the motion capture and controller free gaming that allows a whole host of new options to be opened up – one of them being a great opportunity for new fitness games.  While fitness video games aren’t anything new, what is new is the fact that you won’t have to be holding a controller while you workout – like you do with a Wii or Playstation.  Instead, you ARE the controller.  You can workout along with virtual trainers on the screen, get instant feedback as to how you’re doing and in general feel like you’re getting a true workout experience.

The Kinect hasn’t launched as of this writing, so the jury is still out as to just how well Kinect will work.  Will it really be as immersive as they claim?  Will there be lag time from when the camera picks you up to when it responds?  Will it have a hard time picking you up in different environments?

Initial reports are that the Kinect performs rather well, and I for one am excited at the prospect of controller free gaming, and am interested to see how well these fitness games work.  Will they really be an intense enough workout to lose weight?  We shall see!

Fitness Games For Xbox Kinect

So what fitness games will be available for Kinect at launch? There are 4 Kinect fitness titles that I see on the launch list.  Here’s a quick rundown of them here.

Your Shape Fitness Evolved

Read a full review of the game that I’ve now done. Your Shape: Fitness Evolved Review

From Amazon.com: Your Shape Fitness Evolved is a fitness-simulation game for Xbox 360 that is designed to deliver a 3D, controller-free fitness simulation experience like no other. Built around the camera, depth sensors and multi-array microphone of the Microsoft Kinect sensor peripheral,* the game allows for real-time motion capture of the players movements, facial recognition and both voice and interactive menu commands. This combined with Ubisoft’s Player Projection Technology, which enables the Kinect sensor to track up to a million data points on the player’s body, results in low lag and total player immersion in what is destined to be the most challenging fitness-simulation game to date. Additional features include: in-game instructors, multiple exercise classes, workouts created by real experts, progress tracking and multiplayer support.

EA Sports Active 2

From Amazon.com: EA SPORTS Active 2 with Total Body Tracking will include the innovative EA SPORTS Active heart rate monitor that provides constant on-screen monitoring, allowing users to capture intensity and optimize performance over time. Additionally, it will utilize the full body motion tracking ability of the Kinect Motion Camera, providing users complete freedom of motion. Users will also be able to track and share their workout data online through automatic uploading from their online connected console to their personalized EA SPORTS Active profile. 70+ Exercises and Activities – Create unlimited customizable workouts with over 70 exercises and activities to choose from, including foundational exercises like squats, lunges, and bicep curls. Enroll in the 9-Week Program – Designed by certified personal trainers, the EA SPORTS Active 2 9-week program provides total body conditioning using progressive exercise.

The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout

From Amazon.com: The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout is an exercise simulation game for Xbox 360, based on the popular The Biggest Loser television series. Utilizing seamless physical player movements only possible with Kinect for Xbox 360, The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout is designed to evolve along with the player’s exercise routine. Featuring the cast and trainers from the TV show, the game’s 125+ exercises, 2-4 player support via Xbox LIVE, new challenges, customization and more the game provides a fun and healthy exercise outlet suitable for every member of the family, regardless of their weight, physical ability or age.

Zumba Fitness

Conclusion

I have already pre-ordered my copy of the Kinect sensor, and  since I’ve decided to get back on the weight loss train – i’ve decided to buy one of these fitness games. After looking over the detailed descriptions of each of these games, I ended up ordering a copy of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved because according to the few pre-launch reviews I’ve read it seems to be the one that takes advantage of the Kinect sensor the best.  It has a ton of workout routines, availability of future downloadable content and workouts, and in general just seemed to be the most polished product.

I’m sure the other games will be pretty cool as well.  I was tempted to get The Biggest Loser game because I’ve done their workouts in the past, and was humbled by how tough they were, but I wasn’t convinced they were using the sensor to the best of it’s ability. Zumba Fitness doesn’t appeal to me, although my wife may like it as she’s taking a Zumba class at the gym.  Even though it included a heart rate monitor, EA Sports Active 2 was just too expensive for me to even consider it ($99.99).

I’ll be getting my Kinect Sensor and Your Shape: Fitness Evolved next week, so stay tuned for a full review at that time!

Have you considered buying the Kinect sensor, and would you consider using it for the fitness games that are available at launch?

Read my full review of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved