{"id":3606,"date":"2011-08-07T14:31:43","date_gmt":"2011-08-07T18:31:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.calvertgames.com\/cgblog\/?p=3606"},"modified":"2011-08-07T14:31:43","modified_gmt":"2011-08-07T18:31:43","slug":"mel-b-%e2%80%93-week-1-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.calvertgames.com\/cgblog\/2011\/08\/07\/mel-b-%e2%80%93-week-1-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Mel B \u2013 Week 1 Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Sunday when I started Get Fit with Mel B<\/em> I was at 178 pounds. One week later the tale of the scales weights out at 175 pounds. I\u2019m not sure how much of this is attributed to Mel B or the running; I think the three tacked on short runs last week were nice fat burning boosters. Either way, if Get Fit<\/em> is close to being accurate, I can attribute 1606 calories over 8 days and across 9 workout sessions to Mel B. That is an average of 178 calories burned per session, which would otherwise turn into beer fat.<\/p>\n

The good news is that I made it a week, and as I just mentioned, I can actually see (via the scales) some real progress. When I got up this morning I could actually feel some of my muscles burning, in a good way; especially my upper arms and shoulders. Mel B is asking me to work out long neglected muscles I didn\u2019t even know I had in the first place.<\/p>\n

I have to say that after a week, I am enjoying Get Fit<\/em> enough that I am going to add in some arm and ankle weights, and I am even going to give step aerobics a go. I\u2019m still not ready to spring for a fit ball or resistance band; maybe one day.<\/p>\n

Pros \u2013 Wonderment and Joy<\/strong>
\nWhile I wouldn\u2019t recommend Get Fit<\/em> to Trophy whores<\/a>, at least not the US version, it is cool to see a Trophy pop every now and again as I do the various routines. As silly as it sounds, the Trophies do provide some added motivation, but at the same time they can be a little frustrating (see camera + Move support below). I have actually picked up 22 bronze Trophies, good for 32% complete.<\/p>\n

I really enjoy the combat workouts; mentioned the solid upper body burn feeling earlier. I also like the variety, but at some point, if I ever master<\/em> the exercises, I could see the workouts getting a little stale.<\/p>\n

Cons \u2013 The Not So Good Stuff<\/strong>
\nI really don\u2019t like doing some of the exercises with a Move in my hand. Besides the fact that one of my Move controllers will get all sweaty, hot, and bothered, it is just not fun to hold the Move for a lot of the exercises.<\/p>\n

At times the camera + Move do not track movement correctly. There are instances where I am 100% convinced that I am doing an exercise correctly, but Mel B rates me with a low rep count and a low score. The game does not rate me well at jumping jacks; seriously \u2026 not sure what gives with this one because I can<\/em> in fact do jumping jacks. From the competitive standpoint (yes, Virginia, I do want those Trophies) this can be a little frustrating because it keeps an otherwise Gold medal performance from being rated as such.<\/p>\n

While Get Fit<\/em> does track some overall statistics, I wish your daily (plus daily, monthly, and yearly) history was tracked. I want more stats, graphs, and charts. Show me how I am doing day-over-day, and track my progress with each exercise (high, low, and average scores, along with calories burned). If this were added to the next version or DLC, I would buy it.<\/p>\n

Day 4<\/strong>
\nMel B presented me with a 30 minute dance workout. I started to switch up and do a custom exercise because I hate the dance stuff. I look like a drunken idiot flailing about; nothing graceful about my dance moves, but I digress.<\/p>\n

I mentioned earlier that the camera + Move does not always track your movements correctly. In the case of dance exercises, this is a good thing because I can sort of, kind of, mimic the moves. If I had to precisely match the elegance and grace of Mel B, I would have to throw Get Fit<\/em> on eBay.<\/p>\n

My 30 minutes of dancing torture was good for ~174 calories. I would have told Mel B this workout was too easy, but she never asked. Bitch! I think you may only be prompted with the too easy, just right, and too hard options if your workout is rated higher than your last workout of the same type. Or maybe you have to do better than your best workout. Need to explore this further.<\/p>\n

Day 5<\/strong>
\n30 minute fitness burned 200 calories. I followed the workout by doing a 15 min kickboxing workout, which was good for 100 calories. I even picked up a Trophy because I am at the 1000 calorie mark, which I suppose is good for a Christmas dinner. It would be cool if the game had a Miller Lite counter.<\/p>\n

Day 6<\/strong>
\nMel B gave me a 30 minute combat workout; I burned 190 some odd calories, which was good for my first gold Trophy (90% rating; in-game Gold Medal). This was by far my best workout; only reason I did not get rated in the upper 90% was because the camera + Move did not track two exercises correctly.<\/p>\n

I followed up with a quick, but short 1.5 park run, which should be good for another 100 calories.<\/p>\n

Day 7<\/strong>
\nToday\u2019s suggested workout was another combat routine. Just for the heck of it (and because my arms felt like dead weight) I decided to switched goals \u2013 general fitness (healthy heart), and sports (general sports). I ended up doing an invigorating 30 minute cardio workout, which was good for 202 calories.<\/p>\n

This was my second best workout; also another in-game Gold medal. I think the key (for the most part) for the camera and move picking movements correctly is to be in a naturally lit room; no overhead lights or table laps that are in direct view of the camera (i.e. indirect lighting).<\/p>\n

I topped off with a 2 mile park run; slow burn, 9.5 minute miles<\/p>\n

Day 8<\/strong>
\nFelling a little bit lazy, I decided to go with a 20 minute custom fitness workout, which burned 165 calories. I thought about adding a follow-up combat workout, but I think I will see if I have anything else in the tank for a short afternoon run.<\/p>\n

Moving Forward \u2026<\/strong>
\nAs mentioned at the beginning, next week I am going to add some ankle and wrist weights. I know this will provide more resistance, so I am curious if it will also boost the calories burned per workout.<\/p>\n

I am also going to look into add some step aerobics, which should give me some more variety.<\/p>\n

If I can make it a solid second week, I should start closing in on 170 pounds, not to mention there is a Trophy (Driven) for showing the dedication to two solid weeks of exercising.<\/p>\n

\"Share\"\/<\/a>\n