Saturday, March 18, 2006

My weight loss story (Bill Herren)

DDR Dance Dance Revolution and Weight Loss - Play a Game and Lose Weight?


What is dance dance revolution?

It is a game played using a television, a game console, the DDR software, and a dance pad.
The ddr game is played on a mat or platform with 4 arrows pointing in each direction (up, down, left, right) and four arrows on your tv screen that will scroll or overlap. When they overlap then you hit the corresponding arrow on the mat with your feet all while listening to lively music.

Dance dance revolution was started in video arcades but I feel the real weight loss benefits are going to be achieved now that it can be played in the privacy of your own home.

How expensive is DDR?

That is one of the beauties of dance dance revolution for home. You probably already own a TV and maybe even a playstation or similar game console. But even if you don't own a playstation everything you need can be purchased for approximately $300.00! This is much cheaper than many stationary bikes or elliptical machines.

How did you learn about dance dance revolution?

As part of my job here at weightloss-articles.com I subscribe to many newsletters and breaking news alerts, read many magazines, and research everything weight loss related. In one weeks time I received two breaking emails about weight loss studies with ddr and also came across one article and many many weight loss testimonials. This lead me to start researching to bring this information to our readers.

What are some of the claimed weight loss achievements?

In researching dance dance revolution weight loss achievements I came across testimonials from users claiming anywhere from 5 to 95 pounds of fat loss! I am a skeptic, especially when I read a claim on a site that is selling products, however, when I find message boards full of real people claiming weight loss I tend to believe it more. It just makes sense – if you enjoy it and do it on a daily basis you will burn more calories!

Who is DDR for?

DDR is for people who want to lose weight but who have not found a cardiovascular exercise they enjoy enough to stick with. Overweight children who love video games will benefit greatly from ddr. Dance dance revolution is for the people who enjoy dancing, music, moving, and a good challenge. DDR is also for anyone who is bored to tears with a treadmill, exercise bike, or elliptical machine. Most importantly it is for people healthy enough for exercise and who have been cleared by their doctor.

Conclusion

I believe that if your exercise and eating routines incorporate something you enjoy then you will more than likely succeed in your goals. My cardiovascular exercise of choice and a great passion in my life is mountain biking therefore I find it easy to do and want to go ride anytime I get an opportunity. When I heard of dance dance revolution or ddr I became very excited because I know many people will benefit from this and achieve their weight loss and fitness goals simply because they will feel the same way about ddr that I feel about mountain biking. If you think it is something you will enjoy, can do on a regular basis, and will stick with then by all means give it a try. DDR is creating a craze and a community of people willing to share stories, success, and experiences. Let us know if you have a dance dance revolution weight loss story you would like to share with us.

As always, I wish for you the best of health,

Bill Herren is the webmaster for http://www.weightloss-articles.com Top weight loss site! Weight loss articles, success stories, product reviews and much more! Every thing you need to reach your weight loss goals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Herren


Friday, February 10, 2006

Think Thin to Lose Weight

Your battle with weight might have begun in your childhood, as you attempted to find out how many cookies you can eat in one sitting. Or maybe it occurred around the time you step foot on college campus for the first time. Those late nights of studying might have led you to late-night binge eating sessions. Or maybe you gained a good amount of weight after the birth of your first child, and seemed to be stuck with it ever since. Regardless of the cause, weight gain is a serious matter. It affects your energy levels, your stamina, and your overall health. Obesity has been linked to numerous diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.


Once you determine that you are overweight, the first step to a thinner you is to make a commitment to bring your weight under control. This can be a daunting venture. In essence, you have conditioned your mind to think like a fat person, rather than a thin person. In order to reverse this mindset, you need to learn to think like a thin person.


What exactly does this mean? How does a thin person think? To begin, it means that you must abandon your preconceived ideas about food and eating. Eating might have become a social event for you, and as a result you'll need to learn to become sociable without food. This is the same struggle that alcoholics face as they learn to socialize without beer or liquor. This lesson is tough, and yes it can be difficult, but try it and see the results for yourself.


Thinking thin or rather thinking like a thin person also means that you need to develop new coping strategies. You might be viewing food as your friend, the one you turn to when things aren't going well. You might also be eating in secret, because feelings of shame arise as to the amounts of food you eat. You need to sync your public persona with your private persona, and your diet should do so as well.


A significant number of thin people exercise without even noticing it. Activity is a normal part of their day. The same thing needs to be true of you. You need to exercise as much as possible; let it become second nature to you. Don't allow it to become a chore, let it be the fun part of your week. Take an inventory of your preferences. Whether you like tennis, bowling, badminton, or running, choose the activity that best represents your style. Then exercise diligently, preferably six times per week. This will boost your metabolism so that you burn fat at a faster rate.


Also, if you have any fear of exercising, overcome it! As an overweight person, you might find exercise to be frustrating, and you might fear what other people will think of you as they watch you exercise. You should realize that chances are no one is paying attention to your exercise routine. Don't let fear get in the way of progress.


Thinking thin also means controlling portion sizes. This can be difficult, especially when eating out. However, the key to effective weight loss often lies in limiting the amount of food you intake, and the first step is portion control. Consider using smaller plates in order to control your food portions, and to ensure that food portions are not too large. Also realize that thinking thin does not happen overnight. It can take a long time to develop your thought patterns and changing them can be a challenge. The important thing to remember is to take one step at a time and keep in mind that your weight loss will not happen instantly. It will sometimes take months of hard work to reach your ideal weight. However, the good news is that once you get into the habit of thinking thin, it's a trait you can benefit from throughout your life. The difference between a fat person and a thin person is not just a matter of the body, but of mind as well. Once you realize that, you will be well on your way to accomplishing your weight loss goals, short term and long term.