Getting Back to the Xbox Kinect is Rough!

Last Updated on May 21, 2023 by Michael Brockbank

I haven’t had the most stellar start to 2022 in terms of fitness. Actually, it’s been a rough start all around, especially after losing my brother. But I got back in front of the Xbox Kinect today, and holy hell did it whoop my ass!

I forgot just how much of a grind it is to play tennis while wearing two pounds on each hand. My shoulders and traps are a bit on the sore side.

Why the Xbox and Not the Gym Today?

As it’s Friday, I usually want to head to the gym. Between my emotional status at the moment and the fact I am in dire need of cardio, I decided to get in front of the Xbox Kinect instead.

I should be OK to go to the gym by Monday, though. I just need a moment to clear my head…not to mention having to deal with setting up stuff for the memorial on Sunday.

I tell ya what, though, you don’t really know just how far you slipped in terms of fitness until you haven’t done anything in about three months and then try to jump back into your routine.

I did go to the gym on Wednesday, so, at least I got a bit of muscle work in throughout the week.

The Plan for Cardio in 2022

The idea is to get some kind of cardio on a regular basis. If I can get back into the habit of what I was doing in 2018, the fat should melt off relatively quickly.

But that’s the rub…getting back to that point.

Anyway, the plan looks like this:

• Monday: Gym by 6:45 am, Cardio at 3:45 pm.
• Tuesday: Cardio at 6:45 am, Cardio at 3:45 pm.
• Wednesday: Gym by 6:45 am, Cardio at 3:45 pm.
• Thursday: Cardio at 6:45 am, Cardio at 3:45 pm.
• Friday: Gym by 6:45 am, Cardio at 3:45 pm.
• Saturday: Do Fun Stuff While Keeping Calories in the Green.
• Sunday: Do Fun Stuff While Keeping Calories in the Green.

Why these times? Because 6:45 am gives me a 40-minute workout before starting work while 3:45 pm is a great breaking point in the afternoon.

Keep in mind, I often don’t have a lot of time to myself from 8 am to 5 pm.

Each session of cardio ranges between 20 to 35 minutes depending on what I do. So, I spend 28 minutes playing the Xbox this morning while I usually play with the Bodyblade for around 22 minutes.

From personal experience, I know how effective this plan is for me to drop weight quickly. The problem I am having is getting in the right mindset. But considering everything I’ve lost since November, it’s a bit difficult.

Still, I need to find a way to motivate myself to get off my ass and get it moving. Otherwise, I’ll start packing on everything I’ve lost over the years.

What Kind of Cardio Do I Plan to Do?

Actually, there are a lot of things I can do to ramp up the heart rate that I find engaging and fun. And that’s key to a successful workout – finding something you truly enjoy. Otherwise, it just becomes a chore that you wind up dreading.

But for the new year, I am adding a few extra things that I want to either get into or am curious about trying.

Oculus Quest 2 VR Workouts

My son bought me an Oculus Quest 2 for Christmas, and I am so looking forward to pitting it against the Kinect in terms of exercise value. At the moment, I have Premium Bowling, but it doesn’t burn a ton of calories. I just find it incredibly fun.

There are plenty of workouts on the Quest 2, I just need to buy them. And a lot of them have subscription fees, which I am totally against Games-as-a-Service.

Still, it is pretty cool to play around with the Oculus, and I plan on writing a review in the next few days for ColoradoPlays.com.

Joining a Sporting Team in Town

This year, I want to get into more social sports in town. Something like joining a team at Topgolf or maybe even a bowling league. I need something that will get me out of the house and socializing.

Unfortunately, COVID makes that a bit difficult at the moment, especially in Denver.

At any rate, I’m looking to see what I can join and whether I can afford to do so. I used to love being on a bowling team, so, I’ll probably start there.

Exploring More of Colorado

After going up to Lookout Mountain for the cover of my book, I realized how close I am to a lot of what makes Colorado beautiful. I’m looking forward to heading up to the mountains more often.

Not to mention that I want to get my bike fixed and take a ride through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. I mean, I only live like three blocks away. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t enjoy nature while on a bike ride.

Seriously, though, there are a lot of things nearby that I truly haven’t explored. And I’ve lived here for 20 years!

Walks Around the Lake

When I bought this house, I walked around the lake quite a bit. Lately, though, I really haven’t pushed myself to do so. It’s a beautiful location, and being so close to the Arsenal, we get a ton of some amazing birds and waterfowl.

Again, I’m only two or three blocks from the lake, so, it’s really not out of the way.

In fact, I’ve done a couple of Instagram pics from the lake, which I thought came out nice. I’ll have to see what I can do in the near future. Though, it’s supposed to snow today and is 26 degrees right now.

The Bodyblade

I really like using the Bodyblade. Every time I pick it up, I envision myself coming up with a kind of dance routine for YouTube videos.

I know, it’s a bit silly. But it keeps me going and trying new things with the device.

Perhaps one day, I’ll toss a few videos up to show you just how many calories I can burn with the Bodyblade and how.

Obviously, the Xbox Kinect

Perhaps the majority of my cardio work is going to come from the Xbox. It’s still one of my favorite systems for burning calories, and I truly enjoy the games I have.

I just need to find that spark that gets me going again.

I’m sure I will. I’m just having a difficult time with things as of late, which is understandable given the circumstances.

Adding More YouTube Videos and Shorts

I am thinking about doing more YouTube videos as well as shorts to share the journey. Shorts are exceptionally great because I don’t have to spend time editing and such in Premiere Pro. I just record and upload…that’s it.

In about 60 seconds, I have another piece of content on the channel.

Sam’s been uploading her Keto journey, and she’s been doing great thus far. So, it’s only fair that I do the same. I just need to remember I want to make them.

I know, I know…this is something else I keep talking about and never do. Or, if I do start making videos, I make a couple and then disappear.

Sounds like someone I know. 😉

Since this is my year of awesomeness, though, I am feeling pretty energized to get more done. That includes everything from fixing this website to doing more on its channel.

We have a lot of fun things up ahead and are toying with the idea of doing Keto recipe videos. And yes, there will be plenty of Gordon Ramsay jokes flying around.

He’s one of my heroes, after all.

Still Feeling Good About 2022…

Despite having a terrible beginning for the year, I still feel positive and confident that 2022 is going to be awesome. Things are still progressing well, and I’m looking forward to what I can accomplish.

We still have plenty of time to make this year one to remember. Well, in a positive manner, anyway.

About Author

Michael Brockbank

Since 2015, Michael has put in the effort to lose more than 80 pounds by gamifying fitness and eating proper portion sizes. He conducts extensive research into various health and fitness products to provide the best answers possible according to his own experience and knowledge.

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