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Fitness Challenge 2013: Jessa's Progress

Walking down the aisle! Harmonixers are joining the Dance Central fitness campaign to work alongside you in using Dance Central and Kinect to reach personal goals. In this series of personal blog posts from Harmonix, we’re sharing what our goals are and how we are using Dance Central to accomplish them!


NAME: JESSA

PROFILE: BRIDE-TO-BE

I'm trying to drop a couple pounds and start getting in shape for my October wedding! Read my introduction blog here.

HOW ARE YOU DOING

Not great, but ok! I’ve been climbing stairs with Christine. I’ve started going back to the gym, where I use the elliptical for an episode of some crime show. I also get off the subway an extra stop from my house and walk home from there. Plus the Friday Fitness Challenges have been great during the brutally cold weather we’re having.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING

Way more motivated than before. I had my first wedding dress shopping trip and there’s nothing like trying on really expensive clothes to get you motivated to look and feel your best! I did okay the first four weeks, but I’m excited to really step it up for the second half.

SETBACKS & SURPRISES

I had a friend visiting for a while, which meant restaurants, junk food, and not much gym time while she was here. The cold has also been triggering bad headaches for me, and I’m completely incapable of exercising through them. Despite these setbacks, though, I’ve tried to make up for it by working hard on the days I feel fine, taking the long way home, and making an effort to eat healthier, homecooked dinners. Go figure, eating fresh, green things helps me feel happier in the winter anyway. Bring on the vitamin D!

FRIDAY FITNESS CHALLENGES

Get Low was my favorite Friday Fitness Challenge until the Kickin’ It Old School Challenge! Some of my favorite Dance Central songs showed up in this challenge (okay, I may have added a couple of my favorites to the list). It’s definitely one I’ll find myself playing beyond that week!

MY PERSONAL PLAYLIST

This is harder than I thought it’d be! There are too many songs I love. But if I had to choose only 10 right now, here we go:

  • Run (I'm A Natural Disaster) by Gnarles Barkley (DC2)

  • Flava In Ya Ear (Remix) by Craig Mack (DC1)

  • Satisfaction by Benny Benassi Presents the Biz (DC1)

  • You Make Me Feel . . . by Cobra Starship ft. Sabi (DC3)

  • Mr. Saxobeat by Alexandra Stan (DC3)

  • Sexy Chick by David Guetta ft. Akon (DC2)

  • We No Speak Americano by Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP (DLC)

  • Bass Down Low by Dev ft. The Cataracs (DC3)

  • Days Go By by Dirty Vegas (DC1)

  • Round & Round by Selena Gomez & the Scene (DLC)

MOVING FORWARD

I’m going to stop snacking constantly (buying this huge box of gummy fruit snacks to keep at my desk was a mistake!!) and drink more hot tea; it’s that cold, dark time of year where I just want to eat all the time. Instead I’m going to try to start bringing my lunch and cut out the high-sodium microwaveable things I usually eat. I’m eating healthier at home, but not so great while I’m at work. Time to get back on track!

We also just moved to the 14th floor of our building, so I’m going to start taking the stairs up to my office when I get back from meetings or lunch, or get in every morning. There’s no reason not to get those extra stairs in!

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

We hear a lot from people who are really hard-core exercisers, who are at the gym or dancing for hours every single night. And that’s great! But not all of us have the time or energy for that, and that’s okay too. Sometimes you have to just take it day by day and find those small ways to add a bit more movement into your daily routine – like taking the stairs, or getting off a stop early and walking home. Maybe you don’t feel like dancing for an hour? That’s fine, dance for 10 minutes! You may surprise yourself and dance longer, or you may be done after 10 minutes. That’s still 10 good minutes of dancing! It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all you “should” be doing. Instead, focus on what you are doing and find incremental ways to do better!

Follow us here in the blog through January and February for all things fitness! Share your own fitness goals and tips with us in the official forums, on the Dance Central Facebook Page, or by tweeting @Dance_Central on Twitter using the #DC3Fit hashtag!