>> |
Anonymous
DDR is sort of like a double-edged sword, to be perfectly honest.
It's a great "starter" for a workout program. You don't get bored as quickly and you feel a bit more of a challenge than you do simply jogging or running. You can definitely see increases in skill so it's not just "higher numbers = doing better".
However, the calorie counters on the workout modes are misleading and usually over optimistic. In an hour on standard mode (my light workout for the day) it claims that I've burned apprximately 725 calories. Simply put, that's pretty unbelievable, considering jogging a mile burns only around 300 (this is also not counting calories you would be burning otherwise ANYWAY, even while sitting on your ass).
There's not much cardio going on in DDR most of the time -- you've got the periods of selecting songs and setting things up where you're just standing there, doing nothing. Sure, the fast songs really get your heart going, but that's about it. Endless mode is a bit of a solution, but still...
I started out doing just DDR. Noticed no weight loss -- but it got my brain switched "on" for exercise. I now do the USMC Daily 16, an hour of DDR, then usually some extra pushups, crunches, and a cool-down. When I have time I go to the park and toss a frisbee around or just goof off.
So, basically, DDR is good to start, but you won't notice much weight loss unless you supplement it with both A) A GOOD DIET! and B)some other form of daily exercise (doesn't need to be something HUGE, just something extra to get the blood pumping more).
|