The first week of the official EA SPORTS Active 6 week challenge is over and I can report a weight loss, although some if is due to the horrible stomach virus I caught earlier in the week.  Although I had to miss two days of working out, the EA SPORTS Active More Workouts calendar allows you to alter your workout days, so I’ve basically managed to keep up with my scheduled routine.

Tuesday was the first day I didn’t feel well.  Everyone following #EASactive and the #WiiMoms on Twitter thought I was a champ because I still made it through my workout, even with a fever of 101.4, but I believe the workout made me feel better overall- for a little while, anyway.

My stomach problems increased for Wednesday and Thursday (Thanksgiving), so I couldn’t workout for obvious reasons but I managed to get up early this morning and get through my workout for today (which I had set on easy instead of my usual medium).

I can absolutely see what the next five weeks will bring me.  I think anyone who uses this product will see a physical change, but for me it’s so much more than that. 

I know I’ve said this a million times before, but I have bipolar disorder.  Even though I’m being treated for it with the help of my doctor, it seems that sometimes all the stress of daily life takes the occasional toll on me and I find I’m retreating into myself more often than not.

When you’re depressed, it’s hard enough to get off the couch (or out of bed) to care for yourself or your family, and most depressed people would say the thought of getting a workout in is preposterous, but using EA SPORTS Active’s More Workouts is helping me stay on track with my physical and mental health.

If I didn’t have the built in six week challenge to encourage and guide me, I’d be less motivated to get up and work out.  I’d find it easier to make up an excuse and not work out.  That would lead to potential weight gain, which would cause me even more depression.

I’m a very competitive person.  The fact that this product is challenging me to better myself over the next six weeks gives me the motivation to keep at it.  I don’t want to let myself down and EA SPORTS Active’s More Workouts helps me to stay on track.  Seeing the calendar on the screen shows me what I’ve done and I don’t like to see a blank screen.

It also helps that this challenge is something I can take part in online.  There is a huge EA SPORTS Active community (#EASactive) on Twitter, where other people are taking the same challenge and you can follow some of us on the EA SPORTS Active website, so that is great for motivation.

Then there’s The Wii Mommies.  We’ve just formed a new community and have great groups within that community for diet and support, including this challenge.  It’s growing so fast and everyone is so excited to get fit through virtual fitness, each and every person involved helps keep me positive and motivated.

Because of all of this, I’m sticking to my six week challenge.  Sometimes when I turn my Wii on, I have to drag myself across the room to get to it.  Sometimes I don’t give the warm up my all.  But when I start the routine and my personal trainer tells me that she thinks I can do a little bit better, I try a little bit harder (even if I am swearing at her while I do).

Before I know it, thirty minutes has gone by.  I’ve worked up a nice sweat and I’ve forgotten that I was sick or depressed for just that moment.  I have more energy, more drive and more determination.  Granted, with a stomach virus, no one wants me jumping around, but after a few days of rest and plenty of fluids, it’s reassuring to know I don’t have to go any farther than my living room to get my fitness regimen complete!

How’s your challenge going?  Tune into the Wii Mommies Blog Talk Radio Show Friday’s at 1PM EST to talk to me and the other Wii Mommies to hear how we’re doing and we welcome you to call in to talk to us or to chat in the live chat room we have open during the show.  We’re here to support you and we need your support, so we look forward to chatting with you!

Be Sociable, Share!

•