Possibly a good change...

[havix]

I was thinking...After a few weeks of playing DDR alot, I know I will be able to move around a bit easier and have more stamina. So I was thinkin' I would go out and try to find some strap on weights that you can put on your ankles, and will probably change results in play. I know my friend wore 20-pound weights on each ankle and he lost about 3 pounds that week from just walking around the school.

I don't know, what do you guys think?

[abrannan]

Weights on extremeties are good for slow motion workouts, like walking around school, but for faster speed workouts, like DDR, you run a much greater risk of over extending and injuring your knees. If you feel the need to strap on extra weight to play, either use hand weights (your arms don't move that much when you play) or belt weights.

[urbanjunglekitten]

I dunno . . . I think it would be a better idea just to kick up the intensity you're playing at . . . better coodination and more stamina will allow you to play at higher and higher levels of intensity. Cardio is the best way to lose pounds IMO; you should really just involve weights if you want to tone. It would be better to set up a separate time from your DDR for toning so you don't accidentally drop a weight on your foot or break the pad or strain your muscles from not being able to move as quickly as you can without the weights.

If you do decide to get ankle weights . . . don't go with 20 lbers. Maybe 3 - 5 lbs, but no more until you build up your leg strength. Twenty pound weights is asking for a torn muscle or ligament, especially if you're playing DDR. Then, you won't be able to play at all, which is no good for your weight loss goals.

UJKitten

[havix]

Yeah I'm not talking about starting with 20 pounds, I was thinkin just like 5 pounds max to start with. But personally, I don't want to play ALL heavy songs for an hour, if Im workin out I will only play standard and a few lights. But I dont know, was just thinking

[orb]

I don't think a light weight would be that big of a deal. Think of it as shoes vs. barefoot. I play barefoot, so playing with shoes in the arcade would be like adding a few pounds as ankle weights.

However, in the long run the effect will be minimal on weight loss. You'd burn a few extra calories, but it won't be a lot. You could probably measure some net effect over a very long time period, but it won't be much. Because you can't really increase the weight much over time, you won't really be able build any additional muscle, which would give you some real weight loss benefit.

[havix]

Well actually at home I play with shoes on, I really do not like playing with out shoes. But I hear what you are saying. I guess I could just keep playing on standard for long periods of time to build stamina and gradually implement some heavy songs into my workout. Since I usually am a pure heavy player (at the arcade). In one hour I cannot play straight heavy....yet.

hen I say I play with shoes, it is because I own a Cobalt Flux Metal Pad...www.cobaltflux.com.