Kinect Dance Central: Downloadable Songs

As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, my family loves playing Dance Central on our Kinect. It's a really fun way to get exercise. In the past, we've been reluctant to do cardio because it's so boring. But this game has pretty much solved that problem for us. I've played it for hours at a time and before I knew it, I've burned hundreds of calories. 


We've played through all the songs multiple times, so now we've started downloading the new songs to add to the ones it came with. You use Microsoft Points to buy additional songs for the game. The new songs are about $3.00 each, but I figure we'd spend a lot more than that if we went to an arcade and played games for 30 minutes. And I know we'll get more than 30 minutes out of each song we download. Plus it's ours to keep forever, and if it works the same as the Rock Band games, then we'll be able to play them in Dance Central 2 as well. 


Since I don't follow music as closely as I used to, I don't always recognize the new songs by their names. I have to search the web looking for the song so I can see if I like it. I'm always wishing someone would make a list of all the downloadable songs with links so I don't have to go looking around for them. Well, since nobody else seems to have a list, I figured I'd make one for other people to use. So here is my list of Dance Central DLC as of March 2011:


Dance Central Downloadable Songs **

• "Because of You" by Ne-Yo
• "I Got You Dancing" by Lady Sovereign
• "Temperature" by Sean Paul
•  “I Gotta Feeling" by The Black-Eyed Peas
• “Word Up!" by Cameo
• “Whoomp There It Is" by Tag Team
• “Girls and Boys" by Blur
• “Disturbia" by Rihanna
• "Control" by Janet Jackson 
• “Heard ‘Em All" by Amerie
• “Le Freak" by Chic
• "We Run This" by Missy Elliott
• "Super Freak" by Rick James
• "Weapon of Choice" by Fatboy Slim   (added March 15)
• "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani   (added March 15)
• "Turnin' Me On" by Keri Hilson   (added March 15)
• "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul   (added March 15)

** I have no desire to violate any copyright laws. I know that Youtube removes any videos that violate copyright laws. Thus if a video is permitted to stay on Youtube, I assume it must be permissible. If anyone from Microsoft reads this and would prefer if I not post links to these videos, please let me know and I will remove the links. I am a simply a satisfied Kinect customer who wishes to help other Kinect customers find DLC they may enjoy. 

Best Sore Throat Remedy I've Found

hEver since I was in high school, I've had periodic sore throats due to a condition I have called post-nasal drip. I've been to doctors about the sore throat, and they prescribed various inhalants to prevent the sore throat. None of the inhalants seemed to help though. Often my sore throat would get bad enough that I needed antibiotics to get over it. 


I had about given up on finding a remedy when I stumbled across a type of tea that supposedly comforts the throat. I figured it wouldn't cure me, but at least it might make it feel a little better. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that not only did it make my throat feel better, but it also made the sore throat go away AND it seems to be preventing me from getting more sore throats! 


Yogi Honey Lemon Throat Comfort, Herbal Tea Supplement, 16-Count Tea Bags (Pack of 6)


It's called Yogi Honey Lemon Throat Comfort Tea. After years of dealing with sore throats, I was thrilled to finally find something that actually helped. Then for some reason, our local grocery store decided to stop carrying it. For a time, I had given up hope. I was concerned that I'd go back to getting regular sore throats again. Then I was thinking about how you can buy just about anything on Amazon.com and I thought "I wonder if they have my throat tea". Well, sure enough, they had it. I've been ordering it from Amazon ever since. I haven't had throat trouble for years and I'm convinced that this tea is the reason. 

Workout Routine for a Busy Schedule

lancing family, career, and bodybuilding can be very challenging. I've come up with a system that works for me, so I thought I'd share it. My focus right now is building muscle, so I am not doing a lot of cardio at the moment. In March I will be changing my priority to trimming fat, so I will be doing more cardio soon. But here is what I've been doing for the past six months or so.  


I workout three times a week. Two of those workouts are at home and one is at the gym. I let my gym membership expire this year in an effort to save money. I've found it's cheaper to pay for a day pass if I'm only going once per week. Each workout focuses on different muscle groups for the most part. Since I only go to the gym once per week I use it as an opportunity to mix up my workout routine so that I keep my muscles guessing. 

First Workout: Chest & Triceps:

Warm up

Flat Bench Press

Dips

Incline Flies or Flies Machine (gym only)

Incline Bench Press

Tricep Overhead Extensions or Tricep Cable Pulldown (gym only)

Close Grip Bench Press

Second Workout: Biceps, Abs, Back, & Forearms

Warm Up

Preacher Curls

Sit-Ups or Abdominal Crunch Machine (gym only)

Wrist Curl & Reverse Wrist Curl

Deadlifts or Back Machine (gym only)

Pull-Ups (gym only)

Standing Curls (with back against wall)

Third Workout: Legs, Shoulders, Traps

Warm Up

Light Squats or Heavy Squats (gym only)

Overhead Press or Overhead Press Machine (gym only)

Incline Front Shoulder Raise

Seated Leg Extensions

Side Lateral Raise

Barbell Shrugs

These workouts are not set in stone. I try to keep things mixed up from one week to the next. I'm always throwing in various other things and rotating which workout I do at the gym. I also rotate between higher weight and higher reps. I think I've been making successful gains doing this. I've added 50 pounds to my bench press in the past six months. My goal is not to compete in a bodybuilding competition. But for someone with a family and a busy work schedule, I think I'm doing pretty well with this routine. 

Gym Equipment Hogs

Has this ever happened to you?

I just hate it when I'm at the gym and someone is monopolizing multiple machines at the same time. I understand that sometimes people like to do super-sets, but they need to remember that they don't own the place. This sort of behavior seems to be more common when the gym is relatively empty than when the gym is full. These equipment hogs realize they can't get away with it when there's lots of other people around. I actually saw a guy rotating between four different machines one time. 


I've learned that usually the best way to deal with this is to talk to them about it politely. Rather than just jumping in and exchanging dirty looks, say "can I use this while you're on the other machine?" More often than not, they'll give in and agree to let you use it. If they're being really stubborn about it, you could talk to a manager. But I would probably just let it go. Unless they're a regular at the gym who is always hogging the equipment. But typically it seems like it's the guests who have bad gym etiquette. The regular attenders are usually more polite. 

Why I Use Protein Powder

I use protein powder for several reasons. The main reason is because it's a convenient source of protein. We know that protein is essential for repairing muscles after a workout, but it's a hassle trying to whip up a protein-rich meal all the time. It takes about 30 seconds to mix some protein powder with water and drink it, whereas making a meal may take 30 minutes. I also like using protein powder right after a workout because it's a fast-digesting concentrated source of protein. 


There are two types of protein I like to use. The main one I use is whey protein.  There are several reasons I like whey protein. For one thing, it seems to be less expensive than other types of protein. But the main reason is because it's the best kind to use when you exercise. I like to have one scoop before each workout and two scoops after the workout. I used to use soy protein, but I heard about the possibility of soy causing an increase in estrogen levels. I don't know if that's true or not, but I decided it wasn't worth the risk. Plus soy protein tastes terrible and whey protein tastes pretty good. My favorite is the Delicious Strawberry flavor of the Gold Standard brand.
Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard, Delicious Strawberry, 2 Pound

As I mentioned earlier, there are two types of protein I use. The other type of protein I mentioned is called casein protein. Casein protein is the slowest digesting type of protein, so it's the best kind to use right before bed. Most of your muscle growth occurs while you sleep, so it's good to have protein in your system while you're sleeping. Since casein protein is slow digesting, it stays in your body longer throughout the night. I only use one scoop of this protein per day, so I don't go through it as fast as I do the whey protein. I prefer the Gold Standard brand of casein protein as well. 

Optimum Nutrition 100% Casein Protein, Chocolate Supreme 2 Pound

Recipes For Losing Weight

We got this book for Christmas and I thought it was worth mentioning. It gives us a lot of healthier alternatives for things we already eat. Most of the foods we've tried taste pretty good too. 


Cook This, Not That!: Kitchen Survival Guide


The recipes are easy to follow and there are colorful pictures. But what makes this book unique is the way it provides the calories for a meal and compares it with a similar meal using more traditional ingredients. The differences are impressive.I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for ways to eat healthier. It will help you lose weight without giving up taste. 


These are the chapters of the book. As you can see there is plenty of variety:

1. The Truth About Your Food 
2. The Eat This, Not That! Kitchen 
3. Breakfast 
4. Appetizers & Small Bites 
5. Soups & Salads 
6. Sandwiches & Burgers 
7. Off the Grill 
8. Pasta 
9. American Classics 
10. Ethnic Dishes 
11. Sides, Snacks & Sauces
12. Desserts & Drinks  

Kinect - A Fun Way To Exercise

I got a Kinect for my birthday and I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun it is. Not only do I love playing it, but it gets me exercise as well. I normally dislike doing cardio, but when I'm playing my Kinect I'll do over an hour of cardio without even realizing it. It comes with Kinect Adventures, which is a decent game. My son enjoys it more than I do.  


I bought Kinect Sports a few days after I got the Kinect. I really enjoyed playing that one. Especially bowling and boxing. Later I got Your Shape Fitness Evolved and I have to say I was a little disappointed with that one. I've probably played it for less than 4 hours and now it's just sitting on the shelf. My 4-year-old got Kinectimals for Christmas, and he loves it. It's clearly a kids game though. Not for adults. 


Our favorite game is definitely Dance Central. I'm not a dancer, but I love playing that game. It has a calorie counter you can use while you're doing the songs. I'll play that game for a long time and before I know it I've burned hundreds of calories. I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a fun way to exercise. 

Eat Like a Bodybuilder

In Bodybuilding, how you eat is just as important as how you train. Many people go to the gym faithfully but then neglect their diet. Here are some good foods for building muscle and trimming fat:

BodyBuilding Foods:

• Eggs and Egg Whites
• Cottage Cheese
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Steak
• Fish
• Whole Wheat Bread
• Oatmeal
• Whole Wheat Pasta
• Vegetables
• Almonds
• Natural Peanut Butter
• Sweet Potatoes
• Flaxseed Oil
• Fish Oil
• Brown Rice
• Milk
• Lowfat Cheese

To build muscle you need a good mix of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs. It's also important to drink a lot of water and get lots of sleep.

Vitamin D deficiency

I've recently become aware of the importance of Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to all sorts of problems. Among other things, insufficient Vitamin D can lead to fragile bones and it can increase the risk for cancer.

One of the primary ways we get Vitamin D is from sunlight. The body creates Vitamin D when exposed to the sun. Living in Ohio, I don't see much sun during the Winter. That's why I started looking into foods that contain Vitamin D. Here are some of the foods that are high in Vitamin D:

Vitamin D Foods:

• Salmon
• Eggs
• Milk
• Mackerel
• Catfish
• Soymilk
• Fish Oil
• Herring
• Trout
• Shrimp

There are others, but these are among the highest. As you can see, most of them are seafood. So a good rule of thumb is to make sure you are getting seafood in your diet. Also, if you are a vegetarian, you may want to consider taking a Vitamin D supplement because there are very few plants that contain this vitamin.