This can't be right: Wii Just Dance

First of all, disclaimer: Wii games are not my workout routine. I'm mainly doing Chalean Extreme.

So the other day, I challenged my 6- and 9-year-old daughters to a dance-off with the Wii Just Dance. I thought it would be a fun after-dinner-and-homework activity. In case you're wondering, I lost miserably.

But! Just for fun, I decided to wear my HRM. For 45 min. of work, it says I burned about 400 calories. Granted, I'm not coordinated enough to get any sort of muscle endurance benefit from the moves, but then again some goes for me in Zumba classes. Anyway, just seems like a lot of calories burned for something that was so much fun.
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Replies

  • icimani
    icimani Posts: 1,454 Member
    I say trust your HRM.

    Just because it's fun doesn't mean it can't be a decent workout.
  • Makeda1211
    Makeda1211 Posts: 134 Member
    First of all, disclaimer: Wii games are not my workout routine. I'm mainly doing Chalean Extreme.

    So the other day, I challenged my 6- and 9-year-old daughters to a dance-off with the Wii Just Dance. I thought it would be a fun after-dinner-and-homework activity. In case you're wondering, I lost miserably.

    But! Just for fun, I decided to wear my HRM. For 45 min. of work, it says I burned about 400 calories. Granted, I'm not coordinated enough to get any sort of muscle endurance benefit from the moves, but then again some goes for me in Zumba classes. Anyway, just seems like a lot of calories burned for something that was so much fun.

    You definitely should trust your HRM, as the game is just as effective as Zumba. It also has the same sneaky way of getting your heart rate up, just like Zumba. And, you never know, it might have just the been a great way to vary your exercise routine.
  • MiTime2016
    MiTime2016 Posts: 50 Member
    That's awesome. I just bought my adult daughter a Wii, Just Dance and the Zumba game, she loves it.
    I think I need to get one for myself for something different.
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    I wear my HRM when I play Just Dance with my kids and I trust that I'm getting the burn it says I am, game or no. There is a lot of jumping and moving around with those games! I know I'm dripping sweat when I'm done.

    And for the record, none of my immediate family can beat me. I am the Just Dance Champion!
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    Sounds normal. I did an hour of it with my kids and had a decent burn.
  • beancurdie
    beancurdie Posts: 85 Member
    Definitely trust your HRM on this one. We have the Xbox/Kinect version and it's killer because it also tracks your foot movements. Over the Christmas break, the boys had me playing it just about every day and I was dying after 30 minutes.

    Have you played (I've had) The Time of my LIfe yet? Hilarious. DH and I had my mother crying with laughter while the boys were completely mortified!
  • Daxton
    Daxton Posts: 17 Member
    I'm totally going to wear my HRM while playing the Avengers: Battle for Earth on Kinect. Of even Rise of Nightmares. I couldn;t believe my HR when I played those games.
  • Just Dance is an AMAZING calorie burner!! I always burn about 400 in 45 minutes! Trust your HRM!!
  • flpmomi
    flpmomi Posts: 117 Member
    I use all the Just Dance games along with Michael Jackson, Black Eye Peas and Zumba on the Wii as my workout. That is why I stick with it because it is fun and I can do it with my daughter, my friends or by myself. Its a great workout without feeling like a workout. I love it!!!!!!! So def trust the HRM!!! :bigsmile:
  • determined2lose89
    determined2lose89 Posts: 342 Member
    Trust the HRM. I have Just Dance 3 and do them when I don't feel like a structured workout. They make me sweat like you wouldn't believe.
  • Angie__1MR
    Angie__1MR Posts: 388 Member
    I LOVE that game!! My 8 year old daughter and I had a dance off last night for about 45 minutes, I kicked her butt!! :) She's a great sport!
  • Definitely trust your HRM on this one. We have the Xbox/Kinect version and it's killer because it also tracks your foot movements. Over the Christmas break, the boys had me playing it just about every day and I was dying after 30 minutes.

    Have you played (I've had) The Time of my LIfe yet? Hilarious. DH and I had my mother crying with laughter while the boys were completely mortified!

    pretty awesome to know my little one loves to play that game now i know i can get a decent work out with it!! I have the kinect version as well
  • sophiek1964
    sophiek1964 Posts: 79 Member
    I wore my HRM once when I did Just Dance 2 and burned 300 calories in 40 minutes. I don't doubt my HRM.
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    Yeah, i burn calories like crazy on the Wii games, sometimes i can get 600 calories an hour! If i dont put in any effort i burn 350 an hour. dance your heart out, i've lost soooooo many pounds on my Wii! I play DDR, with the dance pad, and my calves are like rocks
  • Victoria2448
    Victoria2448 Posts: 559 Member
    First of all, disclaimer: Wii games are not my workout routine. I'm mainly doing Chalean Extreme.

    So the other day, I challenged my 6- and 9-year-old daughters to a dance-off with the Wii Just Dance. I thought it would be a fun after-dinner-and-homework activity. In case you're wondering, I lost miserably.

    But! Just for fun, I decided to wear my HRM. For 45 min. of work, it says I burned about 400 calories. Granted, I'm not coordinated enough to get any sort of muscle endurance benefit from the moves, but then again some goes for me in Zumba classes. Anyway, just seems like a lot of calories burned for something that was so much fun.

    We have it too, and you do burn alot of calories. Doing CLX and using Just Dance for your cardio would be a great combo!
    I love that game!
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    I should wear my HRM when I play Diablo 3 in hardcore mode. When I get swarmed by a giant mob with elites I tend to panic. I'm sure my heart rate is up there in the 6000's ~
  • Itzzie
    Itzzie Posts: 14
    MFP even tracks it at over 200 cal burned under 30 min cardio-general! It is a workout for sure!!!!
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    I should wear my HRM when I play Diablo 3 in hardcore mode. When I get swarmed by a giant mob with elites I tend to panic. I'm sure my heart rate is up there in the 6000's ~

    This is how I feel when I'm about to be kicked from any raid group on WoW for trolling :[

    But seriously, though. I am not a sweater, at ALL, (I'm also not a sweatshirt) and Just Dance is the only time I ever sweat... Haven't played it forever, though.
  • luv_lea
    luv_lea Posts: 1,094 Member
    Last week I burned 50 calories while playing a 10 minute game of air hockey with my son.

    (I was still wearing my HRM so thought what the heck; it was after my workout so my heart rate was probably still up a bit during the game).....But regardless, I counted it.
  • Jay_Jay_
    Jay_Jay_ Posts: 194 Member
    I should wear my HRM when I play Diablo 3 in hardcore mode. When I get swarmed by a giant mob with elites I tend to panic. I'm sure my heart rate is up there in the 6000's ~

    Really? I thought the calorie burn was from how hard you slam your keyboard when the server lags out on you and causes your character an instant death.
  • alimarie53
    alimarie53 Posts: 102 Member
    YES! The calories that you burn playing Just Dance are real! I track them in my exercise log whenever I play. I got it for my daughters (...okay maybe for me too) and we all love it! I can definitely tell I get a small cardio workout whenever I play because I build up a good sweat.

    Extra free calories! Yayyy!!!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Just Dance is pretty intense.
  • shellma00
    shellma00 Posts: 1,684 Member
    I do Wii Just Dance 2, 3, and Michael Jackson Experience and they really do give you a workout. I sweat big time and work hard at it. I log it as Circuit Training. Who says that you cannot have that much fun and burn tons of calories at the same time??

    I also get my 2 kids involved and we try to outscore each other. Its so fun.
  • lyrical_melody
    lyrical_melody Posts: 242 Member
    I just got this for christmas and i cant wait to try it!!
  • cbrrabbit25
    cbrrabbit25 Posts: 384 Member
    i have worked up a sweat playing this game so i dont doubt it at all. hmmm, maybe i should steal my wii back from my mom.
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member
    I do it everyday for fun and to supplement my other workout. I totally got 5 stars on Call Me Maybe. Don't judge me. :-)
  • ladyonaquest
    ladyonaquest Posts: 605 Member
    I got Just Dance 4 for Christmas and I LOVE it!!! It's a two in one dvd and you can play Just Sweat 4, which is the workout segments. In a 50 minute session I burn 600 plus calories!! This is all I have been wanting to do lately because it doesn't feel like I'm working out and I find this better for me!
  • ketchup38
    ketchup38 Posts: 112 Member
    So many of us have been wired to think that good exercise equates to pain and non-enjoyment, that we find it hard to believe that we can have so much fun and burn so many calories at the same time. I remember the 1st time I did a full class at 55mins and burned 590 cals. I was sweating buckets but still couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my hrm reading.......Until the pounds starting falling off again.
    Just to echo everyone else, I'd say definitely trust your HRM. On my Zumba Fitness Core I burn over 600cals easily in an hour based on my hrm calculations. Zumba Fitness Core was such a godsend after Xmas. Phew!
  • victoriannsays
    victoriannsays Posts: 568 Member
    I sometimes do the Just Sweat portion of Just Dance and it is SO much fun and such a great calorie burn. I do it with my 5 year old and we have a great time!

    I was also astounded when I saw how many calories I was burning for all the fun I was having :)
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    I should wear my HRM when I play Diablo 3 in hardcore mode. When I get swarmed by a giant mob with elites I tend to panic. I'm sure my heart rate is up there in the 6000's ~

    Really? I thought the calorie burn was from how hard you slam your keyboard when the server lags out on you and causes your character an instant death.

    *whimpers and knocks on wood* This has not happened yet... but I guarantee my neck will be "toned" from all the headbashing if it does.