Total Sports

Total Sports – Know the Score
Published at DK Canada

About the book

From the best known to the most obscure, and covering all 33 of the Olympic sports beginning with the early Greek games and going to present day, this is the ultimate guide to the world's many sports.

Dynamic photography brings the subject to life, and works together with clear explanations and artwork to describe fields of play, equipment and clothing, teams and players, rules and tactics, key techniques and common terms, while outlining the geographical range, history, and major competitions for each sport. Fact boxes highlight key information including star profiles, record breakers, and top tens, as well as the weirdest facts, most bizarre moments, and sports' most colorful characters.

My Thoughts

Do you have a child who eat, dream, and enjoy sports?   Well this book is definitively for him or her! 

Clearly presented with stunning photos, graphics and detailed information, each sport will give you the basics to understand it.   I find this book perfect for the Olympics as my kids and I enjoy watching it on television every two years.    This book will provide much needed information on understanding how to sport is played and the goals behind it.

The book will cover a variety of sports included in the following categories:

• Team sports – Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Volleybal and Netball, Football, Rugby Union, Australian rules, Ice Hockey and Field Hockey, Cricket and more.
• Racket sports – Tennis, Table Tennis and Badminton, Squash, and more.
• Track & Field and Gymnastics – Sprinting, Distance events, Jumping, Throwing, Weightlifting, Gymnastics, On the Floor.
• Target Sports – Golf, Curling and Bowls, Ten-Pin, Snooker and Pool, Archery and more.
• Water Sports – Swimming, Diving, Rowing and Kayaking, Sailing, Windsurfing, and more.
• Combat Sports – Boxing, Wrestling, Judo and Ju itsu, Karate and Taekwondo, Fencing and more.
• Winter Sports – Skiing, Snowboarding, Bobsled and Luge and Skeleton, Speed Skating and Ice Skating and more.
• Horse Sports – Horse racing and Polo, Snow Jumping and Eventing
• Wheels and Motors – Formula 1 and Indycar, Rallying, Motorcycles, Drag Racing, Cycling, Mountain Biking and BMX, Skateboarding and more.
• Extreme Sports – Free Diving and Cliff Diving, Skydiving, freeride Mountain Bibking and Ultra-Running and more.
• Olympic Games – Olympic history, Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games.

It was interesting to discover sports that I haven’t heard from like the Netball for example.   This game is based on the Basketball but seems to have a ball similar to Soccer or Volleyball.    This book is packed with information on various sports.  All you have to do it turn the pages to discover them!

Total Sports if available at your favorite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending this book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

EA Sports Active 2 UPDATE

EA Sports Active 2
Created by EA Games

This morning I started the second phase of the nine week training on EA Sports Active 2.  

I didn’t have the motivation as we got up early yesterday morning for some time on the lake fishing and such.   I was overtired yesterday evening and when I woke up this morning I felt as though I needed more sleep…

But duty calls as I have to homeschool the kids and we have a visit at a fire station at 1pm.

So when my husband left for his contract downtown, I went in the basement and started my training session.

The first thing I have realized is that the number of reps were higher.   Before I was doing jump for 65 times now it is 80….  Should I mentioned I had to stop a couple of times?   I think my whole body was still sleeping.    This morning my training was mostly based on basketball which I enjoyed but there was also running as well as muscle toning.    The reps for muscle toning also went up a inch from 10 to 12.    The only bug I have found so far is that when doing some of the muscle toning exercises, my training mentions the bands when I have selected the weight.   Personally I prefer the weight that’s why I chose those instead of the elastic bands.   But the programming doesn’t seem to register this and the talking still mentions the elastic bands…   No big deal I guess.

The only exercise I had trouble doing was the bend arm side plank holding for 20 seconds.   Somehow it is always put before the cool down and by then my energy level is majorly depleted.   So every once in a while I can do it but today I just couldn’t perform what was asked.   

So far I have not registered weight loss but I know that my muscles are tone, that pants are slightly bigger at the waist and that I can run to catch up on my kids.     I only started tracking the food last week so I am not expecting to see results right away.  

I will continue to update on my journey with EA Sports Active in the next couple of weeks.     Phase two has started and it will take about three weeks to complete it.

EA Sports Active 2 is available at your favourite store, even amazon.ca. It is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the Wii.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

EA Sports Active 2

EA Sports Active 2
Created by EA Games

About the product

EA SPORTS Active 2 with Total Body Tracking features an innovative wireless control system powered by motion sensors in leg and arm straps that provide complete freedom of motion.

It also feature a heart rate monitor that provides constant on-screen monitoring, allowing users to capture intensity and optimize performance over time.

Users are able to track and share their workout data online through automatic uploading from their online connected console to their personalized EA SPORTS Active profile.

EA SPORTS Active 2 with Total Body Tracking makes working out simple, fun and effective wherever you are.

More details at http://www.easportsactiveonline.com .

My Thoughts

This little jewel will bring you more than seventy exercises and activities to help you get in better shape and develop more endurance in the long run.   It includes foundational exercises like squats, lunges, and bicep curls as well as cardio exercises like mountain boarding, basketball and boxing.    You can also add challenges in your routine by incorporating the Wii Balance Board.  

The built-in heart rate monitor is fabulous!   It will capture the intensity and optimize your performance over time.   Simply strap it on your left forearm and voilà! 

The first time I use the EA Sports Active 2, I was pathetic…   I was able to complete only 56% of my routine.   I was discourage but not to the point to drop it.   The second time, I did a bit better – still I realized that I was out of shape.    Only 70% of my routine was completed.   That was also the time where I enrolled in the 9-week program which is providing a total body conditioning using progressive challenges everyday.   But I think I had set one of my options too high.   So the next day I decided to lower one of them and proceed to attack my routine half expecting that I won’t finish it.

Well guess what…. After three days of working out with the EA Sports Active 2, I was able to finish my routine this time.    It was challenging but I did complete it.   I was so proud.  Since then, it has been two weeks I am using the EA Sports Active 2 four times a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) and I am not planning to stop it.    I have seen the progress I am doing and I am encourage to pursue my journey toward being more fit.   I do it for me but also for my kids.    I know that I am overweight and I need to loose some of the extra pounds.    A couple of years ago I was able to loose about 39 pounds.   Since then I took a few pounds but this week I have seen that my efforts on the EA Sports Active is getting there.   I am shedding some pounds.  Yeah for me!

I have done the mountain bike, soccer training, basketball (first time this week), and even mountain boarding which is a challenge in itself when you do it on the Wii Balance Board.

When you start your training, you will know exactly what you will go through during your routine.   Every new exercises presented to you are done with a little video explaining how to do it.    Once you have mastered the exercises the videos won’t show up automatically but you have the possibility to return to them anytime you want.    You can also use the elastic band or some weight if you want to.    Personally I prefer having the weight than using the elastic band included in the package.  So far, I have having a blast doing my exercises.   I will admit that there are days that I wake up and don’t feel like doing it but I quick my covers, get up, dress up and go in our basement to do it.    After my routine, I feel energize and hit the shower…  I also find that I am more at peace during the day with the kids when I exercise on a regular basis. 

I love the encouragements as well as the tips that my trainer keeps giving me.  Part of me almost wishes that my Phys Ed teachers would have given the kind of tips that she tells me during my routine.   It would have been nice to know more about how to breath and such when I was in primary and high schools.   Oh well….  

I am on a journey and I know it won’t happen in a day.   Consequently I am planning to continue my training on the EA Sports Active and give you an update in a few months.    Oh and if you decide to embark on a similar journey with the EA Sports Active 2, I strongly suggest that you bring some water with you.  You will need it believe me!

EA Sports Active 2 is available at your favourite store, even amazon.ca.  It is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the Wii.  

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Go Trybe

Are you ready for some exercises?    Willing to spend about 20 minutes to pump up and get in shape with the help of enthusiastic trainers?

If so come and join us at GoTrybe… you will be amazed by this online service for your homeschool kids.

For the purpose of this review, I was given access to the ZooDoos which is geared fro kids from Kindergarten to grade Five.   There are also two other options with Trybe180 for grades 6 to 8 as well as nextrybe for grades 9 to 12.

But what is GoTrybe?   In simple terms it is an online fitness and nutrition community that would delivers daily fitness, nutrition, wellness, and motivation content to your children.

On of the first things you will have to do after you register for GoTrybe will be to create you avatar.   An avatar is a character that you can design to represent you.   Having four kids in the family, they all wanted to have their own avatar.   I think it would be fantastic to have a family avatar and design a group of avatars together to represent us.   At first we were switching from one to the other but at one point I got tired of doing this… and we selected an avatar for mom instead.   You can change the skin color, hair style, hair color, facial features, clothing, accessories and more.   Eventually, you can add upgrades and options like special shoes, pets, and outrageous hairstyle for examples.

Once you have selected and dressed your avatar, you can choose your daily workout.  The first item you will select will be the warm up.   Then the cardio section will contain three selections.   At the end you will have to ass a strength and a flexibility elements.  The total of time spend for the level we were at was about 22 minutes or so depending of our selections.    For each categories (warm up, cardio, strength and flexibility), you have numerous choices of videos to choose and mix together.   In the end, you can have a variety of training session for your kids.

I was very curious about this service and to be honest with you I am quite impressed with it.   I only wish that we have more space in our living room…  The kids are always enthusiast to do exercises with GoTrybe.    When I tell them we will do it today, they ran upstairs to change in workout clothes – even my three years old follow the lead of her older brothers…   Below are some pictures I took of the kids doing some sessions on GoTrybe.   As you can see the first set of pictures show the two sofas in the living room.   The space is manageable but a bit tight for four kids.

One day, one of the sofas had to get repaired… (long story but I will tell you that it was covered by the warranty!) Our space dramatically changed for the GoTrybe session as you can see.   The kids had much fun to exercise and to have fun at the same time.   I find that my two oldest kids were more dedicated in following the instructions than my two youngest but all of them enjoyed GoTrybe.

After you complete your fitness workouts, answer the daily nutrition, wellness and motivational questions correctly, you are awarded points.   The points are used to rank users on the site and can be spent on clothing, accessories, or customization of you avatar.

My kids enjoyed discovering Zoodoos from GoTrybe and have a blast every time I put it on.  Here’s some comments that my oldest have written about it.

I think that it is fun and a great way to move your body.  We (my siblings and I) really like that we can buy things with points.   My little sister who is 3 wants to make sure that we get some earrings and necklaces.   She also insist on the color PINK!

Now that I have picked your curiosity for this online fitness and nutrition community, you must be wondering how much does it cost right?   Well, first of all you can try it for free by using the GETFIT promotional code.    This will gives you access to GoTrybe for one day.    Personally I would prefer to try it out for a longer period than that like a week or even a month.   But it will give you an idea on how GoTrybe works.    Once you decide to register, the one year membership is 19.95$ (apparently regularly it is 39.95$).  

In a nutshell, the service is innovative and will make the kids get up and move.    The leaders on the video provides interesting information about nutrition as well.    The price is reasonable for the one year membership.    I would tend to consider it at 19.95$.  However, if it would go back to the regular price, I would not consider purchasing this service as I think it is too expensive.     As homeschoolers, we have to consider where the money goes in our yearly budget.    I would even suggest that GoTrybe consider putting a homeschool price as well as the possibility to put a group of avatars available for homeschoolers.   It would make it more fun to dress up avatars for all my kids I think.  

Disclaimer: Thanks to GoTrybe for sending me to above mentioned products for review purpose through the TOS Homeschool Crew. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.