When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with Dance Dance Revolution, aka DDR. I spent countless hours at the arcade, perfecting my moves and trying to beat my high scores. It was a great way to get some exercise and have fun at the same time.
But as I got older, I found myself with less and less time to play DDR. I missed it, but I didn’t think there was any way I could fit it into my busy schedule. When I finally decided to make DDR a priority again (both for fitness and for entertainment) I realized that the arcades were phasing DDR machines out. Most of the arcades either didn’t have a DDR machine at all, or if they did, the prices had skyrocketed from 25 cents for 5 songs, to 75 cents and $1 for 3 songs. Fucking YIKES.
So then I discovered the ultimate solution: buying my own arcade DDR arcade machine.
Yes, that’s right. I tracked an arcade down who was willing to part with their machine in Anaheim, California, and after a short roadtrip and a chunk of cash leaving my bank account, I became the proud owner of a DDR Extreme machine, that is now sitting in my garage. And let me tell you, it’s one of the best investment I’ve ever made. Not only is it a great way to relive my teenage years, but it’s also an amazing workout.
Over the past few years I’ve stopped playing (combination of a messy garage and a freezing cold garage here in the PNW), but as I’ve been struggling with sticking to a workout routine recently, I’ve decided that I am going to commit to a daily DDR workout. Whenever I play DDR I can FEEL my body getting stronger and more toned, so it’s kind of a no brainer.
For those who are unfamiliar with the game, DDR is a rhythm action game where players step on arrows on a dance pad in time with the music. It requires fast reflexes, quick thinking, and a lot of energy. And boy, does it get your heart pumping. Promise me when I say you will be sweating like crazy after just a few songs!
But the best part about DDR is that it doesn’t feel like exercise. It feels like you’re playing a game. And that’s what makes it such an excellent weight loss exercise. When you’re having fun, you don’t even realize how much energy you’re expending. And before you know it, you’ve burned off hundreds of calories.
Of course, playing DDR isn’t the only thing you need to do to lose weight. You still need to eat a healthy diet and get enough rest. But if you’re looking for a fun and enjoyable way to get some cardio in, DDR is definitely worth considering.
I’m going to go out of my comfort zone and start recording and posting some of my DDR workouts to my TikTok (starting today!) and I’ll follow up with my progress as I go!
So if you’re like me and you miss the days of playing DDR at the arcade, I highly recommend investing in your own machine. It may seem like a silly purchase, but trust me, it’s worth it. And who knows? Maybe one day you’ll be able to beat your high score from when you were a teenager!
