Working out is such a workout, which is probably why I don’t enjoy doing it every day. Exercise is for the strong and the weak, but your heart needs it (either way). Normally, when I hop onto the exercise machine, I zone out in front of whatever’s on TV; since we don’t have extended cable / DVR / DVD options in our “exercise room” (slash spare bedroom), I have to rely on whatever’s live. I tried something bold with my forty-minute workout this afternoon, though. I was stuck on a certain level of Burnout Legends (PSP), so I brought the unit with me to exercise time. Before I knew it, I had been giving my heart and legs a workout for 10 minutes. “This Gazelle must be broken,” I thought. “There’s no way I’ve been working out for longer than a few minutes.” Another ten minutes passed, and I was starting to see that bringing the video game with me actually helped the mindless time pass. I couldn’t beat the level outside of exercise, so I didn’t waste any time not passing the level during the exercise routine!

My particular exercise routine involves a lot of leg swinging (it’s a glider, but not really). My first fear was that I’d fall off, or try to maneuver the virtual vehicle away from the roads (with my tendency to shift my body when trying to make that happen on-screen). I was concentrating so hard on trying to pass that level, I didn’t realize that I had worked up a better sweat than normal. My legs must’ve been moving at breakneck speed, as my mind was engaged in a relatively fast-paced video event. My mind was engaged, my heart was engaged, my fingers were engaged, my legs were engaged… I still can’t believe it happened. I’m gonna try it again tomorrow just to see if it was beginner’s luck. I’d likely feel much safer if I were on a different piece of exercise equipment. As it stands, I can keep my balance relatively easily (which is key). I’m sure this tactic won’t work with every game, however; some activites require a very steady hand. I’m for anything that helps pass exercise time, man.