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Junior Member
Hey guys! 
I've been reading a lot of the complaints about Your Shape, and the problems that people are having. I've been working out with this game for about two months, so I thought that I'd address some of the problems that I have found solutions for. Like some of you, when I first got this game, I had some initial difficulties. However, through experimentation, I've figured out how to fix a lot of them. Hope this information helps!
DISCLAIMER THINGIE: I did not make this game, nor am I any type of fitness expert or anything. This is just based off of my experience with the game, some fitness research I've done, and how I (personally) figured out how to make the game work best for me. 
WORKOUT ISSUES
Problem A: "I keep just getting the same workouts!
If you are constantly doing cardio, this could be for a number of reasons. From what I've found, if you choose the "burn" option (with any muscle group), this means that the game will give you moves that are designed to burn fat. Hence, the cardio. There is no "magic exercise" to melt JUST the fat on your arms/belly/etc - You simply need to lose weight! This involves doing cardio to help you burn fat, no matter what muscle group you're focusing on.
HOWEVER... if you want to do workouts to help you strengthen/tone a specific area, you should be selecting the "Strength" or "Tone" options when you start your workout. These workouts will give you from 10-15 min. of cardio (in a 30 minute workout) before starting your targeted exercises, in order to get your heart rate up. At first, some of these workouts can be difficult and/or frustrating, so don't be afraid to check out the tutorial the first time you do them.
Problem B: "The game has you rest in between each strength workout!"
Actually, this is a good thing. As I think was cited in the "Answers to the Community" thread:
"The rest period is an important part of the workout. When we were creating the exercises with the help of fitness experts, it was important that we include small breaks as a part of your routine. During any exercise, your heart rate becomes elevated and needs to rest periodically."
When I actually did the exercises correctly, I found that the breaks were definitely welcome. They allowed me to grab a sip of water, and get myself positioned for the next workout.
Problem C: "I can't get to 100%!"
Actually, you're not supposed to get to 100%. If you were able to do that, the workout wouldn't be challenging you enough! From what I've seen with the game, a good workout will result in you having around an 80% to 88% accuracy rating. This means that you're being challenged, and are burning more calories. The goal of this game isn't really to "get to 100%" - it's to help you to have a challenging but effective workout.
Problem D: "Even though I'm doing the workout correctly, it tells me I'm doing it wrong!"
I experienced this at first with Your Shape as well, and it took me a bit of time to figure out. There are several possible reasons why this may be occurring.
Compensation for Camera Lag - If you're watching yourself work out on the screen, there is a bit of lag in between when you move, and when your movement is displayed on the screen. DO NOT WATCH YOURSELF! (I don't actually like to watch myself flop around anyway
) Instead, focus on the trainer on-screen. Time your movements so that they match hers, not so that they match your image on screen.
You're actually doing it wrong
- Some of the workouts are very specific. For example, with step-touch, you should only be raising your arms about the same amount as you see with your on-screen trainer. I kept getting the "Watch those arms!" alert, and I realized that I was raising my arms too high.
Camera Contrast Issues - Since this is a big topic, I've written more about it below. 
CAMERA ISSUES
Probably one of the biggest complaints about Your Shape that I've seen is about problems with the camera. People say that the camera isn't recognizing their movements, or that it's constantly telling them that they're doing the exercise wrong. Here are some ways to improve the functionality of your camera.
Make sure you're the only thing moving.
I have four cats, which apparently love to watch me work out. However, when they run across the background (even if it's barely noticeable), the camera will pick it up, and give me the "Follow Me!" or "Watch those Legs!" alert. Other things that can interfere with the camera's tracking include blowing curtains, children, shifting shadows in the background, and the shadow cast by a ceiling fan. (I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones I've found.
) So, be CERTAIN that you're the only thing in the camera's viewpoint that is moving.
Clear out your background.
The Your Shape camera seems to have a lot more trouble recognizing your movements when your background is full of objects. To best take advantage of the camera, try to work out in a room that doesn't have a lot of clutter, a light/dark window, colorful furniture or other objects in the background. I have a beige carpet, a beige couch and white walls, though I did have to take away two dark-colored throw pillows, an end table and a colorful area rug. This made my camera work MUCH better.
Wear clothing that contrasts with your background.
I can't emphasize this enough. You MUST be clearly contrasting with your background in order for the camera to accurately track your movements (from what I've discovered, anyway). As I said before, I have a mostly beige living room. So, when I work out, I wear black pants, black socks, and a black tank top. I'd also recommend wearing pants instead of shorts (so the camera has a more "uniform" way of recognizing your legs), and wearing socks that match your pants. In some of the exercises, loose-fitting pants can slide when you have your legs up in the air, which can cause the camera to have trouble recognizing your movements.
Turn on the lights!
Good lighting seems to be another essential part of allowing the Your Shape camera to effectively track your movements. Try to make sure that both your foreground and background are very well-lit. You can open windows or curtains if you'd like, but sometimes, excessive shadows cast by your movements can cause the camera to not be able to accurately follow your movements. I usually keep the curtains closed, and turn on all the lights that cast visible light onto my workout area.
... Phew! That was quite long. I've also figured out how to fix some of the problems with specific workouts (such as grapevine), but I'll cover that in a later update I suppose. I hope this helps some of you that are having problems! ^_^
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Junior Member
Hey guys! 
I've been reading a lot of the complaints about Your Shape, and the problems that people are having. I've been working out with this game for about two months, so I thought that I'd address some of the problems that I have found solutions for. Like some of you, when I first got this game, I had some initial difficulties. However, through experimentation, I've figured out how to fix a lot of them. Hope this information helps!
DISCLAIMER THINGIE: I did not make this game, nor am I any type of fitness expert or anything. This is just based off of my experience with the game, some fitness research I've done, and how I (personally) figured out how to make the game work best for me. 
WORKOUT ISSUES
Problem A: "I keep just getting the same workouts!
If you are constantly doing cardio, this could be for a number of reasons. From what I've found, if you choose the "burn" option (with any muscle group), this means that the game will give you moves that are designed to burn fat. Hence, the cardio. There is no "magic exercise" to melt JUST the fat on your arms/belly/etc - You simply need to lose weight! This involves doing cardio to help you burn fat, no matter what muscle group you're focusing on.
HOWEVER... if you want to do workouts to help you strengthen/tone a specific area, you should be selecting the "Strength" or "Tone" options when you start your workout. These workouts will give you from 10-15 min. of cardio (in a 30 minute workout) before starting your targeted exercises, in order to get your heart rate up. At first, some of these workouts can be difficult and/or frustrating, so don't be afraid to check out the tutorial the first time you do them.
Problem B: "The game has you rest in between each strength workout!"
Actually, this is a good thing. As I think was cited in the "Answers to the Community" thread:
"The rest period is an important part of the workout. When we were creating the exercises with the help of fitness experts, it was important that we include small breaks as a part of your routine. During any exercise, your heart rate becomes elevated and needs to rest periodically."
When I actually did the exercises correctly, I found that the breaks were definitely welcome. They allowed me to grab a sip of water, and get myself positioned for the next workout.
Problem C: "I can't get to 100%!"
Actually, you're not supposed to get to 100%. If you were able to do that, the workout wouldn't be challenging you enough! From what I've seen with the game, a good workout will result in you having around an 80% to 88% accuracy rating. This means that you're being challenged, and are burning more calories. The goal of this game isn't really to "get to 100%" - it's to help you to have a challenging but effective workout.
Problem D: "Even though I'm doing the workout correctly, it tells me I'm doing it wrong!"
I experienced this at first with Your Shape as well, and it took me a bit of time to figure out. There are several possible reasons why this may be occurring.
Compensation for Camera Lag - If you're watching yourself work out on the screen, there is a bit of lag in between when you move, and when your movement is displayed on the screen. DO NOT WATCH YOURSELF! (I don't actually like to watch myself flop around anyway
) Instead, focus on the trainer on-screen. Time your movements so that they match hers, not so that they match your image on screen.
You're actually doing it wrong
- Some of the workouts are very specific. For example, with step-touch, you should only be raising your arms about the same amount as you see with your on-screen trainer. I kept getting the "Watch those arms!" alert, and I realized that I was raising my arms too high.
Camera Contrast Issues - Since this is a big topic, I've written more about it below. 
CAMERA ISSUES
Probably one of the biggest complaints about Your Shape that I've seen is about problems with the camera. People say that the camera isn't recognizing their movements, or that it's constantly telling them that they're doing the exercise wrong. Here are some ways to improve the functionality of your camera.
Make sure you're the only thing moving.
I have four cats, which apparently love to watch me work out. However, when they run across the background (even if it's barely noticeable), the camera will pick it up, and give me the "Follow Me!" or "Watch those Legs!" alert. Other things that can interfere with the camera's tracking include blowing curtains, children, shifting shadows in the background, and the shadow cast by a ceiling fan. (I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones I've found.
) So, be CERTAIN that you're the only thing in the camera's viewpoint that is moving.
Clear out your background.
The Your Shape camera seems to have a lot more trouble recognizing your movements when your background is full of objects. To best take advantage of the camera, try to work out in a room that doesn't have a lot of clutter, a light/dark window, colorful furniture or other objects in the background. I have a beige carpet, a beige couch and white walls, though I did have to take away two dark-colored throw pillows, an end table and a colorful area rug. This made my camera work MUCH better.
Wear clothing that contrasts with your background.
I can't emphasize this enough. You MUST be clearly contrasting with your background in order for the camera to accurately track your movements (from what I've discovered, anyway). As I said before, I have a mostly beige living room. So, when I work out, I wear black pants, black socks, and a black tank top. I'd also recommend wearing pants instead of shorts (so the camera has a more "uniform" way of recognizing your legs), and wearing socks that match your pants. In some of the exercises, loose-fitting pants can slide when you have your legs up in the air, which can cause the camera to have trouble recognizing your movements.
Turn on the lights!
Good lighting seems to be another essential part of allowing the Your Shape camera to effectively track your movements. Try to make sure that both your foreground and background are very well-lit. You can open windows or curtains if you'd like, but sometimes, excessive shadows cast by your movements can cause the camera to not be able to accurately follow your movements. I usually keep the curtains closed, and turn on all the lights that cast visible light onto my workout area.
... Phew! That was quite long. I've also figured out how to fix some of the problems with specific workouts (such as grapevine), but I'll cover that in a later update I suppose. I hope this helps some of you that are having problems! ^_^
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Junior Member
UPDATE: Grapevine Exercise Tips
I noticed that a lot of people are having trouble with the Grapevine exercise. Here are some tips that I've found that have helped me do this exercise successfully. 
1. Move Your Arms!
The grapevine workout is a lot more effective if you move your arms. Also, when you're not moving your arms, the game will give you a "Watch those arms!" alert. I know it's easy to simply keep your arms at your sides, but try to at least move them in the same rhythm as your feet. This also increases the intensity of this exercise.
2. Start Prancing!
I have some sort of lack of rhythm, so I found that the grapevine exercise can be done most accurately by "prancing" from side to side. Try to keep in time with your on-screen trainer, stopping right when she does to change directions. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to go to the very edge of your screen, just try to stay on the same rhythm as your trainer.
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Junior Member
My livingroom is big and i found that if i get closer to the camera on the grapevine and the shuffle, i get it right. Maybe this will help some.
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Junior Member
Hi All,
I am playing this game for about 3 weeks. Everything is going well except one exercise that drives me nuts! Cross Country one - it doesn't seems to recognize my movements no matter what I do and I loose all my % on this. Jen always say "Watch your arms" but I do move my arms exactly as she does, watch tutorial over and over and no matter how I adjust my arms, the message is the same. I have the right light, cloth, amount of space to move, nobody else around etc. Everything as described but still no luck. Please help me!!!
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Junior Member
go into your setting and redo your calibration... you'll need that card that's inside Kinect Adventures... see if that fixes anything I play in a crowded area and I don't have to many problems except with not enough room to spread my legs so I always get docked on that
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Junior Member
Cueil, it may not be that you don't have enough room. I do have plenty of room, and spread my legs so wide that you could drive a hummer through it, and yet it keeps docking me for it. I have heard this complaint over and over. Seems to be a game glitch.
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Junior Member
The issue I'm trying to work out is equate "calorie points" to calorie's burned. For example, at my weight 25 minutes of low impact should burn roughly 100 calories...when I did about that much of the cardio kickboxing class it said I did 56 calories which can't be right...I'm thinking of using a heart rate/calorie meter so I can figure out how much Your Shape == time on my elliptical.
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Junior Member
Thanks Arumi,
This information is very helpful. I have one question to add. I'm doing Break Into a Sweat with personal training and I keep getting the same workouts. Do you know if this is the way it's supposed to be or am I doing something wrong? I don't want to do the same six exercises every day.
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Junior Member
I am happy with the game apart from one thing. after every workout, my upper body rating is always zero! Now I know I'm not perfect, but I'm consistently getting >80% in all other areas. Is there a bug with the game?