Jul 23 2008
Wake up Coach potato – Grab Wii Fit and start working out
Are you a couch potato? Do you think going out to gym excercise is too boring or expensive.
Wi fit could be your solutiona and excercise buddy, you will finally have fun working out. And even if you have to buy the main Wii console along with the Wii Fit balance board, you’ll still spend less than a year’s membership at most gyms!
Fit comes with a shoulder-width "balance board" that senses a gamer’s shift in position. It has more than 40 activities in four categories, including aerobics, balance, yoga and strength training and even keeps track of users’ weight and body mass index, offering fitness tips.
This board also is designed to measure body balance and stability as well as translate movements to the TV screen, allowing your alterego "Mii" to reflect your actions. The Wii remote is also used to play, er, exercise.
Here are some of my favourite workout and balance games:
Sun Salutation (Yoga) – It’s one of those exercises that is excruciatingly painful, but at the end leaves you feeling good. I was able to get four star status about 6 times through. But by that time my legs were about to give out.
Push-up and Side Plank (Strength Training) – This is one of the few exercises that I wasn’t able to get a four star status after awhile. I think I liked this one so much, because it’s one that I will be continually trying to improve upon.
Hula-Hoop (Aerobics) – I’ve never felt so goofy in my entire stint as a video gamer. Getting four stars in the event, will take some massive hip shaking. I thought I was doing alright getting around 250 points, but alas couldn’t get anything better than two star status.
Soccer Heading (Balance Games) – This is easily my favorite event in Wii Fit so far. I played this game about ten times, the most of any of the exercises so far. Around my tenth attempt I actually got a perfect on the beginner setting, and haven’t tried advanced yet.
Ski Jump (Balance Games) – This is probably one of the oddest workouts in Wii Fit. The balance that the game requires you to perform is very precise, and found myself leaning quite a bit trying to gain the extra speed boost. Extending my legs at the jump, and holding them was quite a challenge, and so far I’ve only been able to get three stars.
On Sunday, I spent about 2hrs and 15 minutes my first time through Wii Fit. My body was about ready to quit on me by the end of it, and went to pass out on the coach the rest of the day.
Pros: It’s time to pay attention, all you couch potatoes out there: Wii Fit can be your new best friend because it’s a great motivational tool. Users will feel like they’re playing when they’re actually doing the "e" word — exercising. Wii Fit allows users to set weight-loss goals, and the device keeps a chart of the user’s daily habits and fit credits.
Cons: In truth, the Wii will likely do little to help fitness enthusiasts, but those people have gyms they can go to. CP’s don’t like that sort of thing. Too, the virtual trainer’s voice can be annoying and repetitive (but that’s probably true for a human trainer as well).
Verdict: If you haven’t worked out in a while, the Wii Fit is a great investment. Even if you don’t already have the Wii console, it’s still cheaper than joining a gym
Popularity: 2% [?]
