Tetris. Mortal Kombat. All 300 incarnations of Super Mario Brothers. And my personal favorite Bubble Bobble. I grew up playing video games. Even in college, my roommates and I played hours and hours of Simba The Lion King (not kidding) trying to get the wee lion cub out of the hands of the catty hyenas by, naturally, jumping on giraffe heads. In our defense, only one out of the four of us had a car and there was a lot of snow. So anyhow, I get that video games are fun. But what I don’t understand is how they can make you fit.
According to the Nintendo Wii currently presiding at my parent’s house, I’m 86 years old. Me!! It told me, the girl who can do Scorpion Pose much less the wussy Tree Pose on the test, that I have bad balance! At any rate, I suppose it would explain why I’m so crotchety about all this dang blasted ‘lectrical whosits all the kiddos are so infatuated with these days. When I was a kid we didn’t have all this fancy pants motion stuff. Solitaire was good enough for me and by golly it’ll be good enough for my kids. (Walks up hill both ways, shoes made out of cardboard and paper bags full of poop in lieu of soccer balls, blah, blah, blah.)
Yeah, right.
Santa is bringing a Wii to our house in less than a week and I’m actually really excited because I have it on good authority that the big guy is also bringing Dance Dance Revolution and I freaking love that game with the fervor of a thousand nerds. But part of the reasoning in allowing the Wii to follow us home was that it’s so cold here that the snot freezes inside your nose (yes, truly, and yes, it’s very uncomfortable) and so our Tazmanian devils could use something to burn off some energy indoors. You know, to take the place of all the exercise they’re not getting at school anymore.
But I am dubious about the ability of the electronic wunderkind to provide a real workout. Sure it’s fun and yeah I’ve got my heart rate up a bit doing DDR and nunchuck boxing but can a video game provide a real workout? Like a real make-you-so-sore-you-have-to-lower-yourself-onto-the-toilet-with-both-hands workout?
My first doubts crept in when my sister demonstrated the Wii jogging “game.” For those of you uninitiated, you just run in place. Seriously. On a little white square. I laughed derisively until I realized that the treadmill is only one conveyor belt up from that. So then I tried a weight training game which should have been titled All the Moves You Can Do While Keeping One Foot on a Little White Square (i.e. squats and lunges). Last up was the Yoga game which ended badly after I screamed at the TV that it was ruining my vinyasa with its chirpy red dot and I have not just good but superior balance thankyouverymuch.
I was not impressed. Not only was it not that fun – running on a two-foot square is only exciting if you’re in prison – but I didn’t feel worked out. Where was the sweat in my eyes? The obnoxious 80’s heavy metal? The guy making sex noises on the weight bench?? It also seemed like there wasn’t a lot of room for growth in most of the games. And I stuck to my crabby guns for almost two years now. Until I had a new infant to care for and my three boys switched into full-on destruction mode.
So now I need to know: Can the Wii really provide a well rounded workout for kids? For adults? Or is it just Fitness Lite? Can a Wii really make you fit?? What games do you guys recommend?
Are you sure you did the running on the white square? I don't know if it was necessary! On my Wii fit the running is in place on the floor with the controller in your hand or pocket, not on the square. That sounds dangerous.
If you're someone who loves the gym I don't think you're the target market for this thing. The running thing may seem a little silly but for me it is effectively distracting… I'm running next to Einstein and Mr. T for crying outloud, haha!
I like the hula hooping and the boxing.
The yoga I am less enthusiastic about.. I think it is pretty dumbed down for anyone who does it for real. But I did get better at it the more I did it on the Wii.
I get why you didn't love it, but I don't think you are the target audience.
Thanks Janet! See I'm trying to overcome my initial bad reaction to it! I think I might really love it if I give it another chance – which is why I'm looking for ideas:) And you are probably right about the jogging thingy… it was a long time ago!
I love the Hula hoop too- and once I got up to long enough times, I felt like I had exerted myself (and was sore the next day)- same thing with the Jackknife challenge.
Most of wii fit I think is just fun, and not necessarily great exercise. I do know people who have used it to successfully lose weight, the tracking system is helpful for that. If you're already in great shape, it's probably not terribly helpful.
(It asks me if I fall down a lot too- I think video game balance must be different than real life balance)
Took the family on an outing to Best Buy yesterday. Bad idea. First of all, I was totally PMSing and in a bad mood, and when in a bad mood…shop! So, I found a TV/DVD combo I wanted while EVERY other person in my family was using a demonstration of the Wii. My husband tried hard to convince me that buying the Wii would cure my PMS even better than the TV. Being totally anti-video game, he knew he was not likely to succeed. In the end, I was still crabby when we left cause I didn't buy either. The Wii is compelling, but I simply refuse to do it. I just feel like kids are sooo lacking in imagination anyway these days (they don't get to play out in the pasture pretending the cow-pies are a culinary masterpiece like I did when I was little), that I refuse to encourage them to sit/stand/jump/flail/whatever in front of the TV for hours at a time. I just can't do it!
I worked up a real sweat playing the Active Life Outdoor Challenge. You do lots of obstacle-course-type games that keep you moving the entire time and often require you to use your whole body. I started playing in regular clothes and had to go change into workout gear and put my hair up to keep playing.
Only bummer is that you do have to buy an extra mat for it, so it costs a little more.
http://www.amazon.com/Active-Life-Extreme-Challenge-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B0028A8PDY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1261370195&sr=8-2
I agree with Janet, fitness enthusiasts and gym regulars like you aren't the target market and probably won't like it. If you are used to a hardcore training like kickboxing and hours running on the treadmill you'll find this doesn't do much for you. Same with the yoga. But for people who don't exercise much it can be a way to start and it can lead to getting in better shape, though after a while that would probably require to switch to a gym.
I got one as a present 2 months ago and I love it. I don't do much sports and I don't have any money for the gym or yoga courses; I have a small treadmill and not enough motivation. After being sick for a few months I'm even less in shape than I usually am, which is not much. For me the Fit is a great tool since getting points for each move and for the time spent on it is one way to motivate me (incidentally, I loved the sticker system as a kid). Those lunges and squats do make me sore!! I love the yoga but I must admit I never followed any yoga classes; before the Wii I only did simple yoga poses I could find on the internet, without guidance.
I think it can be good for kids too, but again it depends on the kids and their usual level of activity. My friend swears by the Wii Fit, since the only way to get her kid sister with Down syndrome to focus on something is to include a tv screen. That girl lost about 10 lbs within the first month of using the Wii Fit and a steady weight loss afterwards too, but she can spend hours every day trying to get a better score hula hooping or ski jumping.
I can't really speak volumes about the success of the Wii Fit since mine currently resides (unused) underneath the coffee table. I do play it sometimes just for fun, but being a one player game in a 4 person house just doesn't work well on a regular basis. However, Allison Sweeney (from Biggest Loser/soap opera stardom) SWEARS that she used EA Sports Active to get back into shape post baby and she looks hot! So you might look into that; she previewed it on Ellen and worked up a sweat in a couple minutes. I would check on Amazon and read a lot of user reviews before sinking any more money into the games. But with that said (and being a gym rat myself) I just don't know if a video game will be able to be a sufficient swap for a good hard gym workout. Good luck and keep us posted!
They're called 'snotsicles". A hybrid of snot and icicles. Trust me, when I was in Montreal, and now in Calgary, every Canadian I know calls them that. Perhaps we just like making up new words?
And Wii Fit is fun, but I doubt it would make you fit. However, it does seem like it would be a good introduction to someone who is more sedentary, and perhaps a more comfortable way for them to start. So many people are uncomfortable going to the gym, and this is one of many options that is a good entrance, and likely more fun than a workout video.
I agree with others, you're not their target audience.
OH, and I so don't believe Allison Sweeney. Celebrities totally lie about 'how they got fit', and I feel like this is no exception.
We are in booger-cold- freezing -weather here too and we got a Wii last Christmas. During the summer it gathers dust. But in the winter it is a great form of entertainment. Yes it is a video game and playing tennis (or working out) on it is nothing like the real thing. BUT my daughter loves to play it with me and my boys love the boxing game. It's a fun thing we can do together!
I like it because it is easy to pick up and play it, without needing to be an expert. The types of games where you have to play it daily for 5 hours just to be able to pass level one-no way. Those games will turn you into a zombie.
One thing is for sure, you can work up a sweat with those Wii games. I haven't done yoga on Wii though.. interesting.
My brother received a Wii for his birthday this year and we played the boxing game. I swear my arms felt like they were going to fall off ! But I wasn't lifting weights or anything like that then.
I think his now gathers dust – a very expensive 5 minute wonder.
Sorry – just noticed this:
"Like a real make-you-so-sore-you-have-to-lower-yourself-onto-the-toilet-with-both-hands workout?"
OMG – This is me today – I bought new weights on the weekend and changed my workout. I've been walking around like a cowboy all day !
hmmm
Id have a comment but we got one and I have yet to use it beyond the initial 3 minute assessment.
not sure what that says 🙂
ACE has looked at some different video game workouts to see if they're any good. They found DDR was a great cardio workout (http://www.acefitness.org/media/media_display.aspx?itemid=279). Wii Fit wasn't, but it's still better than sitting on the couch (http://www.acefitness.org/getfit/studies/WiiFit102009.pdf). With Wii Sports, it depended–the boxing is a decent workout, the golf isn't (http://www.acefitness.org/media/media_display.aspx?itemid=2471).
DDR's my winter workout of choice. I can't go to a gym, and it's one of the most fun stay-at-home workouts out there. I like the Wii Fit, and I've certainly been sore the next day from excessive hula hooping, but I don't usually consider it a good cardio workout. I'm not a big fan of the strength moves, but the yoga and balance games can just be fun, too.
I wasn't impressed with the Wii Fit, but I like the Wii Active game. The first couple times I used that game I was "can hardly sit on the toilet" sore. When I started using it I was in pretty good shape so it's not that I was a beginner. Now I have to say that their resistance band was pretty weak so I just substituted with a heavier one I had around the house. I use it now about 2 times a week as part of my bigger workout program. I asked for the new version they have out that has more workouts to it…looking forward to trying that out if I do get it for Christmas.
Some suck and some are awesome. Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus really suck. The Biggest Loser, My Fitness Coach, and EA Active are hardcore workouts. They feel more like an aerobics class than the other too, with continuous movement and options to change the level you work at.
I don't own a Wii & never have used one so I am useless on this one! But to me, it ain't gonna take the place of my weight lifting! 🙂
I have Wii My Fitness Coach and Wii EA Active Sports. The Active Sports thing ois okay. I feel like it puts too many paremeters on things so you never really challenge yourself. But the kids like it and I figure if they are going to play video games, they might as well be moving.
The Fitness Coach game is more like a customized workout dvd. I like how you can "tell" the game that it is too easy or too hard and it will adapt. As someone who can't join a gym, I like the arm workout with weights. It combines arms with lunges and squats and I had a precent decent sore burn the next day. And the yoga is not super challenging, but my 6 yr old and I do it together and it is nice to use as a supplement and spent time with my daughter.
I do not have Wii Fit so I am not sure about that one.
Mario Kart is pretty addicitive but the only workout I get from that is talking smack to my kids! 🙂
i am soooo not impressed by video games as workouts. then again, i don't think they were designed for me and you(someone already in shape and running lots) i'm sure that to someone who doesn't workout ever / overweight / unhealthy the games likely do work them out.
I've never tried this, but from what I've seen when watching demonstrations, uh….no!
i agree with everyone…i kinda laughed at it when it said "workout" especially when I saw my son just shaking the controller instead of actually jogging. It would frustrate those who are fit but I think anything that gets people up and moving is good. (kinda like how i feel about Zumba).
My son loves Mario Cart-get the steering wheel…it makes it more fun! Are your boys into Star Wars? The lego one is a lot of fun too.
I'm finding this really interesting, because we haven't sprung for one yet and I was starting to get tempted because of all the good reviews. But now… I'm feeling a little less intrigued.
Will be curious what you think when you try it out again!
I'm not so sure about the whole Wii fit thing, but if it gets people moving around it can't be that bad. Of course I suck at th eboxing and the tennis, so I don't know as I'll be getting one anytime soon.
And Dance Dance Revolution – I'm totally with you. I have it for our PS2. So. Much. Fun. I wish we had 2 footpads tho – it'd be even more hilaious to play against someone…it has a fitness mode you know. 🙂
I know nothing about the Wii, but I loved Bubble Bobble!
I can see how the Wii Fit would be good for people who would otherwise get no exercise, but I really wish it weren't marketed so much to kids. Even though the little bit of exercise you get from it counts, it doesn't compare to a good ole game of tag or hide-and-seek, or whatever kids play. My cousin has the Wii fit, and I never understood how you can get a good workout when you're restricted to a small square.
I don't know if the wii can make you fit. Then again, a gym won't make you fit either – YOU make you fit, and the gym is one tool you can use to make you fit, just like running outside or taking classes, but ultimately it's up to you.
That said, you right now have a newborn baby to care for, with three rowdy boys who are out of school and probably more or less trapped inside, due to snow. Plus, I imagine if your hubby was lucky enough to get any daddy/new-baby time off, that's run out. So do you really need a wii to get your kids in super shape – or, right now, is it more important that they have a shiny, new and at least semi-active game that will keep them occupied while you tend the baby, give them more activity than traditional video games and be more constructive than running laps around the living room?
I just got a Wii and the Wii fit kit for Christmas! I do think it's fitness light compared to my normal workouts, but I think it can be a good place for more sedendary people to start. I really love the balance games on the Wii Fit. Of course I played for like an hour and it told me I burned 30 calories because the balance games aren't at all aerobic, but it's so much fun! Seriously, try the slalom skiing. It's my favorite!
Like others have mentioned, I also don't think regular exercisers are Wii Fit's target audience. I think they're target audience is new to exercise, very sedentary and maybe a little uncomfortable working out outside or at a gym for whatever reason. I also think they're trying to mitigate the weight gain and unhealthy lack of activity obsessive video game playing brings to kids and teenagers. Kind of like — Play Call of Duty for 5 hours, do Wii Fit for 30 minutes, then back to Call of Duty. I think the whole concept of Wii — playing video games by moving your body — is designed to just get people off their @sses, not necessarily make them very fit.
Uhhh… pardon any grammatical errors in my previous post…
I'm with the others – I found that the Wii Fit didn't actually do much for me, but I'm already pretty active. Well, maybe it helped me with my coordination in manipulating a remote machine, but my heart rate didn't go up or anything.
I think what I found most frustrating was that you had to unlock the more advanced exercises, so if you were already aerobically/muscularly fit you had to work through several hours of boringness to get anywhere near where you wanted to be.
But for people who aren't regularly running 5+ miles a day or doing other aerobic activity 3+ times a week, I think it's a fun and good way to begin exercising.
I remember when I first started getting into shape – it all began with DDR on my playstation.
We bought a Wii for the family Christmas present this year. I wavered back & forth on it simply for the fact that I HATE it when kids these days tune out on tv. Why bring video games into the mix? Yet, after seeing how it does get them off their tushes, I'm more inclined to be "ok" with it. Especially with the weather being grody and there's no real safe place to play unless you drive to a park.
Anyway – I'd be interested in how your kids do with it so give us an update on that too sometime.
BTW – I've gained 6 pounds since I bought the Wii, Wii Fit, and Wii Personal Trainer.
-Joshua
I think that the Wii fit is good for people who were previously sedentary, or someone like you or I on a day that it's either nothing or *something* and that's our something. But that's why I haven't jumped on the Wii Fit bandwagon. I don't think it sounds that awesome for me.
Now, DDR – you know how much I love it. I think 30 mins of the hardest songs on the disc strung together is just about as good as an interval run.
I think that the Wii (and Wii Fit) is fun to play with, but for me not really a workout. Though, certainly better than sitting on my butt watching TV. I'm not one for playing computer games, but I do like the Wii for the fact that it gets you moving. Wii Sports is a lot of fun – I like the Tennis and the Bowling.
As a fitness tool, I think it is more for a person who doesn't currently exercise but might be more motivated when it comes to playing a computer game.
I'm one of your more sedentary readers, and to be honest, I *HATE* exercise. In any and all forms–it's boring and sweaty and UGH. I'd rather be shopping. Or reading. Or working. Or even dusting!
So for more, Wii is a good way to get off my duff. It's certainly more interesting to me than staring at the same 10 blocks and counting my steps while I run.
My in-laws had it last Christmas (2008) and we all worked up a total sweat playing tennis that came with it. Of course, if you just do the wrist movements and not move your whole body, you won't get much out of it. Like another commenter mentioned, it's all what you put into it.
Hardcore exercisers are definitely *not* the target audience. And if you/your kids are going to play video games anyway. . . why not something they at least have to stand and move a little to do? Better than nothing!
Charlotte, thank you for raising this subject. I was curious about the Wii and had wondered if I should look into getting one. Now, I'm thinking I can probably get just as fit without spending the $$.
sure, Wii Fit Plus is fun, and if you do everything but the balance games it can do a number on you. We run for 20 minutes, then do every strength training and yoga exercise. Takes about an hour, and is really hard. My kids love it
balance games are the reward my kids get for working out!
Yeah, Wii told me I was 43.
I don't know if you "can" make you fit, but all I do know is that I was pretty sore the day after I used it for the first time while we were on vacation. The house we rented had one, and I've asked Santa to bring me one of my own. 🙂
I hate to say it, but if you really want to strap down the girls, Enell is the way to go. They won't move even under nuclear attack.
That being said, if you want to save a few pennies, there are a couple of bras I've found to work well.
I have a Champion powersleek sports bra that works well, but I think it runs a little small (although that could be wishful thinking). I also have an Under Armor Endure D Sports Bra. All good choices.
Great. Now that you have (or will have) DDR, I'll never see Beth again.
Here's my take: TV is an inevitable part of life. We try to limit how much the kids watch to a couple hours a week, but it still gets watched. One step up from TV are all the video games, because they actually require some interaction. And one step up from THAT is the Wii, because they have to move more than their thumbs. So, given the choice between letting the monsters watch TV or play the Wii, I vote Nintendo for president. So long as time on the Wii is replacing TV tubin' (and not in addition to) I think we're better off.
Woo hoo! When do you open presents? I need to know when to be at your house to play DDR. Can't lose a minute….
Axis & Allies (and kids) at our house, DDR at yours.
Oh that's so funny. You know I did two posts on the Wii fit and one of them was called Wii are sore!! Read it if you like:
http://smoothiegirleatstoo.blogspot.com/2009/08/wii-are-sore.html
http://smoothiegirleatstoo.blogspot.com/2009/08/little-big-brother.html
BTW you don't need to run on the square- in fact kudos to you if you accomplished that as it would be no small feat/feet (feet, gettit?). You just hold the nunchucks and run in place. I found it funny that people were tripping and falling down around me!
I like the hula hooping and boxing and even the dodge the soccer balls and panda heads (huh?). Even some of the weird balance games were fun.
I did work up a sweat, but I can't see that happening forever like in TurboKick.
I think that if I didn't have 56 gyms I belong to, live in perfect climate (sorry, that was cruel) and have the worlds tiniest TV room (think: bathroom stall), I would do it more often.
For the kiddies, I sure think it's better than sitting and being inactive, or risking frozen snot.
You're not just mad at it because it told you you're 84, right? 😉
PS. Now I want to see a photo of YOUR snotcicles. And by the way I'm flattered that you'll use the first photo as your screensaver- believe it or not- it was taken from our hotel room window-gah!!
PS. For a laugh, check out this quick post:
http://smoothiegirleatstoo.blogspot.com/2009/08/hula-hooping-hubby-picture-is-worth.html
I love Wii Fit Plus. I've been using Wii Fit for a year and a half, and I do find the exercises fun and useful.
Try the routines – it will take you through a lot of the wackier stuff.
Or, you can tell it you want, say, a 30 minute workout and it will run you through some yoga and strength exercises.
I'm not a gym bunny though – I loathe gyms.
So much reading to catch up on! For a real workout I hit either the real gym or my home gym but for fun and games with my girls that are much healthier than sitting around watching TV, Wii is great. They also like to play with friends and again, I think that is much better than just watching something but not a substitute for a real workout.
I did think the boxing was fun but the yoga drives me crazy – way to slow with having to select each pose and go through the intro and really do not want to be scored. I wish there was a mode to turn all that off and just let it lead you like a video does.
I totally agree with you. I bought a Wii specifically to work out with . Wii Fit was lame, EA Sports Active is a little better, but my Jillian Michaels DVDs are 10x the workout.