Wii Fit
PostPosted:Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:19 am
I have brought up this title a few times in the past, but now I am going to write something formal on it. I actually ran a bit of an experiment with it this year starting two months ago. I am down 17 pounds.
I first got Wii Fit during the Summer, it was possibly more difficult to get during that time period than the Wii. When I finally got it, I used it every day, my BMI fluctuated between about 24.7 and 25.2. The games on it are fun, but some of the Wii Fit Age stuff is a bit shakey as I am good at some and bad at others. The ones I am best at are: Agility, balance test, and single leg balance; I tend to have trouble with the steadyness test and the walking test; though with the Walking test I can get 100%, but I can just as easily get about 30%. The Agility I almost always score between 20 and 23; which can get me a Wii Fit age of 20 when combined with another test scoring about 70%. If I have the Balance Test with the Agility Test, I almost always get 20 or 21.
Anyway, during the fall, my life changed somewhat. I was working long and late hours, and I started eating Pizza or fast food as much as three times per week (from somewhere around once a month). I also stopped going to the gym as regularly, and I stopped using Wii Fit; not so much because of time, as I could sometimes find the time, but because I was always overtired. Anyway, when I hit the scales in early January or late December, I was very shocked to see my weight in the region of 230 pounds; I knew I had bloated up, as I had a gut on me, but not that much. I immediately cut back on my diet, returning to a mostly vegetarian diet; this stopped the weight gain, but I didn't lose any.
About mid-January (2-3 weeks after I changed my diet), I decided to take Wii Fit to the test; I enjoyed it last summer and during the early fall before I stopped using it, it seemed the logical place to turn. Somewhat of an experimental run on how effective it is. It was during these first few days that an even bigger shock hit me, I was terrible at a lot of the exercises (Advanced Hula Hoop nearly killed me! =P). The wieght started to come off.
I moved onto a morning routine of about 15-20 minutes, and weekends 45-90 minutes. This didn't really impact my day much as Wii Fit is right there, and there's no preparation for going to the gym type stuff that I had to do; it's just something I do before my morning shower.
After around 60 days of this routine, I am down 17 pounds. Due to the gaming angle thrown into the exercise routine with Wii Fit, I can say it was a very easy 17 pounds to lose. I still have a bit of a gut, but arms and chest are toning up very nicely now. My BMI is getting back to its normal level, but I have lost some muscle mass since the summer, so my weight will likely fall under 200 pounds when I am rid of all the excess fat.
For anyone wondering what exercises I focus on: I change it up to get a full body workout over the course of the week; although I do Boxing and Jacknifes every day. I increase the number of side planks/pushups I do on a bi-weekly basis at this point.
The major factor with Wii Fit is the gaming angle; as I mentioned above, it made things very easy. There isn't much more motivation I need than to beat my previous scores on things; yes there are scoreboards for each type of exercise. Initially I chalked it up as a game that people who were into fitness would enjoy; but if the last two months are any indication, people who aren't in shape can see huge benefits in a very short period of time using Wii Fit. Endurance will increase significantly in two months, weight will fall off. It's not very hard to stick to the routine either, the motivational factor is in the gaming aspect of it. The great thing about Wii Fit, is that success with the game means success with your life (as being in better shape does mean a higher quality life).
While it averages only 81% on Gamerankings (as opposed to Mario Galaxy which ranks over 97%); I consider this to be the best game on the system right now. There's not really anything else like it; nor anything else that has benefits like it. Whatever way it's looked at (a game with exercise benefits, or an exercise device which motivates with a gaming angle), Wii Fit is my favourite title on the Wii to date; but I want to punch the boxing coach in the head =P
I first got Wii Fit during the Summer, it was possibly more difficult to get during that time period than the Wii. When I finally got it, I used it every day, my BMI fluctuated between about 24.7 and 25.2. The games on it are fun, but some of the Wii Fit Age stuff is a bit shakey as I am good at some and bad at others. The ones I am best at are: Agility, balance test, and single leg balance; I tend to have trouble with the steadyness test and the walking test; though with the Walking test I can get 100%, but I can just as easily get about 30%. The Agility I almost always score between 20 and 23; which can get me a Wii Fit age of 20 when combined with another test scoring about 70%. If I have the Balance Test with the Agility Test, I almost always get 20 or 21.
Anyway, during the fall, my life changed somewhat. I was working long and late hours, and I started eating Pizza or fast food as much as three times per week (from somewhere around once a month). I also stopped going to the gym as regularly, and I stopped using Wii Fit; not so much because of time, as I could sometimes find the time, but because I was always overtired. Anyway, when I hit the scales in early January or late December, I was very shocked to see my weight in the region of 230 pounds; I knew I had bloated up, as I had a gut on me, but not that much. I immediately cut back on my diet, returning to a mostly vegetarian diet; this stopped the weight gain, but I didn't lose any.
About mid-January (2-3 weeks after I changed my diet), I decided to take Wii Fit to the test; I enjoyed it last summer and during the early fall before I stopped using it, it seemed the logical place to turn. Somewhat of an experimental run on how effective it is. It was during these first few days that an even bigger shock hit me, I was terrible at a lot of the exercises (Advanced Hula Hoop nearly killed me! =P). The wieght started to come off.
I moved onto a morning routine of about 15-20 minutes, and weekends 45-90 minutes. This didn't really impact my day much as Wii Fit is right there, and there's no preparation for going to the gym type stuff that I had to do; it's just something I do before my morning shower.
After around 60 days of this routine, I am down 17 pounds. Due to the gaming angle thrown into the exercise routine with Wii Fit, I can say it was a very easy 17 pounds to lose. I still have a bit of a gut, but arms and chest are toning up very nicely now. My BMI is getting back to its normal level, but I have lost some muscle mass since the summer, so my weight will likely fall under 200 pounds when I am rid of all the excess fat.
For anyone wondering what exercises I focus on: I change it up to get a full body workout over the course of the week; although I do Boxing and Jacknifes every day. I increase the number of side planks/pushups I do on a bi-weekly basis at this point.
The major factor with Wii Fit is the gaming angle; as I mentioned above, it made things very easy. There isn't much more motivation I need than to beat my previous scores on things; yes there are scoreboards for each type of exercise. Initially I chalked it up as a game that people who were into fitness would enjoy; but if the last two months are any indication, people who aren't in shape can see huge benefits in a very short period of time using Wii Fit. Endurance will increase significantly in two months, weight will fall off. It's not very hard to stick to the routine either, the motivational factor is in the gaming aspect of it. The great thing about Wii Fit, is that success with the game means success with your life (as being in better shape does mean a higher quality life).
While it averages only 81% on Gamerankings (as opposed to Mario Galaxy which ranks over 97%); I consider this to be the best game on the system right now. There's not really anything else like it; nor anything else that has benefits like it. Whatever way it's looked at (a game with exercise benefits, or an exercise device which motivates with a gaming angle), Wii Fit is my favourite title on the Wii to date; but I want to punch the boxing coach in the head =P