Nintendo Wii....help with fitness?

We have Wii Fit, Wii Sports and Wii Play, all of which can really help you build up a sweat! Of course, the sorts of things you could play would be affected by why you're housebound. As part of those packages we have boxing, tennis, bowling, running, yoga, aerobics, muscle workouts (such as abs, press ups, etc.), balance games and loads more. It certainly would help with fitness, although wouldn't be as effective as going to the gym. However, if you're housebound and can't get to a gym, I would say it's a reasonable alternative.

HTH

I'd say it's a good starting point, although it's a lot of money to lay out that could equally be spent on (say) a decent exercise bike and a coupla dance/yoga DVDs. Like anything else it's about how much effort you're willing to put in. Wii Fit is pretty good, the aerobic and balance exercises in particular. Wii sports has a couple of games that will get a sweat on you if you do them long enough (eg boxing). It's not going to be strenuous exercise that will prepare you for a marathon, but if you're starting from a minimal fitness level it could help. The games are enjoyable which helps with motivation!

Better than sitting on the sofa watching TV, or playing a normal computer game, not as good as a fitness DVD/exercise bike (assuming you do/use them).

most games involve moving the controller, instead of just pressing buttons, but the amount you move it varies. Games like sonic & mario at the olympics can involve you having to move the controllers quite fast and energetically, and will raise your heartrate to some extent. I throw myself around quite a bit playing mariokart, but Mr FtG is much more static ?

If you can get hold of wiifit as well, it comes with the wii balance board, an extra controller that you stand on and move about on. You can also get a dance mat game too, but I haven't played it. Once you have a wii balance board some other games are compatible.

What FTG said. I'd be inclined to start with a fitness DVD (Davina's are good) to see if you can keep it too up before outlay on a Wii. But if you want it for the social aspect, then there's that angle too. But we've not used ours since October [blush]. I keep meaning to, and when I was using it, I found it quite a good way of doing some light toning, and I was definitely getting fitter.

The plus side with a wii is that the games are far more fun than an exercise DVD, and if you are trying to beat hi-scores or fastest times or whatever you tend to find you have been playing/exercising for longer than you realised. So if will power is a problem the wii may help.

If you do get one I would suggest finding somewhere that you can leave it where you can get to it easily! I had to box time as had no-where to store it and keep meaning to get it out but get sidetracked. Need to rearrange my TV area better.

We got Wii Fit last Friday, and on Saturday morning we got up and decided we had to rearrange the whole living room so there was space to play it (we had previously had a coffee table in the middle). It took 8 hours to do because we decluttered while we did it, and about half way through I felt like it was never going to look right. Now that's real dedication to Wii Fit-ing ?

My fitness level is minimum and we got a Wii Fit this weekend. I've only had it a couple of days so still have rose tinted glasses but I have found it really good as I have an exercise DVD which I hardly ever use as I'm bored of it. I have a lot of weight to lose and for me it's been very motivational (so far!) as have hopped on and off a few times doing the step exercises and also the hula hooping. For me the advantage is that I can spend 10 minutes doing exercise and then come back to it later, I appreciate that it is a substantial outlay and that we could have spent the money on an exercise bike but the engaging nature of the Wii Fit is, for me, what makes it so enjoyable.

K

Ah now that's how you get fit! ? Tidying up to use the thing ?