The Practicalities of Wii Fit

[UberMan5000]

I'll admit it; I'm a gamer. Always have been, always will be. Lately I'm also seeking to get a decent bod. The two desires are overlapping poorly; DDR is only so helpful. But Nintendo is coming out with a new game for the Wii called "Wii Fit", which might bring these two realities together.

Essentially, it's a game with a series of physical challenges. The controller is a scale-like device called a "balance board" that you stand on or do other things with. You can do yoga, balancing games, jogging, and something of particular interest to me, strength training.

The game has you do push-ups, step-ups, and similar exercises, and will rank your performance with a "fitness age"; I'd shoot for the ideal age of 20. Wii Fit can also measure your body mass index against other people that play the game.

Does this seem like a relevant fitness tool? It would encourage me to do more push-ups, jogging, and things of that sort of healthy nature, and be able to gauge my progress. How useful would any of this be to strength training or bulking?

[NXC]

Although it would be good for overall wellness, increasing flexibility, cardiovascular stamina (not so sure about this one), etc. you would not gain any considerable muscle mass or strength from just push-ups and sit-ups

[Maverick17]

I agree with NYC; if you want to make considerable gains you are gonna need the weights.

[UberMan5000]

Originally Posted by NXC

Although it would be good for overall wellness, increasing flexibility, cardiovascular stamina (not so sure about this one), etc. you would not gain any considerable muscle mass or strength from just push-ups and sit-ups

I know. I'm still doing a Rippetoes weightlifting program; I would just use Wii Fit as a supplement. Would it help with more well-rounded fitness? Shouldn't just fixate on mass; a good body needs a lot of things, such as flexibility, strength, stamina and balance.

[TheAdlerian]

Originally Posted by UberMan5000

I know. I'm still doing a Rippetoes weightlifting program; I would just use Wii Fit as a supplement. Would it help with more well-rounded fitness? Shouldn't just fixate on mass; a good body needs a lot of things, such as flexibility, strength, stamina and balance.

It might, but getting to a gym with a routine and a desire to challenge and beat yourself is a game all by itself. As you get stronger you want to see what you can do next and you have to work at it and wait to reach the next level.

That's the same principle as a videogame.

[UberMan5000]

Originally Posted by TheAdlerian

It might, but getting to a gym with a routine and a desire to challenge and beat yourself is a game all by itself. As you get stronger you want to see what you can do next and you have to work at it and wait to reach the next level.

That's the same principle as a videogame.

That's a point, but it's quite a bit more expensive and less entertaining. If Wii Fit is a relevant fitness tool rather than some distracting imitation, it may prove valuable. A gym would probably be better, but practicing on Wii Fit first might make me feel less intimidated by a gym environment, and get me more used to exercising.

[djitalianice]

Wii Fit is like guitar hero - you're doing something that resembles the real thing, but for the wrong reasons.

If you need a video game to tell you that you dont have good form pushups or that you dont come all the way up on sit ups, you suck.

Much like if people that play guitar hero actually took the time to learn guitar instead of playing, they'd actually get something out of it.

[UberMan5000]

Originally Posted by djitalianice

Wii Fit is like guitar hero - you're doing something that resembles the real thing, but for the wrong reasons.

If you need a video game to tell you that you dont have good form pushups or that you dont come all the way up on sit ups, you suck.

Much like if people that play guitar hero actually took the time to learn guitar instead of playing, they'd actually get something out of it.

Well be fair, Wii Fit is a little more of a duplication of the experience than Guitar Hero. At least you're doing the movements how you would really do them rather than just watering it down to five buttons.

I'm trying to learn guitar; I know how much more complex it is, and that Guitar Hero is no substitute. How much more complex can you make strength training?

Also, maybe I'm kind of stilted, but it seems to me that a game telling you that your pushups are bad and counting how many you should do is cheaper and easier than a gym trainer telling you the same things. There's a certain variable human element that the video game would be missing, but video games have their own strong sense of encouragement and discouragement, which would help. They also have an element of increased difficulty as you get better.

[enoduolc]

Um... Wow... get a gym membership. Read the articles on the site. Learn routines, get an idea of what your doing. You don't need a trainer. You don't need a game to get you in shape, what you need is to stop being lazy and just get to the gym. Its pretty straight foward and not that hard. 45 minutes 3 days a week... not that much man. A gym membership at Pure Fitness is 19 bucks a month, where I'm at anyway. Its not that expensive, get out there and just do it, you will feel better than if you were just jumping around like an idiot with a WII all day.

[UberMan5000]

So it appears the stereotypes of video games hangs heavy on this forum. I'm not sure a lot of you know what Wii Fit is or how it works. Here's a few pictures:





And so on.

Though I suppose it's as gimmicky as any other exercise machine; a gym would be advisable. Unfortunately, they're ludicrously expensive 'round my way; $80 once for Wii Fit is much more appealing to someone facing down a large student loan than for $300 every year at a gym.

Who knows, though. I'll probably go to a gym, or read the articles on this site on how to exercise properly. Most of them may be pitched in such a way that I should already know what they're about, but they're still helpful. I could also figure out my own routine of all the stuff in Wii Fit, but I probably wouldn't be that good at it.

I'll probably get it either way, though; it looks like a fun game. Just wondering how useful it would be for fitness. Maybe they'll have articles on that soon?

[bango skank]

From a fitness standpoint, I am unimpressed. Better than nothing, but considering you can't move outside of a 1'x1' square, it's worse than pretty much anything besides nothing.
That's not to say it won't be entertaining.

[enoduolc]

I'm a gamer too... but I still get my ass up and actually run and lift weights. This Wii Fit isn't a way to exercise it is for entertainment purposes only.

[UberMan5000]

Originally Posted by bango skank

From a fitness standpoint, I am unimpressed. Better than nothing, but worse than pretty much anything besides nothing. It's entertainment value is probably higher though.

I was about to post that trailer. Thanks.

But at last, a frank assessment that isn't just "LOL IT'S A VIDEO GAME". A gym may be more advisable, but there's also this element of embarrassment that I'm concerned about; getting winded after completing, like, half a circuit. Such weakness won't dissipate overnight, but if I'm going to dispel it, I'd like to do it in private. I could use Wii Fit to get in shape before I really get in shape.

This article may be of interest. A British fitness trainer put Wii Fit through its paces. He says the yoga and strength training is probably too advanced for any novices that will probably play it, and it doesn't mention important warm-ups (perhaps a quick session of Wii Sports first), but the aerobics are good, like the jogging and step training.

Originally Posted by enoduolc

I'm a gamer too... but I still get my ass up and actually run and lift weights. This Wii Fit isn't a way to exercise it is for entertainment purposes only.

To my own credit, I'm doing Rippetoes and things like that, but I could stand to kick it up a bit for the summer. I wonder if Wii Fit would be terribly redundant, or really not much of anything?

[TheAdlerian]

Originally Posted by UberMan5000

That's a point, but it's quite a bit more expensive and less entertaining. If Wii Fit is a relevant fitness tool rather than some distracting imitation, it may prove valuable. A gym would probably be better, but practicing on Wii Fit first might make me feel less intimidated by a gym environment, and get me more used to exercising.

Remember your statement "less entertaining" is subjective. I love working out and have been doing it since I was 18 and have always found it a constant challenge. As I've said the fun comes from beating yourself. That's why I don't understand steroid use in young people very much, why rush to the finish line and spoil the challenge? Anyway, making yourself go to the gym when you're tired and figuring out routines has the same exact appeal as a game, because it is one. That comes from a gamer who has been playing way before you were born.

Intimidating:

I've been going to gyms, as I've said, since I was 18 and I've never seen anyone make fun of another person or refuse to help them with a spot (assisted lift). Unlike some of the angry goofballs here, most guys at the gym are there for self-improvement, as you want, and won't put others down.

Due to the positive environment of gyms I've made friends over the years and had many acquaintances there. So, this adds value to the amount you pay to attend the gym. Meanwhile, the Wii device will increase your isolation while not providing a professional workout.

I'd join a gym and at the same time save a little over time and get the Wii for fun.

[TheAdlerian]

Perhaps I'm crazy, but a careful read of this thread gives the impression of a covert marketing campaign.

I hope not.

[slappy9090]

This is exactly whats wrong with America honestly...

[newequation]

Originally Posted by slappy9090

This is exactly whats wrong with America honestly...

Trying to get fat kids who sit around playing video games to get off the couch and burn some calories? I think its a good thing.

[TheAdlerian]

Originally Posted by newequation

Trying to get fat kids who sit around playing video games to get off the couch and burn some calories? I think its a good thing.

Me too.

However, I was wondering about the professional, give no ground, presentation of the OP. He sounds like an ad. He's could just be a bright and somewhat stubborn young person though.

[methodical]

Looks stupid.