Wii Fit?

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

I've got Wii Fit Plus at home... I haven't used it much lately for anything other than the Body Test, but I was just wondering whether anyone else here uses Wii Fit, and what they considered to be the advantages and disadvantages of its use. Is it just a bit of dinky nonsense, or can it be a useful tool?



Metta,
Retro.

[Fede]

I don't have this contraption, but a friend who does, states that in some exercises it's easy to 'cheat' by just jigging about a lot....the wii hand-sensor-control-thingy (that's a technical term... you know how tecchie I am, Retro! ) can be 'fooled' into thinking you're carrying out the exercises when in fact you're just shaking your hand about a lot.....

That's all I can say, really.....

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Fede,

That's all I can say, really.....

Oh sure, in some of them you can cheat.

For example the running... you're supposed to put the remote in your pocket or in your hand and run on the spot. The movement of the Wii Remote is picked up by the Wii Remote Sensor and translated into "running". Obviously a similar result could be achieved just jiggling the remote around a bit.

It might help get a good score in a particular events, but won't contribute much to BMI improvements!



Metta,
Retro.

[bodom]

My girlfriend wants one. I think its a great way to get kids off the couch and exercising.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Bodom,

Yeah, I think it depends on what activity would they be doing instead?

For my son, who is far more interested in computers and his Nintendo DS than sport and exercise, it's a good way to get him a bit more active.

Metta,
Retro.

[Ben]

Hi Retro

some friends of mine rave about them. I think there might be something in the product that helps those less motivated to do some exercise in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. One feature that I would find attractive is the bmi, calorie and other performance indicators. But I won't be getting one any time soon. I'd rather swim, cycle or go to the gym.
kind regards

Ben

[Northernbuck]

Hey Retro,
We do have the Wii fit+. It gets the heart rate up a bit, but so does a good walk. The biggest reason we got it was that a good walk is not a good idea during the middle of winter when it's -50c with the wind howling. I have great fun playing sports resort with the kids. It does get them active. I find that even bowling gets you sweating. It is a useful tool to get a mild workout, but that's about it. It is fun though. Cheers

-B

[Monkey Mind]

I am overweight, was very physically active until simultaneously a motorcycle accident and starting a second round of graduate school. I simply cannot do most of the intense physical exercises I used to enjoy (martial arts, mountain biking), but those same intense physical activities were apparently what kept me thin because I have packed on the pounds rapidly. The benefit of Wii Fit+ is that a lot of the activities are really fun, I break a decent sweat, and the games have me rethinking the concept of exercise. One game has you flap your arms to make a chicken fly. Would never have realized how hilarious and challenging that is. Another has me "run" on an obstacle course. Love it.

We are thinking about hosting Wii Fit parties, because it is fun to play with friends.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Monkeymind,

Yeah, the flying chicken is funny.

Actually, now that you mention it, I had a dream this morning where I was flying over the water (god knows how) and I had to direct myself and land properly. It was a little scary, but not too much so. On reflection, it was a lot like the flying chicken game!



Metta,
Retro.

[jcsuperstar]

i want one, the wife wont let me get one.

they did a report on them on NPR and fitness types dont seem to like them, but then they talked to people who lost like 30 pounds with the Wii, the fitness types are all like yeah but you coulda lost more with "real exercise", the wii users however weren't the type who were gonna go do "real exercise"

[RayfieldNeel]

Like any exercise, the user needs to have discipline and do it regularly..and it needs to be an activity that raises heart rate in some way. There are a number of Wii Fit activities that I wouldn't call "exercise".

My oldest kid convinced my mom to buy her one for Christmas; she loves it, and the family has had fun with it..but we're not really a video game family. We use it very sporadically. We certainly don't consider it to be "a source of exercise" for the kids. I want them to be outdoors, in fresh air.