The obstacle course, a Wii Fit exercise game
As parents of small children, now 6 and 2, my wife and I didn’t want to bring a video game system into our house. It was too soon, we figured, and we kept hearing horror stories from parents with kids who became addicted to video games. Heck, I reported a few of those stories.
We’ve softened our stance. More specifically, my softening waistline has led to a change of heart. (Apologies for that sentence.)
So the lovely wife and I decided it was time to take the plunge; we bought ourselves the Wii Fit Plus package, with its cool work-out board and exercise programs. The Wii immediately confirmed what my doctor had already pointed out: Mii too heavy. Not the lovely wife, of course. She’s more interested in working out to maintain her youthful figure and to encourage me. Aren’t I lucky?
We’ve had our Wii for nearly two weeks and I’m certainly pleased. It has motivated me to exercise and eat better; I’ve already shed about five pounds.
If you aren’t familiar with the Wii Fit, it is a brilliant concept for out-of-shape, need-to-be-more health conscious adults. And I’m pretty sure that’s many of us, particularly after the holidays when too much food has padded our tummies and too much snow clogs the bike lanes. If you’re not exercising regularly but want to, the Wii Fit is a solid way to go.
The Wii Balance Board
The balance board is the key to the Wii Fit. You stand on it to conduct many clever exercises — such as yoga, skateboarding and even running — while the fitness software prods you along. At times, the software puts you in the middle of an exercise class — step aerobics — or pairs you with a trainer — rhythm boxing and yoga. The workouts are fun and it is easy to vary your routines.
Now, the new year is early and our resolutions never look as good in June as they did in January, so it remains to be seen how firm my resolve (and tummy) becomes. So far, it is fun and I am feeling more fit.
I also owe an apology to my sister, a Wii Fit owner. When the wife and I brought our children to my sister’s house for a week-long kids-only visit, I was annoyed that she had just bought a video game system.
“Great,” I said to my sister, “now the boy is going to want one.” Noting my irritation, she said she won’t let him play much and that he would have to earn the right. What could I say? The boy would be staying with her for a week — he was going to play video games.
A selection of Wii Fit exercise games
Then I saw the Wii balance board. “Well, how does that work anyway,” I asked. I’ve seen the Wii in action, but never the Wii Fit get-up. She turned it on and the next three hours of the day seemed to disappear. We all played the really fun and inventive games — ski jumping, tightrope walking, bowling and an obstacle course. My wife and I had a blast and it was great fun to watch the boy as he competed against — and often beat — us.
The next day, we went to Costco to buy a Wii of our own.
As my wise sister suggested, we limit the time the boy can use the Wii. But he does understand one key concept: the Wii is more for Mom and Dad than it is for him.
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[...] love for the Wii Fit has not waned since I first wrote about our family’s new toy last month. Sure, we play games with the kids and have started [...]
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