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Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/12/2010 2:37:06 AM
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imit8him
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I thought about getting a Wii, because of the exercise component to it. ....Does ayone have one here already?
I want something fun to do aorund the house that has some movement, but am wondering if Wii "workouts" are really workouts?
Also, is it at all unhealthy? Do the games require any weird movements that can harm people?
I would love to play a skiiing, surfing, or tennis type of game.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/12/2010 7:00:39 AM
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iluvatar
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quote:
ORIGINAL: imit8him
I thought about getting a Wii, because of the exercise component to it. ....Does ayone have one here already?
I want something fun to do aorund the house that has some movement, but am wondering if Wii "workouts" are really workouts?
Also, is it at all unhealthy? Do the games require any weird movements that can harm people?
I would love to play a skiiing, surfing, or tennis type of game.
IMO, it's all a bunch of marketing nonsense.
Real-life motions do not translate well into the sports games. There is nothing tennis-like about wii tennis and in my experience, the lack of mass in the controller and the lack of force and range of motion required to complete the onscreen actions means you're more likely to get joint injuries than you would playing the sport. There's nothing to require you to actually use your muscles; all you have to do is flick your wrist. I wouldn't say that it "requires" weird movements, but it certainly doesn't enforce proper form in any way.
-Dan.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/12/2010 7:11:18 AM
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FunBetty
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We have a wii...with the wii-fit plus, ea active (our recommendation), tennis, dance dance revolution, etc...
Since January we started a healthy living lifestyle. Since it was cold outside, we relied on the wii to get us moving. The ea active was our biggest ally, as it involved cardio and strength exercises. IMO, it was better than a workout video because it tracked your motions. The other games are fun, and can get your heart rate up if you use them for that purpose.
In the Spring, we started to walk outside a little more but my DH still preferred the wii, since we could use it at night while our kid is sleeping).
Combined with a healthy diet, DH and I have lost a total combined weight of over 100 lbs. So YES, it can be done.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/12/2010 9:07:27 AM
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stellaluna
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There is a difference between a Wii exercise game and a Wii game that requires exercise.
Some, like the ones FunBetty mentioned, are true workouts...very similar to doing an exercise DVD at home. Wii Fit has an added bonus of keeping track of your weight. (not sure about the other workout games)
As for the regular games, I guess there is benefit in moving at all instead of sitting still and playing, but that's all. It's not weight loss magic or anything.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/12/2010 10:01:22 AM
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Miss Giggles
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gym rat here
They are fun. However they are no near close to exercising (I guess the running in place thing is kinda cute).
I guess if you did the yoga and stuff, its better than nothing.. but it was too aggravating to go to the menus and keep starting stopping. (I think that was the wii fit plus)
If you bought one that flowed like a workout video than it would be more beneficial.
The dance one looks like fun though.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/12/2010 11:11:43 AM
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car2nist
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Like anything else it depends on how much work you put into it. I like the boxing workout but I swing like I'm actually going to hit something. I do wish the stepping workout got harder. If I try my hand at baseball or bowling I could just flick a wrist but what would be the fun in that? If I move as if I were actually taking part in the sport I get a better work out.
I enjoy it for those days when it is just not very pleasant outdoors.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/12/2010 12:35:19 PM
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FunBetty
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quote:
ORIGINAL: car2ner
Like anything else it depends on how much work you put into it. I like the boxing workout but I swing like I'm actually going to hit something. I do wish the stepping workout got harder. If I try my hand at baseball or bowling I could just flick a wrist but what would be the fun in that? If I move as if I were actually taking part in the sport I get a better work out.
I enjoy it for those days when it is just not very pleasant outdoors.
I got a raised platform for my wii balance board, so it's now 4" off the ground like a normal step. It works pretty well. I've been fond of (in wii fit) doing the "free step" for 30 minutes and watching a tv show at the same time. I figure if I'm going to watch tv I may as well burn calories.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/12/2010 12:36:05 PM
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FunBetty
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Miss Giggles
I guess if you did the yoga and stuff, its better than nothing.. but it was too aggravating to go to the menus and keep starting stopping. (I think that was the wii fit plus)
If you bought one that flowed like a workout video than it would be more beneficial.
I had that beef with the wii fit, too.
The EA active does flow like a workout video, which I like.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/13/2010 12:05:27 PM
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iluvatar
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quote:
ORIGINAL: car2ner
Like anything else it depends on how much work you put into it. I like the boxing workout but I swing like I'm actually going to hit something. I do wish the stepping workout got harder. If I try my hand at baseball or bowling I could just flick a wrist but what would be the fun in that? If I move as if I were actually taking part in the sport I get a better work out.
That's great, except the game doesn't respond that well to motions that simulate what you'd do on an actual golf course or in an actual boxing ring. One measure of a game or a simulation's success is the feedback it provides you for doing something correctly. The motion detection of the wii controller is fairly limited, so it doesn't reward you for doing things correctly.
Then there's the issue of resistance and the use of muscles. There is no weight to the controllers and no force required to move them; there's nothing forcing you to use your muscles instead of just limply wiggling your arms around. When I play Wii Boxing, my joints hurts. When I play sports IRL, my muscles hurt. There's a difference.
-Dan.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/13/2010 12:12:58 PM
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nuclear_sidewalk
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I would say they're only a health benefit to those who do little-to-no other exercise activity. Might work up some cardio doing some of the games, and the balance/coordination required for some can be beneficial to old folks. Other than that, yeah... the mainstream games are not a real workout. There are straight-up Yoga titles out there, but I can't speak to their effectiveness.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/13/2010 12:18:01 PM
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FunBetty
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They have the new motion plus that is super sensitive to movements. Not all games are compatible with it yet. DH has the tennis one that is compatible. He played tennis in high school and the game is real challenging for him (not to mention a workout! It's a good thing we have room for him to play).
The ea active does use a resistance band w/ your wii remote. There are other accessories as well that can give you a similar result.
quote:
When I play sports IRL, my muscles hurt. There's a difference.
Of course there's a difference. It's a video game. However, for a video game it *can* give great benefits to those that use it properly. Not everyone has access to a gym or the ability to work out outside of the home.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/14/2010 5:28:37 PM
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car2nist
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I will admit that it is annoying to loose sensitivity in the remote when the battery strength starts to fade. It will be interesting to see how the new remote-less systems work. I won't be the first to buy one. Someone else can be the Guinea pig. In the meantime I can do some real world working out. The wii is a nice little gap filler.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/14/2010 9:33:32 PM
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imit8him
Posts: 674
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quote:
ORIGINAL: iluvatar
quote:
ORIGINAL: imit8him
I thought about getting a Wii, because of the exercise component to it. ....Does ayone have one here already?
I want something fun to do aorund the house that has some movement, but am wondering if Wii "workouts" are really workouts?
Also, is it at all unhealthy? Do the games require any weird movements that can harm people?
I would love to play a skiiing, surfing, or tennis type of game.
IMO, it's all a bunch of marketing nonsense.
Real-life motions do not translate well into the sports games. There is nothing tennis-like about wii tennis and in my experience, the lack of mass in the controller and the lack of force and range of motion required to complete the onscreen actions means you're more likely to get joint injuries than you would playing the sport. There's nothing to require you to actually use your muscles; all you have to do is flick your wrist. I wouldn't say that it "requires" weird movements, but it certainly doesn't enforce proper form in any way.
-Dan.
This was my experience recently when I played my cousin's Wii. She has the normal Wii and that workout thing.....We only played the normal Wii sports game.
I found it didn't replicate the sports at all, but did require a little bit of movment.
I haven't tried that Wii fitness workout thing.
quote:
ORIGINAL: FunBetty
We have a wii...with the wii-fit plus, ea active (our recommendation), tennis, dance dance revolution, etc...
Since January we started a healthy living lifestyle. Since it was cold outside, we relied on the wii to get us moving. The ea active was our biggest ally, as it involved cardio and strength exercises. IMO, it was better than a workout video because it tracked your motions. The other games are fun, and can get your heart rate up if you use them for that purpose.
In the Spring, we started to walk outside a little more but my DH still preferred the wii, since we could use it at night while our kid is sleeping).
Combined with a healthy diet, DH and I have lost a total combined weight of over 100 lbs. So YES, it can be done.
Oh wow! That's amazing! Just off of Wii? ......
I hvae to find a time when I can hang out at my cousin's place. They have that stuff, but I never got to play it last time we had a family dinner with them.
There are strength exercises too?
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/14/2010 9:37:36 PM
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imit8him
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I forgot to mentioni that my cousin complained to me about having shoulder pain when playing too much Wii baseball. He said he woke up the next morning and felt stiff and sore.
That's why I wondered whether these things are safe and might actually hurt people unintentionally?
I know from simply weight training in real life and doing exercise that without proper form and the right level of weights that you can really hurt yourself badly.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/14/2010 9:50:54 PM
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FunBetty
Posts: 2803
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From: Land o Cheesecake and Pizza
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quote:
quote:
ORIGINAL: FunBetty
We have a wii...with the wii-fit plus, ea active (our recommendation), tennis, dance dance revolution, etc...
Since January we started a healthy living lifestyle. Since it was cold outside, we relied on the wii to get us moving. The ea active was our biggest ally, as it involved cardio and strength exercises. IMO, it was better than a workout video because it tracked your motions. The other games are fun, and can get your heart rate up if you use them for that purpose.
In the Spring, we started to walk outside a little more but my DH still preferred the wii, since we could use it at night while our kid is sleeping).
Combined with a healthy diet, DH and I have lost a total combined weight of over 100 lbs. So YES, it can be done.
Oh wow! That's amazing! Just off of Wii? ......
I hvae to find a time when I can hang out at my cousin's place. They have that stuff, but I never got to play it last time we had a family dinner with them.
There are strength exercises too?
The wii, and some sprintime walking, but mostly the wii.  And the biggest factor was combining it with eating the right foods, too.
They do have strength exercises. They're more challenging in EA active, and use a resistance band. We bought a stronger band from walmart that gave us a bigger challenge. But it also did things such as squats and lunges and squat holds and agony, I say! lol
In the EA active sequel (more workouts), they incorporate more floor work with crunches and push ups.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/28/2010 8:45:36 PM
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TXRedhead
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My husband's an electrical engineer and a gamer, so we have most game systems [and board games and so on].
Anyway, we have the Wii. I personally love it. We live in a small town in Texas. Here, it's either too hot or too cold to go out for long during most of the year; we have some nice days in spring and some in fall, but not anything extended. The Wii is a lifesaver for our family for some indoor activity.
We like Dance Dance Revolution for an aerobic workout; it has regular game elements, but it also has a workout section where you enter in your personal stats and set how many calories you want to burn. It'll take you through a bunch of songs and show you a countdown of your calories burned as you go.
We have a couple of other games that are also games that have workout sections you can go to. Usually, these are more aerobic/cardio in nature--- running, squatting, paddling, etc.
We also have the Wii Fit and Fit Plus. Those have been so good at helping my daughter [born a micropreemie who still struggles with gross motor skills] find balance and endurance. It's definitely more of a low-impact workout game, but it has a mix of yoga, pilates, and aerobic/cardio. The key in that game is to unlock the 'free play' elements or the longer games. The step aerobics is nice to unlock because you can set it to however long you want to step, add weights if you'd like, then change the channel to a TV show and watch. Your device counts off a beat for you [or you can silence it].
I think, ultimately, you have to take the Wii for what it is. It's not really a replacement for real sports or real gym activities, but it does get you up and moving to whatever degree you're willing to. Our kids do karate for their primary source of exercise, but this is a good tool to encourage them to keep moving. And I will say that nothing feels quite so good at the end of the day like cow slinging in the Raving Rabbids game.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 8/7/2010 10:26:48 AM
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daughter_of_faith
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The Wii can provide a good, solid workout. It depends on which exercise "game" or "workout" you are doing though.
Like FB, I lost a LOT of weight (70-80 pounds) using the Wii. I started off with Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum (which kicked my rear when I first started doing it and I would throw it in for a change of pace as I became healthier). Then I used the Wii Fit. Like others have already said, it doesn't flow like an exercise video. You have to constantly stop to pick your next activity. It is good if you are just wanting to run in place (which is what you would be doing on a treadmill at the gym). I also enjoy the dance step component of the Wii Fit (wish I would have thought of buying a platform to raise the Wii Board). For Christmas, I received the Biggest Loser Wii game. I started with the beginner level and completed the required weeks...lost weight. Then I moved into Intermediate...lost more weight. I moved to the Advanced/Expert next...continued losing weight, but I don't think it was quite as fast as it should have been to match my goal so I was eliminated.
We then found out we were expecting, so it'll be awhile before I go back to the expert Biggest Loser workouts (some of them were over an hour long and it could get fairly intense).
Here is a review comparing the Wii Fit to the P90X.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 8/31/2010 9:27:54 AM
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ZiranTheTester
Posts: 392
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quote:
ORIGINAL: imit8him
I thought about getting a Wii, because of the exercise component to it. ....Does ayone have one here already?
I want something fun to do aorund the house that has some movement, but am wondering if Wii "workouts" are really workouts?
Also, is it at all unhealthy? Do the games require any weird movements that can harm people?
I would love to play a skiiing, surfing, or tennis type of game.
I don't like the name "Wii"...open to serious misunderstandings in a conversation! I am waiting on the Xbox Kinect...no controller at all and I think there will be an exercise game for it as well.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 9/12/2010 7:47:31 PM
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eM_i_zzaR_Y
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Hoola Hoop & Bird-man burn calories, & Bowling makes oneself stand & sit.
Ski Slolam is frustrating : a little shift causes huge rotation.
Another edifying benefit of games :
I recorded Prot. radio onto video game demonstations with a Yamaha Receiver.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 9/19/2010 9:23:36 PM
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eM_i_zzaR_Y
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Sony has a new Remote Control-ler, and offers Vollyball & it Golf was highly acclaimed.
Drawbacks : You can't move around too far out of the camera's view, and the set-up shall report errors. It's best for large rooms.
Confer G4TV's site http://www.G4TV.com .
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/11/2011 1:39:20 PM
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SuperSonicFan
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It all depends on the game. There are plenty of exercise oriented games on the Wii that will give you a good workout, like Wii Fit (Plus), EA Active, and Your Shape. Games that just use motion can give you a workout, it just depends on the game.
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RE: Are Wii Games Really That Healthy for You? - 7/11/2011 5:27:29 PM
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Abbreviated
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Yoga & hula hooping left are hard.
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