Can Nintendo WiiFit Really Help you Lose Weight?
By Douglas Woods
The Nintendo Wii has been highly rated as an innovative games machine.
It's motion detection system has been novel and has helped it to the top of
the best sellers lists.
Motion detection, though, can have uses well beyond simple games playing
and Nintendo have realised this by marketing their Wiifit product for their
Nintendo Wii games console.
Basically, Wiifit software is intended to help users to improve balance
and posture, to lose weight, improve BMI (Body Mass index) and improve
muscle tone or fitness. This all sounds very impressive but can the Wiifit
system really be used seriously as an aide to weight loss?
The wiifit system is basically an electronic balance board which connects
wirelessly to the Nintendo Wii games console. So, in order to make use of
the WiiFit system, you need to have a Wii console. If not, you'll have to go
out and but one. Shop around, you may be able to find a package that
includes theWii games console and the Wiifit balance board.
Included with the balance board is a disc of software which contains,
activities, or exercises for the user to use. These include, yoga, body
balance exercises, muscle building exercises and aerobic routines. You can
choose which activities to do from a very simple menu system.
Some of the activities are designed to mimic the sort of exercises you
might do in a gym. Others are presented as fun activities, such as heading a
ball or ski-jumping. There is even a virtual island containing a number of
jogging courses!
You may well think that playing on a games console is as far away from
exercising as you could possibly get. Well, that's where the Wiifit system
is unique. Because it uses motion detection, the exercising is not just
'virtual'; you really have to do it! Running faster is not done by pressing
keys faster; running faster is done by ... well, by running faster!
Thankfully, you don't have to go down to a local gym to do it, you can do it
in the privacy of your own home or bedroom! .. So no more expensive gym
fess!
Perhaps now, you can begin to see how the Nintendo Wiifit can fit (sic)
in with a weight loss routine. By performing exercises in your own home, you
are helping yourself to burn calories and lose weight. You are able to do
this in your own home, so you have no more excuses about paying for the gym
or not having a gym nearby.
Combine the wiifit package with the Wii Sports software that is included
with many Wii consoles, then you have an excellent package to help you get
fit.
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