game systems for exercise. Suggestions and info needed

fit4lifeUcan2

I've been thinking of getting a video game system to play work out or exercise video games on. Our kids have game systems but they would freak if "MOM" wanted to use it. god forbid lol Daughter suggested xbox 360 with kinex or whatever its called and getting the dance game. She plays one at a friends house and loves it and said we can do it together that its lots of fun.

I've seen people talk about the Wii and playing tennis for exercise. Sorry but I don't see how swinging your arms is going to give you much of a workout. My friend who does this hasn't lost much weight if any at all doing this. So I'm not convinced.

Anyone have any experience with any of these game systems and what they do?

Here is what I'm looking for... a system where I can interact with the game and dance and or do exercises. Games in particular do not matter. I'm not a gamer.

What do you use and why? What can you do with it as far as exercising goes?

Coquette6

I have friends with the Wii Fit and while they love it, they never seem to work up a sweat or get much out of breath. It's not for me. I know I never managed to work all that hard with it on the few times I've played it, but that's just my opinion. I have a PS3 because I'm a geek and love video games, but I just got EA Sports Active 2. I love it. The workouts are varied in a circuit training style (a little cardio, body weight squats, lunges, curls, presses with a resistance band that comes with it) and there's a training program you can follow. It gives me a good way to get a pretty good workout in my own living room. Another good point about the game is that it comes with everything you need - you don't need the Playstation Move peripheral to work with it. There are dancing games for the PS3 and other fitness games, but I think most if not all of them use the Move, and I haven't had the cash to get it yet.

If you're looking for strictly cardio and don't want to shell out a lot of money, look for a used Playstation 2 (or other older system like XBox) and something like Dance Dance Revolution. There's pads with arrows you plug into the machine and follow the directions on the screen. It's very easy to work up a sweat with it, and it may be cheaper because the console and games are older.

I can't comment on the Kinect and XBox360, so maybe someone else can!

tsikkz

I think if you're going to spend $200 on a gaming console you may as well just pay for some personal training or join an aerobics class to get a real workout.

But if you have kids and you want to pay $150 for a kinnect you could do that, the dance central games are fun and even if they aren't viable workout tools they are really fun and you will definitely work up a sweat, I just think nothing beats real exercise personally.

fit4lifeUcan2

yeah our daughter was talking about the dance studio game. I saw some zumba games as well and biggest loser has one. Thankfully you can choose your trainer. I would hate to be stuck with JM only because I'm afraid she would yell at me lol

JamesChargerWolf

We already had a Wii. I heard good things about EA Active. So I got it, a little sceptical that you could "work out" to a video game. But holy squats, batman! It's a really good workout and both my husband and I find ourselves cursing it out at least once a week! And there are a lot of workouts on it at all different levels. You can even make custom workouts. But the "prebuilt" ones are really varied and good. I heard the 2nd one they came out with was good too.

I say make the kids share! You already have a system just spend the $40ish on the game.

cubbies77

Dancing IS exercise. I took dance classes a few years ago and lost forty pounds, even though I didn't change my eating. Anything that gets your heart rate into the fat burning range is exercise. I hate when people tell people they aren't getting a "real workout" unless they go to a gym.

KeepGoingKylene

Harley Pasternak's Hollywood Workout for Xbox Kinect is the best! I do it daily. It is great as it is an actual workout. Tracks your calories lost, you can take before and after pictures and tons of other features! It has tons of different workouts and programs. I find it much better than the Wii since you don't have to hold anything. Highly recommend this!!

Babieseverywhere

I love our x-box 360 with Kinnect and in particular Zumba Rush. It is so fun, I use a HRM to track calories burnt and the Kinnect camera ensures you don't skimp on the exercising.

gixy72

I have the Wii and use my fitness coach..
Its very interactive and really works, its like having your own aerobics coach, and as your level of fitness improve s she makes it more challenging,

Down side, music is pants so I just turn the radio on and mute the music,

fit4lifeUcan2

Great suggestions everyone! Thanks!!

I'm planning on doing something like these exercise and dance things at home because I need to sit when I feel my legs going out on me. I have MS so going to a gym or a class doesn't work for me. I just dropped my gym membership because I couldn't do much there and it wasn't worth it. No chairs placed around the gym so I can rest between work outs. I don't want to sit and hog a machine while I wait for my legs to return. That's just rude.

I used to love to swim but they keep the water temp at 80 because of the old farts that stand along the side of the pool complained it was too cold for them. If they moved around they wouldn't be cold but they don't. They use it as a place to socialize. With the temps so high I can only do 2 laps in the pool and then can't get out of the pool because my body has heated up and I don't have the strength to climb up the ladder to get out. It just got way too frustrating for me so I quit going.

I have a small home gym here now and thought the fitness games would be good. I could do as much as my body would allow and then have plenty of places to sit to cool down. Even if i fall to the floor at least I have carpet to fall on and not a hard floor. Plus no one coming up to me freaking out thinking I need an ambulance lol

I have exercise videos but those are getting old and boring.

fit4lifeUcan2

I love our x-box 360 with Kinnect and in particular Zumba Rush. It is so fun, I use a HRM to track calories burnt and the Kinnect camera ensures you don't skimp on the exercising.

I saw that zumba rush. Looks like fun!

halleyg2

I agree with others above that XBox Kinect is best. So much better than Wii for workouts. I only wish I could afford my own.

Great games for fitness are Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012, Nike+ Kinect Training, Dance Central 3, UFC Personal Trainer, and I hear Zumba Core, though I've never tried the latter myself. Not into Zumba.

algebravoodoo

I concur with the others concerning the Wii. Great for yoga newbs. Does have some decent balance exercises, but as far as cardio or strength training goes, well, it is decidedly limited.

On that note, I did find it useful 120 pounds ago when the Wii programs were enough to make me drip sweat and get my heart pounding LOL. Everybody's got to start somewhere.

fit4lifeUcan2

I agree with others above that XBox Kinect is best. So much better than Wii for workouts. I only wish I could afford my own.

Great games for fitness are Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012, Nike+ Kinect Training, Dance Central 3, UFC Personal Trainer, and I hear Zumba Core, though I've never tried the latter myself. Not into Zumba.

Thanks Halley. Our youngest has the xbox 360 but we make him keep it in his bedroom...um sorry its his man cave. Because he would take over the entire living room at all hours with his friends and make a mess. So we sequestered it to his room. This would be just for me and exercising. I take it you don't need a hand control for the dance and exercise games? It senses your movements? Do I have that right?

fit4lifeUcan2

I concur with the others concerning the Wii. Great for yoga newbs. Does have some decent balance exercises, but as far as cardio or strength training goes, well, it is decidedly limited.

On that note, I did find it useful 120 pounds ago when the Wii programs were enough to make me drip sweat and get my heart pounding LOL. Everybody's got to start somewhere.

Yeah when my GF says she worked up a sweat playing tennis on her wii I have to laugh but then maybe she does? She is pushing 300 lbs. But what really gets me is when she can't do something because she says she's sore from playing wii tennis lol

laineybz

I bought a Wii when they first were on sale. I already the wii fit and although i used it a little at first i didn't use it as much as i should/could have.

When i started my weight loss in Feb 2012, i began using my wii fit ALOT. I eventually bought the wii fit plus (though the wii fit does alot of the plus things). Just by watching what i ate and by mainly using the step advanced (on and off the board basically) i lost around 2 stone or more. I loved it because i could do it whilst watching TV.

robot_potato

I used the wii, along with good diet to get from 230-185 pounds. I used mostly kickboxing and advanced step along with yoga.
Now I walk, run, bike ride, lift weights etc, but it was a good starting point for me to get to where I could do more strenuous activity easily.

rawr9187

i personally enjoy the XBOX360 with the Kinect. My workout consists of the dance games: Just dance 3 & 4, Dance Central games, and just recently the Black Eyed Peas experience. I have tried the biggest loser game, but haven't put it in my workout yet. I have lost 5 lbs so far using the dance games and eating the right amount of calories.

bearwith

If you can get youtube through the games console, find some exercise videos - they are great and free

fit4lifeUcan2

i personally enjoy the XBOX360 with the Kinect. My workout consists of the dance games: Just dance 3 & 4, Dance Central games, and just recently the Black Eyed Peas experience. I have tried the biggest loser game, but haven't put it in my workout yet. I have lost 5 lbs so far using the dance games and eating the right amount of calories.

Sounds like fun and I bet our daughter would love the black eyed peas experience too. I know I would!

I need more cardio. Getting tired of my stationary bike. Too cold out for me to ride my mountain bike around on our trails. berrrr I had a treadmill but that died.

I am leaning more towards the xbox360 with Kinect. Saw a bundle deal online and it included your choice of 2 games. I've been putting some money aside. Hope to get it soon. Just want to make sure I really want it and that I'll actually use it. Thought about another treadmill as well but I'm glad to have that thing out of my living room. Even though it folded up it did take up a lot of space and it was BORING!!

Coquette6

Also, look around game stores, ebay and online classifieds for used versions of games. We have EB Games here, I'm not sure what you might have around you. They offer used games at huge discount with a gaurantee they'll work.

Guamybear

I sweat like a pig doing Zumba 3 on the Wii..usually burn an avg of 400 plus calores in 45 mins.

fit4lifeUcan2

If you can get youtube through the games console, find some exercise videos - they are great and free

I was doing that already but on my laptop. I just set my laptop on our coffee table with a video going and would do the exercises and dance moves. Didn't find too many that I liked.

On our TV we can go to the on demand feature and choose exercises and dance videos on there but they are very short and just when I got the hang of the dance or routine they discontinued it and i had to learn a new one lol. I have the attention span of a fruit fly :laugh:
I still do one of those now and then.

I think I would do better with something that is interactive and fun with some goal in it...like going to another level or another song.

Babieseverywhere

I take it you don't need a hand control for the dance and exercise games? It senses your movements? Do I have that right?

Yes, the Kinnect cameras watch your body and in particular your joints and 'sees' when you are moving and if you are doing the 'right' movement. The 'My Shape' game is very clever and gives you verbal feedback, speed up, keep your back straight, squat lower and if you don't do it right, you don't get green lights, grrr.

The Zumba games give a written feedback on the bottom of the screen and coloured flashes depending on how closely you are matching the dancer. 100% right and in time get a blue 'Zumba', medium effort gets a red 'hot' or a green 'nice' alongside an accuracy rating of up to five stars, I normally get 3 stars on the songs I know, as I often miss the changes, lol.

determinedbutlazy

xbox 360 with kinect and Fitness Evolved 2012. I spent months using mine and love it to death. Don't go by the calorie counts it gives you, they're way too low. You need a HRM or to log it as circuit training on MFP.

cjs3001

We already had a Wii. I heard good things about EA Active. So I got it, a little sceptical that you could "work out" to a video game. But holy squats, batman! It's a really good workout and both my husband and I find ourselves cursing it out at least once a week! And there are a lot of workouts on it at all different levels. You can even make custom workouts. But the "prebuilt" ones are really varied and good. I heard the 2nd one they came out with was good too.

I say make the kids share! You already have a system just spend the $40ish on the game.

^^ This. I have EA Active 1 and 2, I still prefer 1 but it's a good work out and you get a resistance band which is really good.

emioneall

I have the wii, and the UFC personal trainer is a good work-out. Wii fit is another good one.

Hbazzell

I play skyrim while using my elliptical, but I am a nerd.

2manyhats

We have a wii and use Just Dance of an evening. I think I like it better than the kid does. Our son has the kinect and I love the hands free option! I can work up a sweat with either. Good for you in trying to keep active and healthy with the MS. Friends that I have who have chosen that path have slowed it down some. Others (like our friend that I care for every night) just sit down and give up. So a pat on the back for you!

marylinemo

The Kinect is amazing! I have many dance games (Dance Central, Just Dance, Dance Masters, Hip-hop Experience, Zumba) and the best is definitely Dance Central 3. Zumba is great too but the playlist really plays on my nerves, as latin music isn't necessarily something that I want to hear everyday for an hour or so.

fit4lifeUcan2

Thanks again everyone! I really mean that. Our son informed me that he has let his friend hold onto his xbox360 at his house for awhile and he doesn't even have the kinects thing anyway so I can't try it out. I had thought of setting it up in the living room and getting one of the exercise games just to try it out before I go ahead and buy the entire system but I can't even do that. He told me one of the reasons why he let his friend borrow his xbox360 is because it doesn't always work and made him nuts. His friend some how has the knack of getting it to work. Apparently he knows how to fiddle around with something inside to get it working. Don't know really but anyway I'm not going to be able to test it out like I had planned. I'll have to get the entire system and take it from there. I did tell our son that as long as his friends don't take over the living room and make a mess of things he can use it. BUT not when I'm studying. His reply was .... so you mean NEVER? lol :laugh: He's an out door kid anyway and never was much for sitting around and playing video games. Thankfully only one of our children was a lazy 24/7 gamer who never left the house. The others are go go go kind of kids.