Video game work outs. Yay or Nay?

Armani0434
Armani0434 Posts: 50 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Anyone having success with any Wii or Xbox kinect games? Either for fitness goals or weight loss.

What game? Why does it work?
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Replies

  • FitBeto
    FitBeto Posts: 2,121 Member
    It works because it burns energy, therefore your energy in is less than your energy out, which results in caloric deficit, and burns energy reserves as energy which also results in weight loss.
  • vanessa40
    vanessa40 Posts: 328 Member
    I love My Fitness Coach on the Wii. I use it 5-5 days a week
  • katcunock
    katcunock Posts: 664 Member
    I use wii fit plus and regularly do the yoga, muscle exercise and boxing.

    I think it's great, but ultimatley any game will only be as good as the effort you are putting into it. If you're the type to do less, 'cheat' because the virtual trainer will never know, it's probably not for you.
  • anzi888
    anzi888 Posts: 102 Member
    It's always better to move than to sit.
    Just Dance and Zumba are the fun ones I can think of right now. It works if you give it all you got :)
  • justkim76
    justkim76 Posts: 3
    Haven't used it in a while (will have to start again soon...) but I always found that the Zumba game on Xbox Kinect made me sweat. I figure if I'm sweating, I'm burning some sort of calories. Even Dance Central is good for getting moving!
  • Rawr1978
    Rawr1978 Posts: 245 Member
    I do Just Dance (at least 3 songs), I try to do 4-5 different aerobic wii exercises (huge fan of the free run- i sweat like crazy), and the strength. I lost 20lbs on it 3 years ago.
  • anewlife4me8610
    anewlife4me8610 Posts: 91 Member
    I have the Zumba, which is great for cardio...I also have the Biggest loser workout which is KILLER....and it gives you a little bit of a personal trainer effect...its interactive and fun and you move so you burn...I can tell you that I cant do them very long, due to my inactive lifestyle I have had for so long, but I do what I can and one day I hope to be able to finish them! lol I also have DVD's of sweating to the oldies by Richard Simmons, and let me tell you, that is a WORK OUT for me....I have been told that once you complete a program, if you no longer feel like its doing it for you, add ankle and wrist weights or kick up your intensity...to keep it fresh and working!
  • elaine_des
    elaine_des Posts: 189 Member
    i really like the EA active workout out on the WII, you get a really good workout and it's fun. I also have the Julian Micheal, but didn't really get into it, the menu was rather difficult. Same for Zumba on the wii, it is not for begginer and the menu is difficult to navigate. I really enjoy working out with my wii, I don't go to the gym so the only exercise I get is at home.
  • jayce54321
    jayce54321 Posts: 110 Member
    I have used EA Sports Active 2 for the last 2 years and have lost and kept off 46 pounds. Prior to that I was using the Wii Fit but that did not push me enough and it is so slow going from one exercise to the next, coupled with the juvenile graghics and commentary. That being said, it is getting a little boring and I'm looking for another program. I don't like the idea of going to a gym as I am a private person who prefers to work out at home on my schedule.
  • alysiafresh
    alysiafresh Posts: 11 Member
    I recently started using light free weights (2.5 lbs) while doing Dance Central. Makes for a much more intense workout!
  • tdfarmer
    tdfarmer Posts: 176 Member
    I like wii fit plus and wii active series.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    I cannot see why it can't help you to achieve your goals. It's got to be better than just sitting and watching TV. Certainly, if I didn't have a routine that I prefer to follow, I'd be looking at getting a Kinect.
  • explodingalice
    explodingalice Posts: 158 Member
    I love to do Kinect Sports and Kinect Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012. If it's a gross day and I just want to stay inside, these are handy for a workout. It's also nice to be good at baseball for once in my life, even if it's just pretend. :)
  • rfsatar
    rfsatar Posts: 599 Member
    I think anything that gets people off the couch and doing something (and if they treat it as a fun way of doing things) is great.
    I have a load of things for the wii and will be starting back with them this week, already been told of a boxing game that came with my original Wii Sports that I never knew about!

    I am, however, reminded of an ex-acquaintance who kvetched that their Wii was a waste of money as they didn't use it (bought along with Just Dance for exercise).
    I had to chuckle - there are no dark forces stopping them from using it, other than just not wanting to!
    Personally... I spent money on mine and a load of games... I damn well will use them at some stage!
  • sara6795
    sara6795 Posts: 29 Member
    I love working out with my Kinect! I do Zumba: Fitness Rush every day as a warmup for anywhere between 20-60 minutes, then do a strength training or CrossFit program after. The first 6 weeks this was my primary exercise, but then I started to notice that I wasn't getting sore or sweating as much so I stepped it up. I'm looking into getting the new Nike fitness game.

    It is fun and interactive--I like having the feedback on how I am doing. It is definitely worth looking into!
  • wifealiciousness
    wifealiciousness Posts: 179 Member
    As others have said.... exercise is exercise! If you want to loose weight, you need to change your habits and make sure you increase the exercise you're getting. If you put the effort in, than Wii/ X-box games will help on your goal to fitness, if you take them seriously. If you want faster and more noticeable results, this method may not cut it though, and it probably won't help keep the weight off long term unless you're incredibly self motivated and don't bore easily!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I used EA Sports Active 2 on the Playstation. People would comment on my exercise diary, saying, "That's sounds like fun!" It's not fun. It's the same stuff as any Jillian Michaels type DVD, but since you have sensors attached to your body, you can't cheat. It's a workout, not a game. It has a built in HRM, so you know your calories burned, and you can customize the workouts, which is nice.

    Now I just do running and weight lifting. I might go back to it over the winter if/when it gets too nasty outside to run.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    It would be very similar to doing a DVD or YouTube video. If you enjoy, then do it.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I don't have a game system... but my feeling on those games is this: if it gets you up and moving, it's better than doing nothing. You may find that you love it, and get a great workout!
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    I have the Xbox Kinect game "Your Shape Fitness Advanced 2012" ... it's fun. They have games like "Break the blocks" where you're basically punching and kicking at the air. They have jumprope games. Then they have the actual training session type of games. The time goes by quickly and it has a little calorie counter in the corner. "Punch your calories!" ... and then the number shatters. :laugh:
  • now_or_never12
    now_or_never12 Posts: 849 Member
    I wouldn't and don't use it as my only form of exercise however I do use it as a suppliment.

    The video games can be a good workout if you put the effort in. Usually on my off days I will use some of the video games I have as exercise as something extra. Some can give you a great workout.
  • Jaccyber
    Jaccyber Posts: 620 Member
    Have been using EA Sports Active 2 (Wii) and NFL Training Camp. I started my 69th week in a row. I have shed 50 lbs and 8 inches. If you stick with it... it will happen. It is challenging but also I personally think is is fun as well. Looking at it from a RPG game point of view...instead of me sitting in a chair in front of my computer increasing the abilities of the person on the screen I am increasing my own abilities...stamina, strength, health, etc. Definitely >>>YAY<<<
  • skinnybitchbarbie27
    skinnybitchbarbie27 Posts: 306 Member
    I do dance games on the Wii when I am at my moms house and I sweat like a *kitten* in church. Those games are more intense than I gave them credit for. I am buying my hubby an xbox with the kinect and plan to use the kinect for some extra exercise :)


    Oh and forgot to mention- A lot of these games have an exercise program built in. Like just dance has a "just sweat" setting. Movement is movement, especially if you were quite sedentary before.
  • BaconMD
    BaconMD Posts: 1,165 Member
    I lost the first half of my weight (give or take a few pounds) using ONLY EA Sports Active 2.0, not even using MFP a t the time. But I used the PS3 version... If you only have Xbox 360 + Kinect and Wii, I've heard that the Wii version is better, but I haven't tried it. I just know Xbox users weren't happy with the stripped down, more-glitchy version they got.
  • julieagross
    julieagross Posts: 4
    I love video games. I have a Kinect on my 360 and a Wii with the step board, but mostly play FPS (first person shooter) games. I recently started working out in the gym doing Zumba, U-jam and Step class so I thought I'd try the video game versions. They do get you up and moving but are no where near the intensity. MFP (my fitness pal) gives a whole lot more credit for Step or Spinn class than you get from Wii step. I wouldn't be able to stay on the low calories if I didn't get them boosted by workouts ;). If you can work out at a gym with a group, it's much more fun and works better.

    Julie
  • RhineDHP
    RhineDHP Posts: 1,025 Member
    Want a workout? Try Dance Central 2. I was sweating like crazy and out of breath by the end of the songs! But games like this only work out for you if you actually commit and put effort into it.


    PS - Watch out for "Whip My Hair," nearly threw my neck outta whack!
  • lewcompton
    lewcompton Posts: 881 Member
    Just got under the weight limit for the wii fit board and plan to use it daily... To quote Dori, "Just keep swimming" what ever we do to exercise will work for a while if we do it.
  • KayteeBear
    KayteeBear Posts: 1,040 Member
    I LOVE my Wii workouts! They seriously do make me sweat and I have tons of fun.

    I have:
    Exerbeat (has karate, kickboxing, latin dancing, hiphop dancing, aerobics, pilates, yoga)
    Gold's Gym Boxing (VERY fun and I definitely sweat lots)
    Gold's Gym Dancing (I didn't expect it to be as fun as it is, has some boxing as well as dancing)
    Just Dance (don't like it as much for working out but it is lots of fun)
    Wii Active (I think, haven't done it in a LONG time though)

    I think those are the only ones I have...I would like to get Zumba sometime, too.

    Currently I'm doing the Gold's Gym dancing the most. It has a "personal trainer" and you can do a 7 workout plan or 14 workout plan. And the trainer sets up a number of the exercises to make a certain length of workout (started around 15 minutes and now getting closer to 30 minute workouts the more I do it) and the intensity starts to go up.
  • KayteeBear
    KayteeBear Posts: 1,040 Member
    Forgot to say that if I feel I need something extra while working out on the wii, I have weighted hand gloves that I'll use. That definitely helps. Not to mention I can also use them for other boxing videos so they were a pretty good purchase for me. :)
  • lilmzritz
    lilmzritz Posts: 176
    Dance Central on Xbox from time to time. It's not only fun but it will get you sweating and grooving

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