| windbane said: What is there besides pushups that you could easily do without a board? If Wiifit is supposed to be used as an exercise program (something that Miyamoto said was not true), then I'd say it's not near the best thing to do. I guess it's better than doing nothing but if you want to lose some weight and get in better shape, I'd think DDR is a better purchase. It's cheaper, too. Maybe the activities are really fun, and in that case, it might be a fun game overall. I just don't see it as a good exercise program. However, my girlfriend also wanted it so I suppose it's another one of those games that is good to play with girls that aren't usually videogame players (although you can't play at the same time I assume...correct me if I'm wrong). However, girls also like DDR, Warioware, Rock Band, etc... |
I will start by apologizing for taking so long to reply. I have been fairly busy as of late, but I do hope you have a chance and read this.
The strength and aerobic exercises can all be done without the board, but the balance games are sometimes fun and use the board. It is also useful for telling you if you're positioned/balanced correctly when doing things such as the yoga positions.
That, however, was not what I took your original statement to be about. You said that it is barely exercise. Not that whether you could or couldn't do the exercises without it. It does however help with the fact that the trainer encourages you, which may help some people follow an exercise plan better. They also give you tips sometimes, and it helps keep you doing it correctly as sometimes it will comment if you start doing poor form. That's where I can see the value of it. The fact that it encourages you on and helps keep you honest with yourself. I do understand that there are people not interested in it and/or who don't need it. My only disagreement was with saying you barely get exercise. I have seen the quote of Miyamoto saying that. Maybe it would be better to call it fitness mearument instead as they don't expect you to do it for hours and hours a day as you should get other exercise as well. I personally enjoy outside walks/jogs, but then you come back and see how well you perform it.
DDR can be a great way to lose weight and exercise, but if you do poorly on the ones I've played, then things such as the crownd boos and depending on the settings, the level ends, so that might not be the best encouragement. Also there is more variety than just the stepping on 4 buttons and music as a factor as well, but I've known some people who have gotten into much better shape from DDR. I didn't do very well at the game (My friend just had normal pads and they kept sliding around so I kept getting off the actual buttons), but I've considered picking up the Wii DDR game. I think I'll look into it some more first though, but thanks for reminding me to do that.
Some of the people who come over to play it are girls who don't really play videogames, but 2 of them so far are considering getting their own Wiis for them and their family to play with. Everything I have so far is only single player, and I assume the rest of it will be as well. It can be amusing sometimes watching someone try a balance game or them swing around in the hula hoop exercise. Depending on how competitive they are, they may want/be willing to hold little competitions with you on some of the sections.
Another feature that I don't recall hearing people talk about (maybe because I already have it so I haven't been reading much on it) is that there is some gameplay related to the other players. It will sometimes make comments about the other people such as, "Oh I haven't seen ____ in awhile" or "tomorrow is ___'s birthday. You should get a present. Anything is good just as long as they know you're thinking about them." Though sometimes it's a little more devious asking me how the other people look. Have they gotten heavier or skinnier. It also asked me one day why I had gained some weight, so I had to admit to it that I was eating a little too much lately.
As you said your girlfriend is interested in it, if you/she happens to get it, then you'll get the chance to try it out and determine if you like it at all. If that happens, I certainly hope you do so then you can both be happy with it. Sorry if it's a little long, and if you or anyone has anymore questions about it (or if I happened to miss any points you brought up), please feel free to ask.
