Why I like Wii Fit

I am currently running with Wii Fit.  It may not work for other people, but it seems to motivate me, and that's my main issue.

My main routine, is to take a 20 or 30 minute Free Run around Wii Island.  This is in the Aerobics section of Wii Fit.  You don't need the balance board for this, or any equipment, just the remote in your pocket, or maybe in your hand.  I run around the concrete floor of my basement, I may even run up the stairs, through through the upstairs or my home (if nobody else is home).

The Wii is wireless, so it keeps track of my movements throughout the house. So if I slow down or put down the remote, I stop hearing my little footsteps from the Wii, and I know I am not working hard enough.  I'll also get a message saying I have an uneven pace or something like that, and at the end my efficiency will be given a per centage and ranked.  Sometimes it goes up or down. So I get three types of feedback, which keeps me going.  If I were just following a DVD or on my exercise bike, I might slow down, or take a break.  Not so with the Wii, I actually break a sweat.

At the moment, I am not bothering with the other Wii exercises, although they offer yoga, strength training, aerobics and other games.  They are all fun and worth trying though.

One of the problems with starting with the Wii fit, is that it takes too long to set up your Mii character, do the initial weigh-in and balance testing and so on.  Also, you need to earn Wii Fit points by doing exercises, before you can unlock the better exercises like the Wii Free run.  Be patient, or get your kids to start the boring stuff for you.  Once you get to the Free Run, you can run around Wii Island, and switch back to watching regular TV.  The Wii continues to track your progress and give you feedback through the hand-held remote.  I'm tired!

Wii Fit

I  am using Wii Fit as often as possible for Aerobic exercise.  The Wii allows you to set a weight loss and number of weeks goal, when you sign in.  I have set a realistic goal of 3 pound weight loss in 2 weeks.  Wish me luck.

Time to Start Again...

Things happen and we get distracted along the way.  I am back to working out for a half an hour per day, indoors at home.  I am using my Wii Fit, running around Wii island with my Mii friends.  When I am not using the Wii, I am using an exercise DVD.  I'm not so thrilled with these so far, so if you have one you love, please let me know.  I just want to keep moving for a half an hour, with out too much equipment and fancy dance moves.   We'll see.

Walking.....

The first thing to be addressed is my overall shape, health and posture.  How can we be fab if we are shaped like a pear?  I have committed myself to various exercise routines over the years and quickly lost interest.  These have included assorted exercise bikes in front of the TV, and the Wii Fit.  I have to say that the exercise bikes do not work at all for me as I slow down to listen to the TV until I barely break a sweat.  The Wii was kind of fun - I ended up using the Free Run and building up to a half hour run around my basement.  So I did break a sweat, but I find it hard to make a commitment to running alone in my basement.  So then I bought a dog to walk with, but I was never walking more than a kilometer before losing interest.  (But I love my dog)

Finally I am proud to say I have started walking 6km per day with my husband.  This is great.  My husband is in great shape, so it's no challenge for him, but walking with a partner motivates me to push myself.  We have been walking together for about 4 weeks, averaging about 5 days per week.  I find the walk to be a challenge and I am quite sore afterwards and all day.  We were taking the dog, but found he was quite growly and grumpy after the walk - so it is a bit too long for him.  I know exactly how he feels.

I have not lost a pound with this walking - but I do feel that my legs and thighs are just a little firmer, so that motivates me to continue.  OK - so I am not quite at the level of my neighbour, who walks every day in her spandex, and lunges her way threateningly past my driveway, but that's cool....we'll just see how it goes.

Next on my list is to buy myself some nice but not too expensive walking shoes (my feet are killing me in my daugher's hand me down track shoes) and some flattering exercise clothes (not so spandexy - but fabulous - no baggy sweats please).

I am also motivated to continue because this exercise qualifies as weight bearing - which helps strengthen my bones.  My mother suffers from osteoporosis and has broken several bones, so her struggles motivate me to still be up and moving when I am her age (over 80).

In the book "Osteoporosis: What it is, How to Prevent it, How to Stop it" [Paperback] by  Betty and Si Kamen, http://www.amazon.com/Osteoporosis-What-How-Prevent-Stop/dp/0523433212/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281359462&sr=1-5  walking is recommended for osteoporosis prevention. An added benefit is that walking in the sunshine helps your body to absorb vitamin D.  Vitamin D is important so that our bodies can digest calcium.  Apparently about a third of the people with hip fractures are vitamin D deficient.  More on vitamin D another day - but I am taking vitamin D supplements as well.