Video games were once considered a couch potato pastime, but with the advent of the Wii™ video games have gone from a sedentary to active hobby. They’re a great way to supplement outdoor activities when the warm weather fades and can even help you create and achieve fitness goals.
Wii’s latest fitness video games are rolling out this fall and offer a variety of ways to work out. Daisy Fuentes Pilates has three levels of difficulty (beginner, intermediate and advanced) so anyone can use it to improve their fitness. The game is set at a tropical resort and is hosted by Daisy Fuentes, a world famous TV celebrity and Pilates spokeswoman, who guides you through exercises using the Wii Remote™ and the Wii Balance Board™. You can also create and customize your own Pilates workouts with your favorite exercises. The Pilates exercises in this game are challenging and it’s a great way to practice Pilates if you can’t make it to the gym.
Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2010, available in October, is a fast-paced, energetic, boot camp style workout that takes players through one-on-one activities including cardio, strength and balance training exercises. You’ll get expert coaching and tips from health and fitness expert Jillian Michaels and you can create a training calendar and plan your routines, up to six months in advance. Difficulty levels are available for any fitness level and each workout session includes a warm up and cool down.
Wii’s most innovative fitness game to date, Jenny McCarthy’s Your Shape, launches in December and offers a controller-free workout experience. In place of the Wii Remote™, the game comes with a camera that plugs into the USB port of the Wii and scans your body. Your image is then projected on the TV screen so the game tracks your movements as you work out and you can easily correct your form. When you first begin you’ll take a fitness test and list your goals, then a personalized workout routine will be created for you. Displays of your calories burned, distance covered, pounds lifted and more are shown to help motivate and encourage you. Your Shape comes with 480 exercises, more than any other Wii game, in categories like cardio, strength training and flexibility.
While these fitness video games won’t completely replace gym time or outdoor sports, they’re a great way to boost your fitness level, develop new skills and improve your balance. Daisy Fuentes Pilates $29.95, Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum $39.99, Jenny McCarthy Your Shape $69.99 nintendo.com/wii
