Wii Fit: Fitness or Fake?

As a twenty-something college grad, I now fully understand why people always warn the young that in due time their metabolisms will slow down. Although I did gain the freshman 15, once out of the dorms it only took a few months to rid myself of all the damage I had done with pizza, candy bars, alcohol, and many late-night meals. As I now approach 30 my body does not take well to fatty foods and if I do splurge, it will show the very next day. So I was determined to avoid all the diet pills, drinks, and scams and find something that really works and has tangible results.

I received the Wii Fit as a gift from a friend and I must admit that when I first used it, I was not a fan. I was out of shape and hated that I was not good at the exercises. But two months later, the Wii Fit has become a very good friend of mine and a success story for me. And I think it only fair to share an honest review of the game for those looking to invest $90 of their hard earned cash to see results.

As you begin the game you have your own character which you can lock with a four-digit pin so that no one else can see your personal info (like weight!). You can do a body test each time you work out, which is recommended in order to track your progress. It uses the Wii balance board to measure your BMI and weight based on how much your clothes weigh. Then you are able to set weight loss goals and track your results. You can do a body test at any time and anyone who has used the Wii knows that they are very easy to use and navigate around in.

There are basically four sections: Balance games, aerobics, yoga, and strength training. There are up to 20 exercises in the yoga and strength training sections but you only start out with 5 available. As you do the workouts more, you unlock more activities and more repetitions. The Wii keeps track of the time you have worked out, as well as your "score" for each activity. This was initially frustrating to me since I got pretty low scores, but as I worked out with it more and more, I finally attained scores in the 90's! After only a month of working out with this game, I could not only see results, but the exercises were so much easier to do. It felt so good to do well at them. And another plus, is having your own non-critical personal trainer.

The trainer can be male or female depending on your own preference. They guide you through each exercise so that you can mirror them, ensuring you are doing the exercise properly. They give you fitness tips, challenges, and suggestions to be more successful. It's a highly personalized game where you can literally see the results on the screen and on your own body.

Although I still try to walk, run or do some kind of cardio activity a few times per week; the Wii Fit is a perfect substitute for many different workout videos, a gym membership and, a personal trainer. It was so nice to be able to use the Wii Fit on my own schedule, in my own home, and at my own pace. If you have the motivation to get in shape and you have $90 to spend, this is one of the best investments that I can recommend. It is only a disc and a balance board so you don't need videos, balls, mats, special clothes, or even good weather! It is for all ages, and all body types. You work at your own pace and unlock the activities based on your performance.

There are less fitness and more game-like aspects, such as balance games, but the main purpose of this program is to get you fit. It's a wonderful investment and a great "game".