Wii Are Not Feeling so Fit This Morning

Having started on the Wii Fit program over the weekend and feeling good about myself, I came home from work yesterday determined to try and keep up my efforts to get more into shape - well a better shape than I am now at least!

The traffic was fairly heavy coming home from work, my fiancee had a rough day, so she didn't feel like taking a walk, and by the time I got home dinner was ready, so once I got changed out of the penguin attire, we sat down and ate - a nice chicken curry.

I would have preferred to work out before eating, but I was also tired and hungry, but I also didn't want to miss out on doing some exercise, and I knew that the evening television programs would be starting at 7pm, so less than 30 minutes after eating I powered on the Wii and started on some of the gentler exercises to start me off.

I did a body test, which requires a lot of balance control amongst other things, and while I thought I did rather well, it told me my "Wii Fit" age was 48. Not too good, since I am 55 and on Saturday, my first day, it told me my "Wii Fit" age was 38! Still, on Sunday it said 52, so I guess I have to take the rough with the smooth. At least it didn't say I was 60!

I tried the Hula Hoops, which I quite enjoy (on the Wii at least), and beat my record. I then tried the basic Step Aerobics, which is quite good - at least it doesn't wear me out too fast.

Next it was time for the Ski Slalom, again not something I could do in real life, but I find this quite hard on the Wii, and it is good for helping control your balance, and I can feel the difference in my calves after I have tried it a few times. I managed a couple of really good runs last night, beating my own record, which made me quite pleased.

Starting to feel good about how I was doing, I decided it was time to do some jogging, which I naturally find hard, and this was my downfall last night. I planned to make it through the course and sprint to the finish line, but I hadn't even got halfway when I started to feel a pain in my right ankle. Actually I am not sure if it is my ankle or my Achilles tendon, but it's in that area anyhow.

Well I kept on jogging, determined to complete the course, and although it was painful, I adjusted my movement and pace so it didn't hurt too badly. I felt a bit like a marathon runner who was struggling to make it to the finish line - except they run 26 miles, and I was merely jogging half a mile - and in my living room at that!

Well I got 3/4 or the way around the course, and started on the downhill stretch, not that this mattered in my living room, and increased my pace until I crossed the finishing line, by which time my throat hurt with inhaling air too fast, my heart was thumping, my legs were half turned to jelly, and as for my ankle - owwwww!

The jogging definitely took the stuffing out of me for the rest of the evening, I just sat on the couch and watch television, hardly able to do anything on the laptop even. I would have been better to spend more time on gentler exercises, and this is what I need to do tonight - if I can.

When I went up to bed I almost hobbled, my ankle was so stiff. This morning it's not really any better unfortunately, and I walked very uncomfortable across the car park and into the office. I am hoping that some gentler walking today, plus maybe some stretching exercises while I sit at the computer might help.

So be warned fitness fanatics, especially if you are starting out. Whether it's on the Wii or not, do some warm up exercises to stretch your muscles before you go all out, and don't work out straight after a meal either.

I am hoping to feel better by tonight and I know what I won't be doing - Jogging! I will be trying some of the balance exercises, but that's going to be my lot for the next few days.