Wii Fit – It Wii-ll Fit in with your Family!

NOTE (added 6/17): Based on some of the comments left for me from Epinions more "serious" gamers, I want to state that I am NOT "serious (play all day, all games)" gamer. I am a home-business owning Mom. I enjoy having fun ~ including some computer and video games. I enjoy having fun with my family. I write from personal experience. My family loves this game (that is also, without question, improving our balance and leg strength). We enjoy the robotic sounds, music, and images. A "replay" feature would be wasted on this family. We'd rather spend our time getting another chance to beat our pesonal-best scores or each other's records. I don't have time to try out every game out there. Wii Fit keeps my kids from going into-the-zone. 5 stars from this Mom and her husband! Ok, back to my review....

I rushed over to epinions to tell you that this product is worth EVERY PENNY of it's cost! You will experience an amazing boost to your family's fun and fitness. Debating whether to join a gym? Don't do it! Maybe all you'll need to get you interested in exercise is this $360ish bundle set? Invest in this gaming system; it will excite everyone! While this game should NOT replace or be a substitute for real-life or outdoors exercise and sports, it will give you many of the benefits (and a few additional ones) that a gym membership can provide.

Let's describe this past one-week that my family has owned this priceless piece of technology... Let's start with a little background. I just had an ankle reconstruction surgery back in December (my second - in 30 years). My recovery, ankle strength and balance (and weight, mood, ability to exercise aerobically) have taken a huge hit. After hearing about the Wii Fit program, and already being intrigued by the whole idea of the Wii games, that get you moving, my only anniversary wish was to receive the Wii and Wii Fit program for my family. When you start the system, everyone gets to create their “mii” (me) ~ You receive enough physical attribute choices, and have the ability to make features larger, further spaced, repositioned on your face to actually create a GOOD representation of yourself! That immediately endears and “connects” the user to his/her virtual image. Next comes the Body Test ~ Here you step on the little Balance Board (More on the balance board later).

Wii Fit tracks your progress on a calendar that you can see and be proud of (you receive a stamp that you get to place yourself, which adds to your sense of reward). The system greets you and seems to ask personal questions; it feels like a friend. The body test consists of doing 2 balance tests, which do change; users will not become bored. I have not missed a day of, at least weighing-in and doing my body test, since we got it. I feel like these initial tests are a “warm up” to the activities that I choose to follow up on. These balance tests occur with visuals that show you how you are doing with your balance and encourages/teaches you to correct your posture through a visual target zone. After the balance tests, the balance board weighs you and analyzes the information, to give you your Wii age. It tells you your weight, whether you are under-weight, normal, overweight or obese, based on your BMI, and ends the 1st session with your identifying your 2-week goal (for me 5 pounds). I am 43, but on my 1st day my Wii fitness age was 50! One week later, my balance has improved greatly and I’ve lost 2.5 pounds (Wii encourages this slow weight loss); today I am now Wii age 38! The program graphs your progress, and users can see their entire family (in their cute cartoon mii image ~ My husband loves seeing my image; I agree these are CUTE!). You don’t see everyone’s weights, and you can password protect your profile. Really fun to review everyone’s progress/goals, as you look, the family members start doing yoga-poses and mimicking the activities that they have done exceptionally well at. Hysterical and entertaining ~ We continue to laugh at that.

Note: Playing the Wii alone may not be enough to make you lose weight. Remember you must still make good food choices and remember portion sizes. The Wii *is* a good start to becoming aware of your weight and how it varies. You CAN get a good aerobic workout by hula hooping!

The Intellectual Balance Board
This main competent of the Wii Fit program will leave you in awe ~ it is so smart! It knows how your weight is balanced, weighs you, it knows when you’ve been sleeping, it knows when you’re awake…. No, no… sorry, I couldn’t help myself. It really does “know” what your body is doing and brings YOU & your mii persona “to life” on the TV screen! I don’t want to reveal too much because I do really think the surprises are part of the fun and excitement with this product ~ we can’t wait to see what else is revealed as we all shape up! I will just say that it even gets used as a “snowboard” which is a really unique feeling.

Activities ~ Entertainment and More
I love all of the choices and variety of these training activities, and so does my family. There are Yoga, Balance Games, Strength Training, Aerobics and Favorites. I am going to give you a brief synopsis of the activities I’ve done (you “earn & are rewarded” new games based on the amount of time you’ve spent exercising). Part of the fun and motivation to do “just 5 more minutes” is to uncover these new activities/fun. My 9-year-old daughter really enjoys changing her mii’s appearance! She loves the games but loves to change her hairstyle every day. I enjoy seeing her new “do”. I have to add this; my husband just started “Ohhhhh” in frustration … must be because he thought he reclaimed a “champion” title from ME! Do you know how enjoyable that is, and I’m not even watching! Ha ha. If he beats it, I may have to go BACK on!

Balance Games ~ Just to give you a few examples that everyone sees when they start. There is a head-butting soccer game that is so hysterical! At first this game might frustrate you, you truly need to get used to it, and then let yourself enjoy beating your own score (the Wii tracks the top-10 performances and who achieved the honorable recognition). I am now the reining champion (for now) ~ spurred on by my desire to beat my husband’s score! He and I are having so much fun trying to outdo each other in these various games. I swear “improving relations” is one of the benefits! I could not ever get my husband to go to the gym with me or for a run, but the Wii, we don’t even have to be together to participate together, and I love to announce proudly “I just pushed you into the dust Dear!” from my family room to him. The soccer players kick balls to you, your mii is out in the field, all you see if your torso. Your goal is to head-butt as many balls as you can by shifting yourself to the left and right, while avoiding the cleats that sometimes fly off their feet and the panda bear balls that resemble the balls. Your first time you probably won’t do well, as your instinct is just to headbutt everything that comes your way. (I sense you are smiling ~ but it is so true). If a cleat hits you it makes the most hilarious sound, and the panda bounces out ~ each time these make contact with you, you lose a point or two. This is one of the entire family’s favorites.

Another favorite of mine (and please note that I do not have the actual names of these games memorized ~ but you don’t need them to find them, just look for the visual icon!) is the Ski Jump balance game. My almost-8 year old has the Family record at the moment ~ isn’t that GREAT? My husband is the only family member that has skied in real life, so I am rather proud of my score on this and the downhill skiing balance game. I see and feel my own improved skills and performances with this game. And even better, my thighs are getting a great exercise ~ I’m holding that squat position much longer and with more reps than I would if I were trying to; same thing with games that have me lunging. I was talking to a friend who said she couldn’t do that squats. You know, I wasn’t sure I could either (it pulls on a part of my foot that is effected by my recent ankle surgery), but what I found was that “mind over matter” and desire to win/beat my husband has great motivational power over me. When you are ski jumping, you are not focusing on the squat.... just when you think you need to straighten up, you hold it for one more second to get your jump in! I already see the improvement to my legs! Yea mii go!

Again, There is no need for me to ruin surprises for anyone, and you can get more detailed descriptions about the games on the website. My job here is to share enough so you know if this would be a good purchase for you, whether the product has value and is worth your hard-earned money, and whether you use it. Here’s what I think…

Why you should hit that Buy-it-NOW link!
* FUN & Good for you, Appeals to ALL ages!
EVERYONE in your family, regard of age will enjoy this product.

* Easy to Use ~ NOT intimidating.
I did NOT expect this program or Wii system to be easy to figure out. I found that it was extremely easy to use. It uses visual icons for many choices, it speaks to you too.

* Motivational – This is Three-fold!
1. Getting you to USE it – Extremely motivating! Not only does it feel good to get a new personal-best, it feels great to get that stamp on your calendar too! You do not want to miss a day when you haven’t missed one. I have a Wii Fit-addicted friend who is waking up extra early to workout/PLAY before work!

2. You’ll WANT to use it! Immediately you will realize that this program is effective. The first time I used it my calves were sore, and my feet kind of hurt too. “Feet?” you are thinking to yourself. I have been in a lot of physical therapy during the past year hoping to avoid that ankle surgery ~ and part of balance is using your feet to “grip” the ground. You Do Get More Fit/Lose Weight! You will be amazed by how out-of-breath and sweaty you will become while doing these activities and games! I have lost 2.5 pounds this week. I FEEL better, I love seeing myself improve. You will too! Since it’s so much fun, you will have NO problem doing this exercise program!

3. Comes with your own, personal Trainer! Users get to choose whether they want a male or female trainer. Your trainer demonstrates and does the exercises with you for the yoga and strength trainer. The balance board helps the trainer determine whether you are keeping your posture correctly and s/he will comment and guide you, and cheer you on! The trainer is NOT annoying.

* EVERYONE Benefits & will Enjoy it.
I really do guarantee that everyone will enjoy the Wii Fit program in one capacity or another. Users will enjoy playing; those who do not want to participate will enjoy watching. My parents can’t wait to come over to see and try it because they have heard our family’s laughter over the phone!

* Quality Product – Need I say more?

* Respected Brand – You can count on Nintendo to solve any issues you might have.

This system will literally get your family off the couch in the evening, away from mindless “computer & video” games that put your kids in “a zone, and create a fun and supportive (and sometimes competitive) atmosphere. You will find yourself wanting to share this fun with everyone you know! Your Wii Mii will be a great addition to the Family, and help you get Fit!

Fitness & FUN! ~ Add Fitness to your Family FUN!