Wii Fitness

I just got some Wii fitness games for my birthday which I am looking forward to using, but I'm curious - do you think these games actually help to get you fit or are they just a bit of fun? Would Wii Zumba, for instance, be as effective as an actual Zumba class do you think?

It might not be as effective as an actual class, but they will definitely help you to get fit/lose weight. I read a thing about a guy who got addicted to Dance Dance Revolution and went from being really overweight to great shape in the space of a year or so, I think he lost like 70 pounds in the end! So clearly there is some benefit in video games

I've got Wii Zumba. I think what I'm going to say applies to the game, the dvds and the class... you only get out of it what you put in. 

Zumba can be effective if you make yourself jump higher, squat lower and put every effort into your movement. If your concentrating on getting every move right like you are dancing then you are probably getting a slower less effective workout.

I've got WII zumba it's great isn't it!

That's really interesting, Ross_M, those are impressive results so maybe they can be quite effective then!

Good point rubypout, I guess it does depend what you put into them.

I'm looking forward to trying them now (still haven't had chance to yet). I got one called Exerbeat which looks really good!

I wish I could be addicted to an exercise that made me lose weight!

I know of someone who lost 2st by doing yoga. If you haven't found *your* exercise, just keep on trying new classes or jump on a different bandwagon if you get bored. Eventually you'll come across something that you want to stick with!

You can get a good workout from the fitness DVD's and games consoles, but you do have to make the effort as has already been said. Most of the Wii games are intended as a fun way to get the family involved and moving a bit more, most of them aren't aimed at true fitness but it doesn't mean they aren't worthwhile if you enjoy them!

I'd quite like to try one of those XBOX 360 things (connect?), they're supposed to be really good. I lose interest too quickly to buy one though, I have the attention span of a gnat.

Wow, I didn't know you could actually lose that much weight from doing yoga. I thought it was more about core strength and toning. Definitely need to give that a go.

Yes, it's possible. It's not JUST about core strength and toning, there are several different varieties of yoga with focuses from physical to spiritual. The person in question did have some weight to lose, but the yoga helped get her into a better frame of mind to help make some positive changes. Even the gentlest of exercise can have impressive results if you persist with it. People will often say 'yoga is a soft option' but it's not as easy as it looks once you get beyond the basics.

I've just started yoga and I'm really enjoying it. It's definitely harder than I thought it would be but I enjoy the challenge. It would be good if I started seeing some toning results :) 

My biggest challenge with yoga is the balance, although I don't have the flexibility to fully stretch into some of the moves at the moment. I do stretch after exercise, but I haven't done any proper progressing stretches for a while and I was super busy leading up to the wedding so exercise got neglected a bit more than I intended. I'm quite unfit at the moment and a bit wobblier than I should be. 

I attempted a yoga session a week ago and nearly went splat on my face  

The muscle comes along quite slowly with yoga, you notice more than you feel taller and you hold yourself differently. Your muscles become leaner and longer rather than bulky. It's elegant muscle, if that makes sense.

I've started yoga again last week.  I am so not as flexible as I thought I was!  I've never been able to touch my toes.  My wrists, neck and back muscles are still sore and i went last Thursday!  I can only hope I will get better haha

I really wish I could find my exercise! I keep trying different things - running, swimming, pilates, yoga, etc - but I've never found anything that I really wanted to stick with! Anyone got any fun ideas to try next??

Is there anything you particularly liked at School? I knew for certain that I DETESTED school sports and dancing, so I steered well clear of that. I don't mind technical (so climbing was good), but I like my general exercise to be straight forward and not complicated. Found my niche in Spin Cycling. Regular cylcing is good, but I'm a fair weather cyclist so it doesn't work all year round! Mix it up, try a raquet sport if you can find a partner, do a few gym classes and work out if you like to exercise alone or sociably. I'm a mix, depending on what I'm doing and how much I need to concentrate/relax.

I think I'm a fair weather anything - which unfortunately means i don't exercise very often! haha

I'm mostly like that, I feel the cold really badly though so if I'm a bit chilly indoors it's not a motivation to go outside to exercise. I had to rejoin a gym, mostly because I know I will exercise there regularly and I will head there even if it's torrential outside. I'm not brilliant if left to my own devices, I tend to just maintain rather than progress. I get fat without a gym membership.

I never really liked many sports at school (have always been more of an indoors/lazy person haha)... I did like netball and rounders but I am a lot more self-conscious these days so prefer exercising alone now.